“Yes, you little…”
Tsking, I said, “Be careful, Kyle, or I might feel the need to share what I know.” I chuckled, then added, “It’s Boyer now, by the way.”
Kyle sighed. “Tell Arabella most K9s are male dogs, but Cat is going to be trained specifically for drugs.”
I nodded and then looked at Arabella who seemed utterly lost. “He said most K9s are males, but Cat will be trained to sniff out drugs.”
Arabella’s brows rose, and she sat down at her little table in the kitchen. “Didn’t know we had a drug problem in Boggy Creek.”
“Listen, I won’t keep you,” I said to Kyle, “but Arabella and I want to go hiking.”
There was a moment of silence before he replied with an, “Oooookay.”
I laughed. “Up to a very tall mountaintop. Maybe Cloudland Falls or Franconia Ridge, if we can get up there. Will you take us?”
He paused again, and I thought I heard him say “Hunter.” Maybe he was with him. “Of course I’ll take you guys. When do you want to go?”
“When can you take us? The sooner the better.”
Kyle chuckled. “You do know it’s been snowing; we might not make it all the way to the top depending on how much snow has fallen up there.”
“That’s fine. We just need someplace to scream.”
“Scream?” he asked in a confused voice.
“Yep, scream. This is where I’m calling in my return favor for keeping my mouth shut.”
Kyle grumbled something, and I was pretty sure I heard the word “women” in there somewhere.
Arabella covered her mouth and giggled.
“You guys got hiking gear?”
“I’ve still got some boots from when we went that one time in college. Bella?” She nodded. “We’re golden, Kyle. Just tell us when.”
“I’ll pick you both up tomorrow morning at seven.”
“Tomorrow morning at seven. We’ll meet you at The Coffee Pot, so you don’t have to drive out to get both us.”
“Okay, sounds like a plan. Talk to you tomorrow,” Kyle said.
With a wide grin, I replied, “Talk to you then.”
Hitting End, I set my phone down next to my coffee, picked it up, and took a drink.
“Are we really going to do this?” Arabella asked.
“Yep!” I said, popping my p. “Now, let’s talk business.”
Arabella’s eyes widened.
“Before I left, I talked my father into planting a few acres of lavender. It’s done amazingly well. I know things are really picking up here at the apiary, especially with the little café you opened in the gift shop. And I know you have all the lavender plants that the hives are sitting among.”
Arabella smiled as she reached for a bowl and took off the lid to reveal frosting. She picked up a cupcake and started to frost it. “I’m also doing really well selling picnic baskets! I started doing them for friends just for fun, but then word got out and more and more people are asking for me to make them. I have to turn a lot of people away since I don’t have the time.”
“That’s a good thing.”
She shrugged. “Good and bad. I hate turning away business, but the bees are my number one priority, so it’s been a double-edged sword.”
“I get that,” I said.
“What’s your business idea?”
“Lavender honey.”
She perked up. “I’m listening.”
“I have plans to make culinary lavender and sugar lavender. How cute would it be to make up little product bags that bring the flower farm and the apiary together? The ideas are endless! Lavender honey syrup. Lavender and honey soap. Lavender and honey simple syrup! Lavender and honey cookies.”
“Oh, I love that one. I love them all! Yes.” She jumped up. “Oh my gosh, yes! Count me in!”
Arabella and I spent the next few hours writing down ideas and notes while I helped her in the café. Not many people came to the apiary in the winter, since the bees were all in hibernation, but plenty of people came for Arabella’s food. MaryLou, who also worked at the Willow Tree Bed and Breakfast, helped out Arabella a few days a week and was currently making up a batch of chicken salad.
“You need more help,” I said as I grabbed more strawberries to cut up. Arabella had only hired a young high school girl—Misty, I think her name was—to wait tables.
Arabella blew away a stray hair that had fallen down from her bun. “Tell me about it.”
“You need Candace.”
She lifted her head and met my gaze. “I wouldn’t want to lure her away from Greer.”
“You wouldn’t completely take her. Maybe she’d be willing to share her time.”
Arabella blew out a breath. “I don’t know if Candace would be interested.”
“I’m serious, Arabella. Talk to her about it. Did you see the way her eyes lit up when she said how much she liked to bake? She could come in a couple times a week and whip up desserts for you that would last for days!”
Arabella stopped icing the cupcakes and looked at me. “You know, that’s true. I don’t have a set dessert menu; it’s usually whatever MaryLou or I feel like making for that week—and my skills are limited when it comes to baking. It would be nice to offer custom cakes…and Candace did say she makes cakes.”
“All I’m saying is, it doesn’t hurt to ask.”
She seemed to be chewing it over in her head. Then she smiled. “You know what, I’m going to ask her!”
I clapped and hugged her. “Okay, on that high note, I need to get back to the flower farm. I’ll meet you at The Coffee Pot tomorrow morning! No backing out.”
Wiping her hands on her apron, Arabella walked with me as I headed out of the kitchen and through her living room.
Right as I opened the door, I froze. Hunter, Kyle, and Bishop all stood on Arabella’s porch.
Arabella froze next to me. She instantly wrapped her arm around mine. I wasn’t sure if she was doing it for me or for her. Maybe a little bit of both. It had been four days since I’d last seen Bishop. Why did he have to look so damn handsome? His dark blonde hair seemed even darker, and his eyes looked like crystal clear blue water.
“Hey,” Kyle said as he walked over, leaned down, and kissed me on the cheek. Then he did the same to Arabella.
“Um, hey,” I replied, looking from Kyle to Bishop. When his eyes met mine, I felt my stomach flip, just like it had when he’d first started talking to me all those years ago.
He, apparently, didn’t feel the same, because he quickly looked away. I tried to ignore the way it made my heart fall like lead straight to my stomach.
I forced myself to smile and looked at Hunter. He and Arabella were locked in a stare before Arabella cleared her throat and turned to Kyle. “What brings you three here?”
Kyle spoke with a smile. “I just wanted to remind you both to dress in layers tomorrow.”
Arabella’s grip on me tightened, and we both nodded.
Kyle smiled, and I couldn’t help but notice the little gleam in his eyes.
“So you’re both going hiking with Kyle tomorrow? Are you sure you want to do that?” Hunter asked, looking at me, then Arabella.