Texas Two Steps Four-Pack Bundle (4 page)

Kristy laughed, a deep-throated chuckle that made Jim think of tangled sheets and sweaty bodies. Damn, the woman had ignited his libido, big time.

"Say hello to the nice man, Steven." The baby blew spit bubbles and grinned. Kristy nuzzled her nephew's neck, then kissed the top of his head. "Well, I know you want to get to those bees. I'll take the baby back in the house and watch from there."

Jim nodded. "Sounds like a plan." He walked to the back yard and inspected the swarm of bees high on the tree trunk, then returned to his truck for his equipment. After suiting up and putting on his gloves and veil, he was ready. Glancing at the windows at the back of the house, he saw Kristy looking out of one. She smiled and waved and he waved back.
 

You'd think he'd be used to an audience by now, but he wasn't. Especially when the audience consisted of a sexy blond who smelled delicious. He'd always been on the shy side, much to his chagrin. When they'd shaken hands, an electric current had zipped through his system. Was she seeing anyone? Maybe he'd ask her out. He certainly was attracted to her, and it had been a long time since he'd dated anyone. Too long, in fact. A bee buzzed by Jim's ear, recalling him to the job at hand.

From the safety of the kitchen window, Kristy watched Jim spread an old tarp on the ground and place a squatty white box on top. He climbed a ladder and with a few swift strokes of his long wooden brush, he knocked the mound of bees off the tree and onto the tarp. With athletic grace, he jumped down from the ladder and stood looking at the bees on the ground. She couldn't see what they were doing, but after a while, Jim seemed satisfied. Folding his ladder, he disappeared around the garage. It would take several trips to gather up the bees and equipment.

He was an attractive man and seemed kind of on the shy side. Tall and powerfully built, he had a thick muscular neck and broad shoulders. Dark hair and brows complimented his rugged good looks. His lips were full and he had a cleft in his strong chin. That quick firm handshake had produced delightful tingles of awareness. And when he had shaken the baby's small hand, Kristy had sensed a gentleness in him that had touched a chord deep inside. She liked his smile. That smile had touched something deep inside, too. She hadn't felt such a strong sensual tug for anyone in a long time. Most of the dates she'd been on lately had left much to be desired.
Not much desire
whatsoever, as a matter of fact.

Laying the baby down for his nap, Kristy waited on the front porch for Jim to return from the backyard with the last load of his stuff. Maybe she should stand near his truck. Or would that be too obvious? Before she could make up her mind, the beekeeper rounded the corner of the house. Bees were zigzagging around the box he was carrying, but they didn't seem to bother him. Kristy was glad she was safe on the porch.

After Jim placed the box in the truck-bed, he climbed out of his white bee suit and tossed it in the cab. He put on his black Stetson and made a beeline toward Kristy. Her heart thumped loudly in her chest.

Jim stopped before he reached the steps to the porch and tipped back his hat. "I think I got most of them. There might be a few stragglers for the next couple of days, but nothing to worry about. They won't hurt you."

"Thank you so much." Before she lost her nerve, she added, "Could I offer you a glass of lemonade before you go? That looks like hot work in that heavy white suit."
 

He stared at her, then quickly glanced away. Yes, the man was definitely shy, but she'd seen heat flare in his eyes. She wasn't the only one feeling the sensual tug.

"That sounds good," Jim said, "but I can't stay. I have a bottle of water in the truck and I need to get that hive box to my bee yard as soon as possible. Well, it was nice meeting you." He wiped his hand on his jeans and extended it for a farewell shake.

Would she feel that spark again? She put her hand in his and strong fingers held her fast. Sure enough, electricity zinged up her arm. His brown eyes caught her gaze and he looked at her lips. Kristy felt her nipples tingle with alertness.

Jim dropped her hand and stepped back. "I'd best be leaving now. Goodbye."

Kristy swallowed her disappointment as he turned and walked to his truck. She watched him drive away and felt she'd missed her chance.
Chance for what, Kristy? Don't be so emo.
But she couldn't help thinking that maybe she should have asked him to dinner or something. She'd probably never see him again and that would be a shame.

The next day was Sunday and Kristy found her thoughts drifting around Jim Hennessey more often than not. After lunch, she walked out in the backyard and stared up at the old pecan tree where the swarm of bees had landed. Just like Jim had said, there were a number of stragglers whizzing in the air around the upper trunk of the tree. Lost and searching for their queen, no doubt. She'd Googled about honeybees and swarms last night. She now knew more than she'd ever need to know about the subject. When a couple of bees whizzed around her head, Kristy hurried back inside. Jim had said they wouldn't hurt her and so had her research, but she still didn't trust the little suckers.

She half-heartedly cleaned and straightened the kitchen, then plopped down for a while to read. She needed a distraction. Suddenly, there was a knock on her front door. When she opened it, Jim stood on the other side of the screen, much like he had yesterday. Only today, his short dark hair was neatly combed, and he had on a nice shirt and a crisp pair of Wranglers. His boots were polished and he held a bottle of golden honey in his hand. Kristy felt a fluttering in her chest and she gripped the door handle tightly.
 

"I came to check on the bees," Jim said, his voice sounding a little rusty. He cleared his throat.
 
"And if the offer's still good, I'd like some of that lemonade."

