Page 45 of Honey Be Mine
Rosemary grinned. “When I mentioned it to Kerrielynn and some of the other Junior Beekeepers, they got excited. Which got me excited.” She picked up the smoker. “It’s been a while since I had that sort of enthusiasm—without all the pressure.”
“Oh, you’ll get plenty of enthusiasm from them. Even when it’s triple digits and they’re in a full bee suit, they’re enthusiastic. Really, those kids are awesome.” Tansy glanced around the bee yard. “Any other bees requesting our attention before we head back to the house, Astrid?”
Rosemary and Tansy exchanged a quick grin as Astrid stepped into the middle of the bee yard and paused—listening. Neither one of them could explain their sister’s uncanny connection with the bees, but neither one of them doubted it.
“I think we’re good. No. Wait.” Astrid grinned. “The bees are happy you’re staying, Rose.”
“They told you that?” Tansy rolled her eyes. “Now you’re just making stuff up.”
“How do you know they didn’t?” Astrid asked, her hands on her hips.
Rosemary started laughing. “Who knew you could get so feisty? That’s normally Tansy.”
“Hey.” Tansy’s brows rose, then she shrugged and nodded. “Okay, fine. That’s true.”
The three of them were almost back to the house when Rosemary asked, “Did you know Everett had a crush on me?”
Astrid’s eyes were round as saucers, and Tansy giggled.
“Youknew? Of course, you knew.” Rosemary blew at the hair falling into her face, stunned that she’d been so clueless. How could she have been so close to Everett and not known? “Why... How... You never said anything.” Why hadn’t they said anything? “I feel...”
“What do you feel?” Astrid asked.
“I don’t know.” Rosemary shrugged. “Bad. Clueless. Sad.”
“That’s a lot.” Tansy tucked her arm through hers. “Would it have made a difference if you’d known?”
“No.” She shook her head. “I had blinders on—single-mindedly pursuing my dreams. Back then, I wouldn’t have seen Everett as...as an option.” And now that option was gone.
Astrid hooked her arm with Rosemary’s free arm. “Do you want Everett to be an...option?”
Maybe. Yes.She shook her head, her throat going tight. “Everett is...”
Why had it taken her so long toseehim? Not just as her Everett but as Everett, the man. The kind, distractingly handsome, hardworking, funny, bighearted man who’d be an amazing partner—the forever kind. She swallowed but her throat only got tighter.Everett.
“I think...so,” she whispered.
It was the truth. And it was terrifying.
ASALWAYS, the Hill family kitchen was buzzing with activity. Roman Dunholm might be Shelby’s adoptive father but, as a relative stranger to Everett, it was odd for the man to be in the Hill kitchen making piles of bacon. Not that anyone else seemed bothered by it. Shelby had scrambled eggs going, Magnolia was stacking fresh-baked biscuits on a plate, and Leif was setting the table. But even with all the commotion, he noticed three were missing... Most notably, Rosebud.
Not that he’d come here looking for her. He hadn’t. At least, that’s what he was telling himself.
“Blah daw gi.” Bea’s voice was full of enthusiasm.
“Okay.” He nodded, not sure what to make of her gibberish. Somehow, Everett had wound up holding Bea. The sweet-tempered baby girl had never met a stranger. Every time he visited, she acted like he was a long-lost friend she was delighted to be reunited with. “You’re going to have your momma’s hair, you know that?”
“Ma ma ma da.” Bea grinned and patted his chest. “Ya?”
“Uh-huh, sure.” He glanced at Shelby for translation.
“Sometimes it makes sense.” Shelby shrugged. “Sometimes not so much.”
Everett chuckled. “That’s fine. You tell me all about it, Bea. I just didn’t want to miss anything important.”
“Gee na wasi ga.” Bea nodded, chattering on, pointing at the dogs or Lord Byron, the parrot, and nodding some more. Her little face was just as animated, from broad smiles to eyebrows rising in question.
“Whatever story she’s telling, she’s got a lot to say.” Dane poured himself a cup of coffee. “Want some?”
