3. Avery #2
“I panicked. I’ve never done anything like that before, and the connection felt so... huge. I needed to go back to Olivia Cove and finish my life there before I could even think about what happened,” I ramble, before snapping my mouth shut.
Gideon nods slowly. He rests his large hands on the table. “I understand. But I kept it. The note.”
My heart swells. “You did?”
“In my nightstand drawer,” he admits. He looks down at his hands, his long eyelashes casting shadows on his cheekbones. “Every time I read it, I wondered if you’d ever come back to Foggy Basin. I didn’t think you would. I kinda—”
“I’m here for good now,” I say, my voice warm. “I’m Ezra’s new assistant.” A small hopeful smile tips my lips and the awkwardness begins to melt away, replaced by the same sweet, heavy magnetic pull that drew us together five months ago. The pizza arrives, hot and gooey, and we each take a slice.
“Olly said you went back to the farm,” I say, eager to steer the conversation to something that makes him comfortable. “Are you still working with the bees? I remember you talking about them at the Pride event.”
The change in Gideon is instant. The shy, protective guard drops, and his face lights up. He sits up a little straighter, his dark eyes shining with genuine passion.
“Yeah. I’m running the family apiary full-time with my family now,” he says, taking a bite of pizza. “It is busy this time of year. Right now, my hives here in Foggy Basin are mostly producing sunflower honey. The yellow fields are in full bloom, and the bees love them.”
“Sunflower honey?” I ask, genuinely fascinated. “I didn’t know bees specialized like that.”
“They do,” he says, a warm smile tugging at the corner of his lips.
It is a beautiful, rare sight on his rugged face.
“They forage on what is closest. But my family has hives all over the Sacramento area. We specialize in different varieties depending on the location. My uncle has wildflower and sweet clover honey further south. My cousins do buckwheat. And this year, we just started producing blueberry blossom honey.”
“Blueberry blossom,” I repeat, the words rolling off my tongue. Immediately, my designer brain starts spinning. I think of the rich, deep purple-blue tones of blueberries mixed with golden honey. “That sounds beautiful. What does it taste like?”
“It is sweet, but it has a very distinct, tangy berry finish,” Gideon explains, his hands moving as he talks.
For a man who spent years holding back dangerous crowds and working in high-stress military environments, his personality is very gentle.
“The wax from those hives even carries a slightly sweet, fruity scent. I’ve been using it to make a new batch of skin salves. ”
I lean my chin in my hand, completely captivated. I watch the way his thick, muscular arms move, the way his wavy black hair bounces slightly when he nods, and the pure, gentle kindness radiating from him.
He is a giant. He could easily overpower anyone in this room. Yet, here he is, speaking with absolute tenderness about tiny insects, sweet clover, and fruit blossoms. Be still my little gay heart.
“You really love them, don’t you?” I ask softly.
Gideon stops, looking at me. He rubs the back of his neck, his ears pinking up again, but he doesn’t look away.
“They are quiet,” he says, his voice incredibly gentle. “They work together to build something sweet. After everything I saw in the military and on tour with Olly... the bees gave me peace.” He pauses, his gaze dropping to my lips before rising back to my eyes.
An idea slams into me and I hold up a finger. Pulling out my phone I quickly jot down some of my ideas. Honestly, it’s something that’s been simmering in the back of my head and couldn’t fully form until I saw Gideon again. Damn, I can really kiss the man for this.
“What’s that look for?” he asks, leaning forward.
“It’s something you said. I’ve had this idea for the fashion line I’m trying to start with Ezra.” I bite my lip. “But I don’t know if I should tell him. I’m new, after all. I don’t want to come across as a know it all when I’m still learning.”
Gideon shakes his head. “No, don’t do that. The way you just lit up. It was fucking beautiful. Passionate. Tell him,” he insists. “Or at the very least, write down that idea and work it over until you feel comfortable enough to show him. But whatever you do, don’t hide that idea from the world.”
Over the next week, I bury myself in sketches and research, feeling completely inspired. I’m riding high on Gideon’s supportive words and the creative process. It only takes a few days for everything to bubble over.
“Hey,” I say, clutching my design folder to my chest. “About our new line, I had a few ideas. Do you mind if I show you?”
“Of course not. I’d love to see. I’m not like those Hollywood designers in SoCal. You can show me anything. Anytime.”
Warmth fills my chest, and not for the first time this week, I feel like I made the right decision coming here to Foggy Basin. I dive into my idea, bringing up reference videos and detailed sketches. The whole time Ezra nods, a huge smile on his face.
“This is brilliant, Avery. A little risky, but if we can get the technique right, it’s going to be amazing.” He studies me for a moment. “This means we’ll have to work closely with a certain beekeeper.”
I grin. “I guess it’s just the perks of the job.”
Ezra laughs. “By the way, I have a huge favor to ask. My new social media guy needs a place to stay for a week or two. Would it be okay if—”
I nod quickly, understanding. “What about your sofa upstairs? Isn’t it a pull out?”
Relief relaxes Ezra’s features. “You don’t mind? His name is Kai, he’s a social media influencer from Hawaii.”
“Nope. Don’t mind at all. As long as he doesn’t mind my chaotic bestie walking in at any random time. You know there’s no controlling Kennedy.”
Ezra barks out a loud laugh. “Yeah, there’s no controlling that boy. I’m pretty sure Kai and Kennedy will get along great.”
That warm feeling floods me once again. It’s only been a week or so, but it already feels like I’m building a home for myself here in this tiny town.