What?Her stomach felt icy cold and hollow. Libbycaredabout Everett?
“Anyway, enough about that. Are you here about the job?” Libby waved her hand, that blue gaze and too-bright smile never wavering. “I’m glad he listened to me and offered you the job. I told him you’d be perfect for it and that you’d want to help him. That’s what friends do, isn’t it? You two have been friends forever. You are staying, aren’t you?”
Rosemary nodded, numb. “For now.”
“Of course. Between the two of us, we can take care of him. For now.” She winked at her. “With the election coming up, he can use all the friends he can get.”
“Oh.” Rosemary was having a hard time processing everything. “Why is that?”
Libby’s laugh sounded like she looked—pretty and alluring and feminine. “I keep forgetting you’ve been gone, Rosemary. So much has changed, hasn’t it?” She smoothed her golden hair from her shoulder. “Where to start? You wouldn’t believe all the plans he has.Somany. He has big dreams. Just like you’ve always had. Anyway, it will mean so much to us if you support his mayoral run.” She paused. “I mean him, of course.” She winked again. “Hewould appreciate it.”
Us.Because they were...involved? Everett and Libby? Was that what Libby was implying? It didn’t sound right. Or feel right. He was listening toLibby’srecommendation to hire Rosemary. And Everett was going to run for mayor? Her head was spinning.
The office phone started to ring.
“Oops, give me a sec.” Libby went around the desk and pressed a button. “You’ve reached the County Parks and Recreation Director’s office. This is Libby Owens-Baldwin. How can I help you?” She tucked her hair behind her ear, showing the earpiece she wore. “Hey, Everett.” Her voice softened. “Were your ears burning? I was just talking about you.” There was a pause. “Can do. Okay.” Another pause—followed by Libby’s husky giggle. “Oh, you. Hush. I’m at work, boss. What do you want for dinner tonight?”
Rosemary had to leave, or there was a very real possibility she’d throw up right here in Libby’s office. “I have to go,” she whispered.
“Oh. Hold on.” She clicked a button. “I’m really glad we’re going to work together—for Everett. He deserves only good things. I know you agree.” She paused, her expression almost...vulnerable as she murmured, “I’ll tell Everett you stopped by, and don’t worry, I’ll make sure he calls you.”
“Oh, of course.” She gripped the doorknob.
“Wonderful. Bye, Rosemary.” She waved and hit the button on the phone. “Just text me if you want something special. You know you can havewhateveryou want.”
Rosemary headed straight for the bathroom and splashed ice-cold water onto her face and the back of her neck. Was Libby implying—in a subtle yet not-so-subtle way—that she and Everett were a couple? That couldn’t be right. And yet there was no shaking it. The idea was there. Stuck in her head.
But...was ittrue? Libby had made a career out of getting in her head—just because.
She stared at her reflection, willing her stomach to stop somersaulting and twisting about.
Libby was right, she had been gone awhile, and there had been some big changes. Did that mean Everett had changed? Or Libby? No. Everett was a rock. He had a good head on his shoulders, he always had. She swallowed against the lump in her throat.Ifhe was involved with Libby, that meant Libbyhadchanged. That was the only thing that made sense.
There was also the chance that Libby did care about Everett, but Everett didn’t reciprocate... A preferable and more likely scenario.Thatmade sense.
That was probably the case. Probably. So why wasn’t she relieved?
EVERETTSCRATCHEDATthe stubble lining his jaw. He was tired of being tired and frustrated, but after spending a couple of hours in Rose Prairie, he was both. If Dane hadn’t reminded him to stop by the Junior Beekeepers meeting and put in a good word, he’d be on his way home and to bed. As it was, he was walking along the path that led around the high school to the large metal building that housed a lot of the school’s agricultural programs.
There was the slightest drop in temperature which was a nice break from the constant triple digits of the summer months. He paused long enough to enjoy the deep red and purple edging the horizon—the lingering clouds thin and feathery. Fall was coming.
There was a surge of laughter from inside the building, pulling Everett along. His time in Rose Prairie had taken longer than he’d anticipated, so he was glad he hadn’t missed the entire meeting. When he stepped inside, the chatter and laughter and upbeat energy of the group helped ease some of the tension from his shoulders.
A huge Welcome New Junior Beekeepers banner hung along the far wall of the building—explaining why the parking lot was so full. He’d been so busy, he’d forgotten that this was the first meeting of the year. Tonight was all about getting students, and their parents, excited about the club and what they’d be doing in the year ahead. To say the room was packed was an understatement.
“Everett!” Tansy waved from the table beneath the banner, all smiles.
He smiled and worked his way through the crowd until he reached the table she was standing beside. “This is quite a turnout.”
“It’s cool to be a beekeeper, didn’t you know?” She shrugged, in her element.
“I’m sure all the PR the Bee Girls and Honey Hill Farms has been getting has a little something to do with that.” He glanced around the room, astonished at the number of new faces.
“What can I say? Winning that competition has done good in more ways than we could ever have imagined.” Tansy was beaming.
Less than six months before, Honey Hill Farms had entered their Blue Ribbon Honey in a big honey competition. Not only had it won them the distribution deal with Wholesome Foods, it had put the all-female beekeeping family in the limelight. They’d been on local and national talk shows, in the newspapers, podcasts, and every other outlet with any sort of following. Tansy and Dane had used all the furor to begin building a very solid online following—streaming their time with the bees, making honey, or gushing about one another and their bees.
“I’m glad you made it.” Tansy gave him a long assessing look. “How are you doing, Everett?”
