Page 22 of Three Reckless Words

“No.” His eyebrows descend over his eyes.

“So, it’s first come, first serve, and I’m here first. Why isn’t that good enough?”

“That’s not what I said—”

“That’sexactlywhat you said.” I don’t know why this hits so hard, but it does. My chest hurts. “You don’t want to rent this place longer because it’s gotten a lot of interest. You want to replace me with someone who won’t cause you any weird phone calls.”

His jaw clenches as he stares at me. I wait for him to deny it or saysomethingto redeem himself, but he just says, “I don’t want to invite more trouble into my company, Winnie. It wouldn’t be fair to my brothers, my business partners. They’ve suffered enough, right along with me.”

I hate that he sounds like he actually cares for them.

Sigh.

“Itoldyou… my trouble isn’t the legal kind.”

“And I told you I had your father on the phone demanding to know, in no uncertain terms, where the hell you are.” Archer looks just as exasperated as I am now, his huge barrel chest rising and falling and his eyes like blue flint. “I’m trying to protect my company, Winnie. This isn’t anything against you, it’s simply—”

A bee lands on his shoulder, and he raises a hand to smack it away.

My jaw drops.

I did not just see that.

I’m not thinking when I throw myself forward, grabbing his giant wrist with my small hand, shielding the bee with my other hand.

The little bug flies off.

Archer looks at me like he’s fully convinced I’m insane.

We’re way too close. I can see details I never expected, like the tiny flecks of green in his eyes and lines around his mouth thatmightmean he can smile.

But he’s really, really not smiling now.

“What the hell was that?” he demands, an edge to his voice.

“Do you haveanyclue how much bees are struggling right now?” My voice is high, but I can’t control it. “And you… you were about to kill it without thinking.”

“Do I—what?” He blinks in shock.

“People keep destroying their habitats. We’re killing them with diseases and chemicals. You thought you were just swatting a pesky bug, but every drone is vital. Without bees to pollinate our flowers, we’ll be the ones starving someday. And no honey, oh my God,” I continue, my voice wavering. “That’s becoming as rare as gold. I don’t think you get how delicate bees are, howimportant—”

Archer frees himself from my hold, swearing under his breath.

Then, to my utter embarrassment, I burst into tears.

Not little tears, either.

Big, snotty dumb ones that have been building in my chest all day.

Before, I held them back while I was enjoying the sunshine and the bees. But this stupid fight, this intrusion with Archer, reminds me why real life is too much right now.

I stumble backward, almost falling, and cover my face with my hands.

Congratulations, I guess. He just proved I’m no queen bee.

I hate crying.

And I hate crying even more when this human wall walks forward and takes my wrists. I think he’s about to shake me to restore some control.

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