Page 13 of Silk and Honey

My heart does a heavy, irregular thud against my ribs. I wipe my palms on my apron, my throat suddenly going dry.

"Hey, Honey Bear," Avery beams, leaning his elbows right on my counter. His graphic tee dips low, revealing his smooth, tan collarbone. "You look very serious over here. Are the bees okay?"

I get the impression he wanted to say something else, but I let it pass.

"The bees are fine," I say, my voice a low, gravelly rasp. I try to keep my face completely stoic, but Avery has this way of causing my body to react whenever he’s nearby. "How is the boutique booth?"

"Ezra is a perfectionist, so we’ve rearranged the silk rack four times. Four freaking times." Avery sighs dramatically, though his brown eyes are dancing with mischief. "I needed an escape. What do you have for me today, Gid? Any new treats?"

I look down at the display, trying to find my grounding. I reach behind the counter and pull out a small glass jar with a handwritten label. It is a deep, rich amber color—the official first yield of our new experimental batch.

"Blueberry blossom," I explain, unscrewing the lid. I pick up a clean wooden honey dipper, swirling the thick, slow-moving liquid around the ridges. "I brought a jar from my cousin's farm to test the market."

"Ooh, let me see," Avery says, leaning closer.

He doesn't reach for the dipper. Instead, he just tilts his head up, his eyes locking onto mine, his lips parting slightly in an open invitation.

My breath hitches. We are out in the open, in the middle of Main Street, with half the town walking past us. My bodyguard instincts scream at me to keep my distance, to maintain a professional wall so nobody starts gossiping about the new fashionista and the quiet farmer. But looking at Avery’s bright, expectant face, my restraint crumbles.

I lift the wooden dipper, my fingers steady despite the sudden rush of adrenaline. I bring it to his lips, carefully letting a single, heavy drop of golden-purple honey fall onto his tongue.

Avery closes his eyes, a soft, appreciative hum escaping his throat. He licks his lips, his tongue catching a stray drop of sweetness at the corner of his mouth. The gesture is innocent, but it makes my cock jump.

"Wow," Avery whispers, opening his pretty brown eyes. "Gideon, that’s incredible. It’s so sweet, but it has this sharp, fruity bite at the very end. It tastes exactly like a fresh berry orchard."

"It has a high sugar content," I explain, my voice rougher than usual as I set the dipper down.

"I wonder how this wax compares to your sunflower honey for the silk treatment. It would probably hold the structured shape nicely."

"Always thinking about the work," I say, wanting to lean in and kiss the honey from his lips. I shake my head and take a step back.

“Oh, don’t worry. I work hard and play hard,” Avery teases softly, his voice dropping so the passing tourists can't hear. He reaches across the counter, his small, soft fingers brushing lightly against my forearm. "Are you avoiding me, Gid? We exchanged numbers, and yet, you haven't texted me."

The touch is light, but it anchors me right to the spot. I look down at his hand against my dark skin.

"I’m not avoiding you, Avery," I say honestly, my dark eyes meeting his. "I’m just... giving you space. I need to give you space. You just moved here. You have a new job, a new life. I don’t want you thinking I’m stalking you."

Avery’s smile fades a little, replaced by a softer, more serious expression. He looks at me for a long moment, his thumb tracing a tiny circle on my skin.

"Just for the record, I don't mind being stalked by you, Gid," he says quietly. "In fact, I was kind of hoping you'd go to a barbeque with me later tonight. Ezra and Olly invited me."

My chest aches with a strange, heavy mixture of desire and fear. He is so young, so sure of what he wants in this exact moment. But I know how fast the world can change. I know how easy it is for a bright light to burn out in a dark, quiet place. I hate that my insecurities seem to win. Would it be so bad if I gave in for a while? Maybe spoil the young man while I’m still in his sights. Because damn, I’d do anything to make him smile.

I hold up a finger. “Pause that thought. I have something for you.” I rummage around under my makeshift counter and pull out a small gift basket I prepared. Fuck. I don’t usually do things like this…no. That’s a lie. I did something similar at the Pride parade.

But I didn’t know him back then. Not the way we know each other today. Each item in this basket has a purpose. Everything was made with the kindness of my heart, with Avery in mind. “Open it when you get home,” I say, handing it to him.

He peers inside quickly and gasps. “This is so thoughtful, Gideon—I”

"The barbeque starts at eight," I rumble, my fingers twitching against my apron. "I'll find you then?"

"It's a date," Avery whispers, giving my arm a gentle squeeze before stepping back. He flashes me one last, sunshiny smile that completely blinds me, then turns and jogs back across the street toward Ezra.

I watch him go.

He’s completely out of my league. My brain tries to warn me in that annoying way. I need to shut it up. I need advice. Pulling out my phone, I tap on the Arcade Group Chat, happy that they decided to include me.

(Group Chat: Arcade Lake + The Bee Guy)