Page 95 of Honey Be Mine
He nodded. If she wanted to read it to him, he’d try to ignore the ache in his chest and do his damndest to listen.
She pulled the box back, opened the box, and pulled out the top page. “Once there was a busy bee who wanted to see the world.” She held up the picture.
She looked so excited, he forced himself to concentrate. “Beautiful.” He marveled over every vein on the leaf of the strawberry plant, the movement of the bee’s wings, and the bold vibrant colors.
“She buzzed all over, hoping she’d find something to fill the hole in her heart. Looking for the place she belonged.” She showed him the next picture, the bee—flying from flower to flower to flower. “When she came home to rest, she was tired.”
He chuckled at the picture of the bee, resting in a daisy with a sleeping mask over her eyes.
“Her hive greeted her with open arms. Especially her best friend. No matter where the busy bee had flown, he’d supported her dreams.” She showed him a picture of the bees having a party, complete with streamers and cake. “They had a party and made her their queen.”
“I like the party hats.” He smiled. “Nova would approve.”
“I thought so, too.” Rosebud nodded, her gaze holding his. “Queen Bee realized that when she was with her best friend, the hole in her heart was gone.” She cleared her throat. “She realized that all of her buzzing and searching brought her back to where she started. This was where she belonged.”
He stared at the picture of the two bees holding hands. Had Rosebud painted baby goats in the distance?
“Queen Bee was content, but to be truly happy, her best friend needed to become her king. She wanted them to have adventures and their own hive, together. And she hoped he wanted the same.” She held up the last page. Two bees in one heart, each wearing a crown, surrounded by flowers and ribbons and fancy curlicues. “Would they live happily ever after?”
“It’s cute...” He broke off, more than a little confused. “But even I know there are no king bees.” He frowned. If she was planning on writing educational stories, this didn’t work.
“I know.” She frowned. “This was me, trying to tell you...” She broke off and stood, leaving the pages on his desk. “I wrote this last night. And this morning. I didn’t know what you’d think or say... But I’m trying to put myself out there, even if you are still over me.” She sighed. “I thought I was being clever or romantic.”
Over her? Romantic? What the hell did her book have to do with how he felt about her? And when had his feelings for her become relevant to this conversation? Everett was beyond confused now.
“I’d almost finished the book when Kerrielynn and Leif showed up this morning.” Her words were rushed. “Kerrielynn recorded your conversation with Libby. I didn’t want to watch, didn’t want to pry, but then... I heard you, and I hoped that you meant it when you said you loved me.”
Kerrielynn had recorded that? And showed Rosemary? He blinked, processing. But one thing jumped out at him and left him reeling. “You...you hoped that I loved you?” What was going on?
“Everett.” She took a deep breath. “I wrote the book...because... Well... It’s about me and you.” Her words were a whisper. “I’m the queen, and you... I want you to be my king.” She ran a hand over her face. “Maybe we should forget about the book. It was a bad idea.”
The book was about them? He leaned forward, scanning over the pages once—then again.To be truly happy, her best friend needed to become her king.This was aboutthem? He stood, moving slowly toward her. This was really happening? He wasn’t asleep and dreaming at his desk. “Rosebud?”
“I’m really bad at this.” She closed the space between them. “Terrible, apparently.”
“What is this, exactly?” Before he let himself feel any hope, he needed to know—without a shadow of a doubt.
“This is me telling you I love you,” she whispered. “I love you so much.” That wasn’t a whisper. It was strong and certain, and her gaze remained locked with his.
She loved him? And even though she’d just said exactly what he’d wanted her to for over a decade, he couldn’t process it. “But what about your research? Doing big things? Taking a job that gets you excited? You want those things, I know you do.”
“I do. And I can do all of that here. I can guest lecture.” Her gaze searched his. “I don’t know about you, butthisis a big thing.” She rested a hand against his chest, over his heart, and smiled brightly. “This could be the biggest thing that ever happens to me.”
Every word she said mended the pieces of his heart back together. Now, beneath her hand, its rapid beat had no problem telling her what he hadn’t. “I need to be sure.”
“Of what?” She stepped closer and cradled his face.
“That this is what you want? That you’re not sacrificing something important, something that makes you who you are, for me. I couldn’t bear that, Rosebud.” She had no idea how important this was to him. “I meant it when I said I don’t want us doing something you’ll regret.”
“Everett... First, this is what I want. And I won’t sacrifice you—who are something important. The most important thing to me.” Her breath was a little unsteady as she went on. “Second, how do I know you won’t be the one regretting things? That the reality of being with me will be entirely different than the idea of being with me?” A furrow formed between her brows.
“That could never happen, Rosebud.” He took a deep breath, struggling for the words to accurately express what she meant to him. “There are a few things that will never change. I breathe, I sleep, and I love you. It’s the way things are.”
Rosebud’s eyes widened. “Oh, Everett.” She shook her head. “I will never regret giving you my heart. Never.”
He pulled her gently into his arms. “You love me?” He could stare into her beautiful green eyes all day, every day, and never be bored.
“That’s why I resigned. So there are no obstacles.” She nodded, a smile on her face. “And I really liked the job, too.”
