Page 42 of About Last Night

"Dip your biscuits in a big warm pot of it?"

"Uh-uh."

"See? People our age simply aren't buying honey at the grocery store every week." His hand fell in defeat.

"You're right," she said. "I buy my honey at the health food store."

He swung back in surprise. "Really? So you do eat honey?"

"In various forms. I specialize in homeopathic medicine."

He squinted, searching for the connection.

Her smile was patient. "Treating symptoms with remedies from natural ingredients whenever possible. Honey is one of my go-to therapies."

His interest piqued, he turned his chair around to face her. "To treat what?"

"Allergies, for one," she said, leaning forward to tap his nose with her finger.

The gesture struck him as almost domestic, and it warmed him absurdly.

"Bees make honey out of pollen," she continued. "When a person eats local honey, they're ingesting small amounts of pollen that in turn help to build immunity against pollens in the air."

"No offense, but that sounds a little woo-woo."

Janine sat on the bed facing him, still cradling the pint of honey in her hands. "It's the same concept that allergy shots are based on."

He nodded slowly but remained unconvinced. "So, what else is honey good for?"

Her pale eyebrows sprang up as she presumably searched her memory. "Minor arthritis pains, insomnia, superficial burns, skin irritations... among other things."

A red flag sprang up in his mind. "You mix up your own remedies and sell them to your patients?"

A musical, appealing laugh rolled out. "No, I just encourage patients to read up on the benefits of natural foods. So instead of pushing honey as an indulgent topping for toast and biscuits, maybe Phillips should tap into its more healthful uses."

He held up the honey butter. "Like freeing stuck toes from bathtub faucets?"

The rosy tint on her cheeks made her look more endearing, if possible. Derek felt an unnerving tingle of awareness that drove deep into his chest, shaking him. This mushrooming attraction to Janine was downright baffling. Certainly she was a great-looking woman, but he came into contact with attractive women on a daily basis, and he'd never before lost track of a conversation.

Whathadthey been talking about?

He glanced down at the container in his hand. Oh, yeah, honey, the medicinal panacea. Derek cleared his throat, determined to focus. "Isn't it dangerous to make medical claims?"

She lifted one shoulder in a half shrug. "The medicinal uses for honey are as old as medicine itself. It should never be given to infants, and diabetics have to exercise restraint, but otherwise, it's perfectly safe. Some people swear by honey, just like some people swear by garlic or vinegar to boost general health." After averting her eyes, she added, "One male patient of mine insists that bee pollen and honey have improved his sex drive."

Derek had to swallow his guffaw. "Is that true?"

She shrugged. "I have a teaspoon in my morning tea."

Derek swallowed. Even as his body responded to her nearness, his enthusiasm for Janine's ideas began to shrivel. He could picture himself in front of stodgy Donald Phillips, presenting his idea for a new slogan: Have Phillips Honey for Breakfast, Then HaveYourHoney for Lunch.

Suddenly her eyes flew wide. "Not that it's improvedmysex life," she added hastily. Her skin turned crimson as she clamped her mouth shut.

Despite his best efforts, Derek felt a smile wrap around his face. Perhaps honey was her secret. From the scant time they'd spent together, he'd learned two things about Pinky—she attracted trouble, and she oozed sex. From every tight little pore in her tight little bod. "Then I guess we're in trouble if we need a testimonial," he teased.

She pressed her lips together, eyes wide, looking as innocent as a bunny rabbit. Feeling like a lecherous old man, Derek shifted uncomfortably in his chair and cast about for a safer topic. "What do you think about the packaging?"

Janine smoothed a finger over the plain black-and-white label, working her mouth back and forth. "I like the simplicity, but it covers too much of the container."

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