Page 110 of The Beekeeper

“We made you honey!”

Blaze’s eyes went from hers to mine, a flicker of heat there before he suppressed it. “This is honey?” He held up the glass, staring at the much darker-than-normal honey.

“It’s coffee honey.” She beamed.

“Coffee?” His eyebrows popped, and she nodded vigorously.

“She wanted to make a special flavor just for you,” I said, taking a hesitant step toward them.

“Harper said it’s really yummy. She wouldn’t let me try it because there was coffee in it.”

“Espresso,” I clarified for good measure. “It’s pretty good if I do say so myself.” I bit down on my bottom lip to catch my smile.

“Wow. This is…incredible.” Smiling, he set the jar with the other gifts and then looked at Paisley. “The best gift ever.”

She grinned, and she had no idea he was talking about her and not the honey.

“Wait until you eat your cake!”

“Well, we have to wait for everyone to get here, but you can see it now if you want,” I tempered her enthusiasm. Lou had suggested we have a Father’s Day cookout here on the farm, so our whole family was headed over here this afternoon.

“Yes, come see it!”

“Wait, let me get a picture of the two of you, first.” I stepped into her path, directing her back to her dad.

Blaze lifted one knee and Paisley propped herself on it. In his other hand, he held up the card she’d made him, the pride and happiness in his eyes…well, it surpassed the look he’d had when he’d won his first Oscar. Actually, it blew that look out of the water.

“Okay, on the count of three, say honey! One, two, three⁠—”

“Honey!” I snapped easily a dozen photos of them smiling and then of Paisley cackling as Blaze dropped the card and started to tickle her.

“Daddy!” she giggle-screeched, and I felt tears prick the corners of my eyes.

“Thank you so much, pumpkin. I love you.” Now that the gifts were open, Paisley was content to stand still for a little longer as he held her close and breathed her in. “Pais, what’s that smell?”

At first, I thought he was joking, or at least talking about the cake, but then when his head dipped closer, his brows furrowed, and I realized Blaze’s question was serious.

“Is that…are you wearing perfume?” His eyes flicked to me, but I had no idea what he was talking about.

Paisley bundled her arms over her chest and lowered her head, retreating into herself in a way I hadn’t seen since those first few days she’d spent here with me.

“Pais…” Blaze prompted, his tone a little stricter. “Did you put on Harper’s perfume?”

I fought to not react—to not let my jaw drop to the ground when he so casually admitted to knowing my scent. To recognizing it.

She swayed, and I heard her whispered confession, “Yes.”

“Why?” he asked, and when she took a long time answering, he added, “I’m not mad, pumpkin. I just want to know why.” Still, she hesitated, so he asked, “Did you think you smelled bad?”

She shook her head no.

“Then why did you use it?”

Her narrow shoulders slumped, and she turned her head over her shoulder to look at me. I didn’t know what to say—didn’t think I should say anything right now, so I nodded instead, hoping it was encouraging enough to get her to speak for herself.

“Because we all have to have the same scent.”

“And why is that?” he probed gently.