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)
“Oh. My. God. Now I know why you brought us here.”
I don’t, but he smiles—an amazing smile, not just a ghostly switch of his lips—which makes me think I’ve never seen him truly smile before.
This one actually lights up his face.
Those dark-blue eyes of pure sorcery go from calm secrets to open night sky.
I think I stop breathing.
“My sister-in-law owns this place. Thought you might like it,” he says.
“You’re a little late to the party,” I say, recovering my voice. “I’ve been ordering stuff from this place for days. I can’t believe I missed the cupcakes, though. Honey cupcakes, shit!” I hold the menu to my heart. “Your sister-in-law is a genius. I bet we’ll hit it off like besties.”
I realize my mistake as soon as I say it. I bet we’ll hit it off like besties.
Like we’re going to ever meet.
Like there’s a reason I should meet his brilliant baker sister-in-law.
“I mean, if I ever meet her,” I garble, “which I won’t, because… why would I? She sounds like a great person, though. I admire anyone who runs a place this cool.”
Like he hasn’t even registered my mammoth stupidity, Archer looks over the menu and waves to a server. She’s a young, pretty girl with brown hair in springy curls and soulful dark eyes, a college girl, maybe.
Really, she’s probably just a couple of years younger than me.
“Two honey cupcakes and an espresso, please.” He looks at me expectantly. “What do you want to drink?”
I scan the laminated menu with the drink selection—sodas, coffees, hot chocolates, milkshakes—and settle on a Bittersweet Mocha with locally made dark chocolate and cane sugar. The girl takes the order and heads to the back.
Archer leans forward, bracing his tree branch forearms on the table.
“I spoke with my brothers yesterday. It’s good news,” he says, watching me intently.
“I can stay?”
“As our temporary resident bee specialist, yes. That’s the deal. I told them you were going to tap the honey and help us get it analyzed, or whatever you do with the purple stuff.”
I laugh. Honestly, the way he knows nothing about bees is kinda adorable.
Then again, adorable feels like the wrong word for a literal giant who inherited all the grumpy genes.
“Don’t worry. I have every intention of getting my hands messy with that honey. There are labs that can help us figure out its medicinal benefits if we send off a sample. But did you tell your brothers it’s purple?”
His eyes narrow. “I may have mentioned it.”
“Aw, man, that’s the best part! Don’t you tell them anything?” I wag a finger. “That’s half the selling point, until people taste it.”
“I stressed how rare it is,” he offers.
“And they just took your word?”
“I don’t make lying a habit.” His face tightens for a second, then relaxes. “Dexter and Patton know as much about honey as I do. Jack shit. I could’ve told them it was made from moon cheese and they wouldn’t know better.”
Okay, that wins him a snorting laugh.
I’m still laughing when a girl with hair redder than mine comes over, though hers is much straighter and hangs in glossy waves. Archer gives her a relaxed, easy smile that makes him look almost soft.
“Checking up on me already, Junie?” he asks.
“I know how impatient you get when your stomach starts growling,” the woman says affectionately. She might be a couple years older than me, maybe, and she’s predictably gorgeous. Sea-green eyes, a lovely pale face that looks like it belongs on a marble statue, and a wide smile.
She sets our drinks on the table. I hate that my heart dips until he speaks again, wondering if these two have a thing.
“This is my sister-in-law, Juniper Rory,” Archer says.
Sister-in-law? The owner? Oh, thank God.
Huge relief.
Junie, he called her. From the playful way she grins at him, they’re on good terms. Certainly better than how he seemed to be with that woman who looked like she just stepped out of a play, still wearing her costume. His wife, I guess.
It’s weird, trying to figure him out.
All the pieces don’t quite fit.
But I’ve seen my share of unhappy, passionless marriages, so it’s nothing new. I hope Arch isn’t cursed with the same fate.
“This must be her, huh? Super nice to meet you,” Juniper says to me with a bright smile. “My husband told me all about the mythical bee lady.”
“Junie,” Archer warns.
She flashes a mischievous smile. “Come on, dude. You know I had to see her for myself to know it was true.”
Snorting, he shifts his gaze to me, an expression flicking over his eyes I can’t quite read. “I’m sorry, Winnie. I promise you her treats make up for her attitude.”
“You’re lucky I’m busy, mister, or I’d fill your cupcake with gobs of cinnamon. See how you like it when you choke on a honey fireball. You’re in my second home, so behave.” Junie smacks him on the shoulder and gives me a grin before putting a brief, reassuring hand on mine.