Page 61 of Honeyed

While it might not make sense to some, those who might want answers, I understand. Not only do I not want him opening that can of worms for his own peace, but Warren knows what he needs to live a life he’s proud of and happy in. Only he can make that decision.

I hug him tight, trying to use my body and gestures to pour all the love I hold into his body.

After a few minutes, he clears his throat. “We should get cleaned up before we get all pruned. Plus, I owe you sugar and dough.”

I rub my stomach. “My second dessert, after you, of course.”

His smile at least hints at flirting, which is a good sign. I hate that he feels like this, that our morning was derailed because of that fucking creep director.

“Why does your shampoo and conditioner smell so much better than mine?” he muses, squirting a pump into his hand as he massages it into my hair.

I groan from the heavenly contact. “Because I spend a small fortune on it, so it better. Speaking of that, I do want to try to find some local beauty companies or small creators who make high-end products like this but just don’t have the scale to get their name out there.”

“Always thinking about Lily, huh?” I can hear the smile in his voice. “Me too, but mostly how we’ll juggle it with our schedules.”

“We’ll figure it out. Or we’ll hire some local kids, or maybe we can steal August away, she likes us best.”

“Not a bad idea. Plus, it would mean longer hours she’s out of the house. We could make her the manager, it would look great on her résumé for future employers no matter what she wanted to do. Speaking of August, has she applied to the landing page?” he asks.

I nod, knowing she did about a week ago. “I’ll send an email this week that she got it. Why do I feel guilty for funding her entire college tuition and lying about it?”

Warren grimaces as we switch positions, and I shave my armpits while he washes the shampoo from his hair. “Because we shouldn’t have to in the first place. Either her mother should support her and pay, or August shouldn’t have a problem taking the tuition straight from me. But we know both of those things will never happen, so this is how it has to be.”

In my heart, I know we’re doing the right thing. “You’re right. Okay, brainstorming; what else do we want to add to our product lineup at the last minute?”

I already met and secured contracts with a clothing designer, a soap and body product company, a candlemaker, a CBD and essential oil creator, three local authors who are going to sell their signed books in our store, a candy company, two women who make the dreamiest knit blankets and baby-wearing devices, and a coffee roaster. I still have a couple more deals in the works, but we have enough product to open tomorrow if we want to.

All local, all manufactured in the US or specifically in Pennsylvania, all small batch. It’s exactly what I’ve been dreaming of, and one obvious but clutch thing about Warren’s inheritance is that we can afford to give these people a space to sell their products while not worrying about operating in the black. Of course, we’re getting a small cut from the deals I negotiated, but it’s more about showing the community and the tourists who come here what our river valley has to offer. How many special creators we have.

And no, I no longer feel bad about using some of the inheritance money Warren received because of our marriage deal. One, we are now legitimate in every way that matters. And two, I worked just as hard on Lily and on our relationship as he has, and as he keeps telling me, what is his is mine now.

It’s too exhausting to question it any longer, especially when I’m able to put our local creators on display like this.

“Your business mind never rests, does it?” Warren chuckles as he turns off the shower.

“Somebody around here has to make money since you’re so broke,” I deadpan the joke as I know he watches me get out and wiggle my ass in a towel.

“You trying to incite me?” He quirks an eyebrow as I watch water rivulets trickle down his abs and the muscles that lead to his cock that is already semi-hard again.

“Maybe later, hot stuff. Right now, my husband promised me sugary treats to stuff my face full of.”

I can’t even mask the giggle as he sweeps me off my feet again and hops onto our bed with me in his arms. I do eventually get those pastries, it’s just way after breakfast has ended.

25

WARREN

I’ve just drilled the last hole into the wall for the hooks Alana asked me to hang to display aprons and sweatshirts when the overhead bell to Lily rings.

My head snaps up since I’m extra cautious of unexpected visitors these days, but it’s only Leona.

“Hey, you.” I smile warmly at her because she’s always been a source of comfort and support in my life.

Leona took me in as her own when she already had her hands full with four teenagers, and I’ll forever be grateful for that. Over the years, she’s always been the one who speaks straight with me but comes from a place of motherly understanding and no pressure. She’s the one who insisted we hug both hello and goodbye, giving me a physical comfort that I hadn’t known in my life.

If I’ve grown up to be half the man she thought I could be, I am happy with that.

“My favorite son-in-law.” She beams as she sets down a thermos of something that is probably delicious and going to make me derail my efforts to get the rest of the products displayed tonight.

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