Page 69 of Three Reckless Words

But even though his eyes shutter at the mention of her, the tight pinch in my chest eases.

I haven’t caused any arguments between husband and wife. He’s not married.

Calm down, Win. Not married doesn’t mean single. Let alone available and interested inyou.

But it also doesn’t mean covered in barbed wire and off-limits. I shake myself before I get carried away. Again.

“We don’t communicate much. I haven’t seen her in a long time,” he adds.

“Really?”

“She travels a lot.”

“Oh.” I take a slow bite of my honey cupcake, quite possibly the best thing I’ve ever eaten. “Dear God, this is amazing.”

The small moan that slips out of me almost kills me from embarrassment right there.

His eyes glow like sapphire discs as he watches me and says, “It’s nice to see you smile again, Winnie.”

At least his expression eases now that we’re not talking about his ex-wife. Though I desperately want to ask him more about her—like when they broke up, why, and whether he’s ever dated again—it’s so not my place.

We talk about normal things.

Safe things.

There are a couple more cabins not too far from Solitude and one that’s still under construction and not open for rentals yet. He says it’s basically livable and I might be able to use it as a backup for a longer term stay if I need it.

I hope I won’t have to burden him.

But I thank him anyway, and I don’t dare mention how much that means to me. I need every door open until I can find a real job.

First, though, I have to make sure the bees are being managed properly and find out what we can really do with the honey. I’m determined to pay back his generosity by taking this gig seriously.

We’re going to make sure the Rory brothers wind up with the best streamlined small-time honey production outside North Dakota. Surprise, surprise, that’s the top honey state in the nation. Producers are everywhere, big and small.

When we’re finally ready to go, Archer clears his throat. “How’d you get here, anyway? I didn’t see your car.”

“Uber.”

“Not driving?”

I shrug. “Technically, it’s my dad’s car now. His name was on the title since he’s the one who bought it as a graduation present. I’m sure he’ll have it tracked down and repo’d at some point. I don’t want to cause more grief by driving it much longer.”

Archer sends me a searching glance.

I deflect with a bland smile, trying to hide just how cooked my life is.

“Let me take you back,” he says. “I know money’s tight.”

I should be embarrassed.

It’s awkward knowing that a guy withso muchmoney to his name knows exactly how broke I am. But something about the way he says it takes the sting away.

It’s not condescension, it’skindness.

I’ve been around both long enough to know the difference, when someone’s doing you a selfless favor or when they’re only helping to put you in debt.

“Also, I’d like to get a better look at the bees without Colt around,” he adds.

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