Page 13 of Honey Bee Hearts

Gunnar pats me on the shoulder. “I knew you’d come around. Stay outta trouble, big guy.”

I roll my eyes at his words. “Yeah. Okay.”

Gunnar wanders off to find Colt and deal with whatever new business has come up. We all take turns managing it, but I know they give me less shifts than they all take. Not because I’m not capable of it, but because they know I’d prefer to stay in my workshop away from all people.

My eyes trail back over to the cabin. No movement comes from inside, as if she’d sat down and not moved again. I linger there for a minute, watching, before I turn away with a sigh. I know it’s a bad idea for the woman to be here, but I can’t blame Rhett for agreeing to it. The ranch always feels like we’re on the cusp of going under, no matter how much progress we’ve made. Even now, ten years later, Rhett doesn’t want to get comfortable. It’s probably for the best. There’s always the possibility thateverything turns sour, and we’d lose it all. That would destroy Rhett. Hell, it would destroy us all.

The sound of something rattling in the garage behind me drags a sigh from my lips and I finally turn away from the cabin, dismissing the woman from my thoughts.

“Goddamn it, Sly!” I growl. “If you’ve knocked over them wrenches again, I’m goin’ to wring your neck.”

I head back inside to take care of the pest before I can finish up changing out the sparkplugs in the side-by-side. Then I can go back into my forge.

Away from people.

Away from her.

Chapter 9

Fable

The cabin looks like a miniature version of the house on the outside, and on the inside, it’s just as cozy feeling. The walls are textured and painted a fun, pale yellow color. The floors are aged hardwood. There are two full size beds, both set up in the same way a hotel room usually is. Off to the side is a luxurious feeling bathroom, including a large jacuzzi tub and a standing shower. Along the walls and all throughout the cabin, there are pictures of honeybees. Some of the shots are microphotography where you get a close up of the fuzz of a bee, their honeycomb, and their eyes. Other photos are the hives themselves. I can’t wait to see the bees. Before I’d come out here, I’d done a little research and learned that Circle Bee is known for their honeybees and their dogs, though I didn’t really understand what happens with the dogs. I can’t wait to learn everything I can.

“It’s cute and cozy,” Jinx comments from the side. “Not my style, but that’s the point, right?”

“It is,” I nod. “It’s exactly what I’d imagine some sweet country grandma would decorate her kitchen like.”

And that’s completely true. It all has a homey feel to it. There’s even the scent of banana bread, which I realize quickly is actually coming from the welcome basket sitting on the table. There’s a note that says, “Welcome to Circle Bee,” and a whole bunch of goodies. A homemade banana bread loaf, a jar of Circle Bee honey, some teabags and coffee beans for the electric kettle and coffee maker off to the side. There are some snacks from the area, many of them homemade. They thought of everything. There’s even some homemade soap from someone local.

“This is adorable,” I muse, digging through the basket. I grab one of the cookies and break off a piece. “Mmm,” I mumble. “Chocolate chip.”

After a while, I decide it’s best to unpack my suitcases since I’m going to be here for a month. I set my sewing machine on the small table and stare at it. I don’t know if I’ll open it, but just seeing it sit there feels right.

“See. I told you that you should bring it,” Jinx declares. “You’ll be making clothes in no time.”

“I don’t know if I will,” I mumble, turning away from it to reach for something equally as important.

“I can’t believe you brought that,” Jinx says, scowling at the item I pull from the suitcase. It’s wrapped up in bubble wrap carefully to make sure it wasn’t damaged.

“I had to bring you along,” I whisper as I set the urn on the mantle of the small fireplace. “I couldn’t leave you behind in that empty apartment.”

“I’m right here, but I get it,” Jinx answers. She glances over at the door. “Looks like your cowboy is back.”

She fades away just as there’s a knock on the door. I glance toward it, frowning, before I stand up and head over. I expect it to be Gunnar again, but when I open the door, it’s a new man standing there.

A very handsome man.

“Good morning, ma’am,” he says with a grin. He’s not wearing a cowboy hat, but I get the feeling he’d have tipped it to me if he was. “I’m Rhett Thomas, owner, and bee expert extraordinaire. You can just call me Rhett.” He winks. “Unless you’d like to call me daddy.”

I can’t help it. I snort and laugh, my hand coming up to cover my mouth in embarrassment. His grin widens at my laughter, as if he knows exactly how charming he is.

“Don’t laugh,” he says. “I’m being serious.”

“Rhett is hot,” Jinx says from behind me, but I don’t turn to look. Not in front of someone else. But I have to agree with her.

Rhett is indeed very handsome. His hair is windswept and a dark orange color. He’s bearded, the facial hair just as well kept as the rest of him. He’s muscular, but not overly so. Freckles dust his checks and the bridge of his nose. He’s wearing jeans that I know probably hug his ass just right and a t-shirt with the Circle Bee brand on it.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have a daddy kink,” I tell him, smiling. “But thanks for the offer.”

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