Page 68 of The Bitter Heir and the Beauty

Honey: You mean scavenger hunters?

Me: When should we expect them?

Honey: The Hogwash Hunt begins January 2, but more importantly, when can we expect you?

Me: Are you saying you want me?

Our back and forth is usually pretty snappy when Leonie is asleep and I’m off the clock. However, the little texting dots blink for longer than usual, like Honey is trying to figure out how to respond.

Honey: I want reliability.

Honey: I want integrity.

Honey: I want honesty.

Honey: I want your mouth on mine.

Honey: Does that answer your question?

Yes, very much so. I shift slightly, suddenly hot and I clear my throat.

Me: Don’t miss me too much.

Honey: Leonie keeps me distracted. And these noises.

I open a browser window on my phone and look up a security system company in the area, wishing I’d done this sooner. I make a call and pay extra for the technicians to go to the chateau tomorrow.

Me: It’s probably the cat.

Honey: Minou is curled up at the end of the bed.

I’ll admit that I wish I was, even though Honey won’t let me into the bedroom. I’d settle for the couch, with her head on my shoulder or even taking a walk and holding hands.

Me: Workers from SecuriTech will be at the house at eight. I told them to swing by the restaurant to grab the key from you.

Honey: You’re having a security system installed?

Me: Since Flap and Jack are all the way on the other side of the country, I can’t be your bodyguard, so yeah.

Honey: Are you calling your arm muscles Flap and Jack? I think we can do better than that.

Me: Flapjack? Better than Pan and Cake ... or we could just go with hotcakes.

I add the winking face. I can’t help it, even though I take Honey and Leonie’s safety seriously, I’m smiling because this woman just gets me. And I get her.

Me: Yep. Flap and Jack miss you. They want to make sure you’re safe until they can hold you in their arms again.

Honey: Are you saying you want me?

My grin grows and one of the guys across the room snickers as if he knows I’m messaging someone special. Can’t let them see my soft side, so I go outside onto the deck overlooking Carson Spur, part of the Sierra Nevada range, dotted with evergreen stubble as it slopes gently toward meadowlands.

I flip through a few of the recent photos of Leonie and get to some that include Honey. My heart melts as I look at the baby with her bright blue eyes. But my pulse picks up the pace and goes wild when I look at Honey with her steady yet sparkling gaze. The woman has known mischief and isn’t afraid to stand up for herself?—or stand by the people she loves, namely her little girl. She’s strong, thoughtful, and resilient, and the kind of woman a guy would never regret.

There is no other way to answer her question so I keep it simple.

Me: Yes, I want you.

Me: I want you bad.

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