Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137131 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 686(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 457(@300wpm)
I feel a lot better already.
“I figured it was coming,” he says. “I called them last week to see how things were progressing. They told me they expected results back soon. Yesterday, they told my receptionist you’d hear something by afternoon.”
“And you wanted me here when I got the call…”
“I know this place means a lot to you. I wanted to celebrate somewhere that makes you happy.”
God, this beautiful man.
I’m about to wrap my arms around his neck and tell him I could’ve gotten the news anywhere, as long as he’s with me—when I notice something else.
Four new bee boxes, glistening in the sun, tucked in a smaller enclosure not far from the wall’s metal gate.
“You’ve been busy,” I say.
With his hand in mine, he pulls me toward him. “The wall wasn’t the only renovation. I made plenty of room for the bees next season so you won’t have to go chasing them through the woods.”
I was lying when I said I was happy before.
This is happy. Freaking giddy.
Everything keeps falling into place. I still don’t understand how I’m actually sharing it with an incredible man who does little things like this for the bees.
For me.
As we move closer to the new boxes, I see each one has a small note painted across the side, unmistakably written in Archer’s blocky handwriting.
“Bee Brave?” I read it out loud as we approach, smiling. “Arch, was that you?”
He shrugs, though he obviously did.
There’s a grin breaking through his broody face. No matter how hard he tries to hold back, the smile slips through, transforming his face like the sun.
He gives me this reckless, heady joy that makes me want to laugh along with him.
And when I see what’s on the next few boxes, I fall more in love.
Bee Happy, the next box says.
Bee True. I keep reading down the line.
And finally, as we get closer to the final box, Bee Mine?
This one has a question mark.
Hmmm.
I look at it several times just to make sure I’m not misreading anything—I’m still a little afraid that nasty fever caused brain damage—before I look up at him, confused.
“Be yours? Archer, I already am.”
So much more than he can ever know.
I can’t imagine belonging to anyone else. Like it or not, he’s stuck with me now.
Archer’s smile fades into a blank, paper-thin mask, and something else, too.
Uncertainty? But why?
“This one’s special, Winnie,” he tells me. “Go ahead and open it.”
A strange feeling washes over me, this tingly excitement flicking through my nerves.
I feel like a kid on Christmas morning with a present bigger than me. I go to open it, reaching out.
The lid pulls up on a hinge like a regular wooden trunk, and inside—
Holy hell.
It’s amazing that I keep standing.
Inside, there’s a blue-lined velvet box, already open and holding the most gorgeous silver and gold ring. Small bees are engraved into it with wings of sparkling diamonds.
When I turn around, stunned, Archer waits on one knee.
“When I was young, I rushed into a bad marriage for all the wrong reasons,” he whispers, his eyes on mine, lit with emotion. “Now, I want to rush into marriage again. This time, though, for all the right reasons. You gave me back my courage, Winnie. You woke me up. You set me free from the past. Now, I need to know… will you bee mine forever?”
Oh my God.
Archer Rory is asking me to marry him and he’s using bee puns.
Ohhh my gawd, I’m crying until he looks like a blurry, smiling mess.
Probably the worst response to any proposal ever, but for once, it doesn’t feel inappropriate or annoying or wrong.
He doesn’t judge my feelings when they’re out of place. He’s not like my parents.
Mostly, I’m overwhelmed with the feeling that this is meant to be.
Sorry, meant to bee.
“You… you punned me,” I say, half laughing and half crying as I tug him up so I can kiss him. “Of course, I’ll be yours! I told you, I already am. I was from the start.”
“You’ll marry me?”
“Yes, yes, a thousand times yes!” I throw myself into his arms.
My next kiss is sloppy and wet, but he doesn’t seem to mind, folding both arms around me and pressing me against him until we both need to come up for air. He takes the ring from the box—from both boxes—and I hold out my hand.
It slides on my finger perfectly.
“It’s beautiful,” I whisper. The ring Holden gave me was just this soulless giant diamond some woman at a jewelry store probably told him was the height of fashion. But this ring is me—all me.
“I love you, Winnie Emberly. Keep making me crazy forever,” he growls.
Laughing, I wiggle my fingers so the ring sparkles in the light.
“Let’s get married soon so I can take your name. I’d rather start over as Wynne Rory.”
He grins. “Just say the word, woman. We’ll be married however you like.” He smooths a thumb across my cheek. “We could elope and get hitched in New Zealand for all I care.”