A Scent To Remember

The first thing I noticed wasn't the room.

It was the scent.

Fresh lavender mixed with cedarwood, with a hint of vanilla lingering in the air. It was calming... strangely comforting.

My eyes slowly fluttered open.

"This isn't my room..."

I shot upright, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. Dark wooden furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city, and a bedroom far too luxurious to belong to anyone ordinary.

"...Where the hell am I?"

Then I looked down.

I wasn't wearing yesterday's clothes.

Instead, I had on an oversized black T-shirt that smelled exactly like the room.

Heat rushed to my face.

"What the..."

I quickly checked underneath the shirt.

Still dressed.

"...Thank God."

On the nightstand sat a neatly folded outfit with a handwritten note resting on top.

Good morning.

The bathroom is to your left.

Take a shower and put those on.

Breakfast is downstairs.

—M

"...Bossy."

I couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at my lips.

After showering and changing, I followed the smell of fresh coffee and pancakes downstairs.

The kitchen was gorgeous.

Standing at the stove was the woman from last night.

She hadn't noticed me yet.

Her dark hair was tied back loosely, sleeves rolled to her elbows as she effortlessly flipped pancakes.

I cleared my throat.

She glanced over her shoulder.

Those chestnut eyes met mine again.

"So..." I folded my arms with a teasing smirk. "Is this your idea of a one-night stand?"

She rolled her eyes before letting out a quiet chuckle.

"If this were a one-night stand," she replied, "you wouldn't have gotten breakfast."

"Oh?"

"I would've ordered you a taxi."

I laughed despite myself.

Cocky.

Very cocky.

Why was that... attractive?

For a second, I forgot everything.

Her eyes.

Her voice.

That scent.

God...

Get a grip, Niomi.

My phone suddenly vibrated across the counter.

Cynthia ❤️

My smile disappeared.

I answered.

"Baby!" she chirped. "Did you come home last night? I waited for you."

The audacity.

"I had someone collect the gifts," I lied flatly.

"Oh... I missed you."

"Mhm."

"...You don't sound okay."

"I'm fine."

"Love you."

"...Okay."

I ended the call before she could say another word.

The silence lingered.

"The person who called..." the woman asked gently.

"My fiancée."

A pause.

"...Ex-fiancée."

She frowned.

"She cheated."

For a moment, neither of us spoke.

"I'm sorry."

"It's whatever."

I looked up.

"I'm Niomi."

A small smile crossed her lips.

"Mel."

Just...

Mel.

...Mel's POV~...

The front door clicked shut behind Niomi.

I stood there longer than I should have.

"What is wrong with me?"

My phone buzzed.

Valeria Calling.

I answered.

"So?" Valeria said immediately. "Who kept you busy all night?"

I leaned against the kitchen counter.

"I met someone."

"...You?"

"At the club."

Valeria laughed.

"This I have to hear."

I found myself telling her everything.

The woman I bumped into.

The way she apologized.

How I found her barely conscious.

How I couldn't just leave her there.

And the strange feeling that settled in my chest the moment I caught her.

When I finally finished, the line went quiet.

"...Mel."

"What?"

"You sound smitten."

"I do not."

"You do."

I sighed.

"I don't know what it is."

I looked toward the staircase she'd walked down earlier.

"But I feel..."

"...connected to her."

I closed my eyes.

"And her scent..."

Valeria snorted.

"Here we go."

"It smells like lavender in spring."

Silence.

"I can still smell it."

Valeria's teasing tone disappeared.

"...Mel."

"What?"

"You've never said that about anyone before."

I knew.

That was the problem.

30 years..... Could it possibly be her..?

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