Page 38 of Honey Be Mine
“I do?” He smoothed the hair from her forehead.
It was getting hard to breathe again. Now that it was just the two of them, she was increasingly aware of Everett. Everything about him. His scent. His touch. His arms heavy around her. And how devastatingly handsome he was. And when his gaze shifted to her mouth, a jolt of anticipation raced down her spine and shook her to her core.What is happening?
“Rosebud,” he murmured.
She couldn’t say a word. She should. But what? Something wasdefinitelyhappening. For her anyway. She was tingly and flushed, a hollow ache centered in the pit of her stomach, and her heart was close to beating its way out of her chest. Most concerning of all was how much she hoped Everett would kiss her.
His voice echoed in her head.I got over you.
Right.It was enough to snap her out of it.
She rested her head against his chest and pressed her eyes shut. Any minute, he’d let her go, the world would keep on spinning, and all the Everett-inspired-weirdness putting her insides in knots would vanish.
Instead, one big hand splayed against her back, anchoring her against him.
It was too much. Not just the touching and warmth and how incredible he smelled, but how terrifyingly right it felt to be like this—held in Everett’s arms.
My best friend.
She gently but firmly let him go and stepped back.
“Thanks.” Everett ran a hand along the back of his neck, his gaze sweeping over her face.
She cleared her throat and managed to say, “Anytime.” She could still feel the weight of his hand against her back—still hear the thud of his heart in her ear.
“Guess we should give Jenny some backup.” He nodded at the house. “And then I need to figure out how to keep Gramma Dot from getting back up that tree.” He glanced at the tree, scratched his chin, then shook his head.
Rosemary was grateful for the distraction. She took a steadying breath and turned all of her attention on the tree. The tree. Not on Everett or how the breeze lifted his overlong hair and swept it onto his forehead. “I think cutting off those two limbs would take care of it... But even with those limbs, I’m impressed she managed to get all the way up there.”
“Well, that’s Gramma Dot for you. Expect the unexpected.” He glanced her way and smiled. “It helps that she’srealstubborn.” He shrugged. “I think you’re right. I’ll go get to work and take those off.”
“I’ll go help Jenny.” She tucked her hair behind her ear and headed for the porch stairs, eager to put some space between them. Even though she felt his gaze on her, she didn’t slow or look back. Instead, she hurried inside, closed the back door, and leaned against it until she’d caught her breath.This is bad. This is wrong. This isEverett.
“That looked pretty intense.” Jenny stood at the sink. Over the farm sink was a window. A window that would have provided a clear view of the yard—and the unnervingly intimate exchange between her and Everett.
“Oh.” She did some weird flutter thing with her hands, then shoved them into the pockets of her jeans. “No. Just... Well, you know.”
Jenny’s eyes went round, but there was the ghost of a smile on her lips. “I really don’t.”
“Where...where’s Gramma Dot?” She glanced around the room.
Jenny glanced at the clock on the far wall. “This is naptime. She and the goat kids are piled up in quilts on the couch. They’ll snooze for a couple of hours.”
“She’s probably exhausted.” The whistle of the tea kettle made Rosemary jump.
“Are you okay, Rosemary?” Jenny asked, pulling teacups from the cabinet.
“I’m fine.” Which might have been believable if her voice hadn’t cracked.
Jenny didn’t bother hiding her smile. “Tea?”
Rosemary nodded. “Can I help?”
“There are some cookies in the cookie jar. I know Everett likes cookies with his tea.” Jenny nodded at the two-tone brown ceramic jar at the end of the counter. “Gramma Dot does, too—if she wakes up early.”
Rosemary had spent enough time in the Taggert kitchen to know where everything was. She pulled a plate from one cabinet, stacked it high with store-bought cookies, and carried it to the kitchen table. When Jenny brought the teapot to the table, they sat.
“You know, I’ve always loved these cookies.” Rosemary reached for one of the cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies.
