Page 15 of Bee

Leaning against the small counter, she chuckles, "I think I've slept my last wink on that couch. Honestly, I don't know how men do it." She reaches up and rubs her neck.

"What do you mean?" I look from her to the couch and back again.

"When I was going through the thick of it, I couldn't feel shit but the pain of wanting another drink, then when I got to the tail end of it everything hurt. But I think I'm through the forest now and that couch has got to be the most uncomfortable thingI've ever laid on. I can sleep on the floor." she shrugs, and the thought of her on my floor makes my stomach turn.

"No, absolutely not. There's a draft that comes up from downstairs." In the pit of my gut, I know what I'm about to say, and I know how bad it can look.

"What do you suggest then?" She crosses her arms over her chest and tilts her head.

"Well, you can take the bedroom. I can sleep on the floor." I do my best to keep my voice steady.

"You won't let me sleep on the floor because of this horrible draft and you think I'm going to let you sleep on the floor? What kind of woman do you think I am." She takes a few steps closer to me. So close in fact if I moved my arm I'd be able to touch her breast. "Are you going to be a good boy?" She whispers and I feel it in my bones.

Fuck this woman is a problem. The best damn kind.

"I can't promise you that but I can promise I'm not going to touch you." I give it as good as I get it.

"So be it. We can sleep in the bed together. I just want one good nights sleep." She presses her hand to her mouth and yawns before she taps my chest and walks around me.

I turn to watch her making her way to the back where my room is.

This is going to be the longest night of my life.

7

Bee

Talk about out of the norm.

I'm at a freaking farmer's market.

When I think about a good time, this is the last place that I would picture myself going, hell it's the last place I'd picture anyone going to have a good time. For as long as I can remember, my good times all revolved around having a drink.

I've been with Rye the last three days and I haven't even had one. He got me through the worst of my detox but even now it's still hard.

Thankfully, I wasn't too far gone. There were times when Rye thought he was going to have to take me to the hospital to get through the worst of it.

I'm happy it didn't need to go that far.

But now I'm here, at a farmer's market, looking at one hundred different flavors of jam.

"You seriously come to this every time it's here?" I turn to look at Rye who is holding a small whicker basket. It looks so out of place in his massive hands.

"Yeah, every second and fourth Sunday of the month. I may not always buy things, but it's a good way to keep in touch with the local businesses." He shrugs and picks up a jar of jam before paying the lady at the stand.

"I guess that makes sense." I turn to look around at the picturesque farmer's market only to have Mojag standing not more than three feet behind me. "For fucks sake! Make a noise. You scared the shit out of me!" I yell at him and Rye instantly grabs hold of my arm to pull me back.

I hold my ground though. "It's alright. This is Jag, my brother-in-law."

Rye relaxes and let's my arm go. I don't want to admit it but it feels good to know that Rye is ready for whatever comes his way when it comes to trying to protect me.

"Who's that?" Jag's gruff voice comes out hard, almost like a threat.

Rye comes to step up next to me his chest puffed up a bit but he doesn't say anything waiting for me to do the introductions. After the past few days that he and I have spent together it feels weird to label him as just my friend but that's what he is. We haven't even kissed yet. I guess he was telling the truth about not wanting to fuck me. It feels strange not to weild that power over a man. Usually I can bat my eyelashes and get man to do just about anything I want them to do, not with Rye.

"This is Rye, a friend of mine." I glance up at him just to make sure I'm not saying something he didn't expect.

"Good to meet you." Jag puts his hand out to shake Rye's and I watch the exchange. Two powerhouses, strong silent types. For some reason, I think the two of them would really hit it off. This could be the start of a blossoming bromance. Just the thought makes me giggle. Rye looks down at me confused but I'd rather not bring him into my mind right now.

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