Wow. The shy man had come back on the flimsiest excuse. Thank God. Kristy smiled. "Sure, the offer's still good."
 
She opened the door, and Jim stepped inside. He was bigger and taller than she'd remembered. His masculine presence filled the living room.

Jim cleared his throat again. He was clearly nervous which touched Kristy's heartstrings. "I brought you a jar of honey. I hope you like it."

"Oh, yes. Very much. Thank you." She took the bear-shaped bottle and held it close to her chest. "Come on in the kitchen. I'll get you a glass of lemonade and we can talk."

"I'd like that." His deep voice washed over her, making her stomach feel heavy and edgy.

The kitchen seemed to shrink as soon as Jim stepped into the room. Yes, he was a big man. His powerful thighs strained the seams of his denim jeans. Tendons and muscles showed clearly on his tanned arms.

Kristy poured two glasses of lemonade. She needed to cool down fast before she did something stupid like throw herself against that massive chest and beg him to kiss her.

What in the world had come over her?

"Here you go." She set the glass on the table and sank into her chair across from him.

"Thank you kindly." His voice was a deep baritone that sent chills and thrills through her system. Damn, she had a major case of the hots for the shy beekeeper.

Jim took a long drink of the lemonade. Kristy watched his throat work as he swallowed. His neck was muscular and she had the wildest desire to trail kisses all over it. Sitting across the table from him, she could smell his spicy aftershave. She wished she could snuggle close, burrow her nose against that tanned skin and inhale deeply.

His scent was driving her crazy. It
must
be driving her crazy. How could she think such thoughts about a stranger? A man she didn't even know. She knew nothing about Jim Hennessey other than he was a beekeeper and he was shy. And sinfully handsome.

He set the glass on the table and traced his finger over the drops of condensation. "It's very good. You make it fresh?"

"As a matter of fact, I do. "

He nodded and continued to trace the side of his glass. Kristy had never dealt with a shy man before. There was something kind of sweet about it. He glanced up, caught her eyes and held them hostage. With hands that trembled slightly, Kristy picked up her lemonade and took a sip. Nothing sweet in his gaze though. It was anything
but
sweet.

Hot, scorching, feral.
Oh my.

Jim cleared his throat and pushed back his chair. "Think I'll go check on those bees, if you don't mind."

Kristy hopped up and headed for the back door. "I'll go with you. There've been some stragglers, just as you predicted."

Jim beat her to the door and opened it for her. He smiled that melting smile of his. "After you."

"Thank you." She hurried past him through the door and onto the back porch. Once outside, Kristy walked toward the old pecan tree. "Not many left as you can see. They're fascinating creatures. But of course, you already know that."

"Yes, I do. People take them for granted, that's for sure."

He circled the tree, looking up at the trunk where the swarm had landed. Only four or five bees were left flying restlessly about. After he completed his inspection, he stopped next to her. He cleared his throat once again. Poor man. He really was shy.

"Would you--?" he asked, just as she started to say: "I want to thank--"

They stared at one another for half a second, then both of them laughed.

"Ladies first," Jim said, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

Such a gentleman.
"I just wanted to thank you for coming over so quickly yesterday and taking the bees away. Like I said, I was really freaking out about them. Now, I know I really didn't need to be so scared, but that was a whole lot of bees. Do they like their new home?"

"I hope so." Jim shoved his hands in his jeans. "Would you like to go to the bee yard and see them for yourself? That's what I was going to ask you." He looked down at his boots, then back at Kristy. "You don't have to go. Just thought you might want to check on your bees."

"
My
bees?"

Ruddy color stained his cheeks. "I name all my hives. I call that one
Kristy's hive
."

How sweet was that?
"How many hives do you have?"

"Fifteen, counting yours. So do you want to see the bees?"

"Sure. Let me get my bag."

****

Driving through town on the way to the bee yard, Jim turned down Main Street. Most everything in Stone Creek was closed on this bright spring Sunday afternoon. The Music Shoppe. The Mane Event. Even Defalco's Italian Restaurant. He wondered if Kristy would go to dinner with him one night. He'd like to take her out and get to know her better.

Hell, don't lie to yourself, Hennessey. What you really want is to get her into bed.
He'd been rock hard ever since he'd left her house yesterday.

"Where is your bee yard?" Kristy asked. She angled that curvy body his way and looked at him out of those baby blues. The cab of the truck seemed to shrink in size. Her sexy perfume wafted all around.

Jim gripped the steering wheel. Damn, he hadn't been this attracted to a woman in ages. "I keep them out behind Lou Malek's barn. He lives outside of town right before you get to Coyote Dam. It won't take long to get there."

Her arched brows lifted in surprise. "So, you keep your bees on someone else's property?"

He glanced at her, then quickly returned his gaze to the road. If she continued to stare at him out of those gorgeous bedroom eyes, he might be tempted to pull over and park and kiss those luscious pink lips. He thrust that thought from his over-heated brain and cleared his throat "Well, I guess I could keep them at my house, but I live over by the elementary school. Not an ideal place for bees. They usually don't hurt anyone, but they do defend their hives. Best to keep them away from people just to be on the safe side."

Kristy nodded. "Oh, definitely. Do you get stung often?"

Jim thought he'd like to get stung by her. He shrugged. "Once in while. Most of my hives are fairly calm. Here we go." He turned the truck off the main highway onto a dirt road and drove for a couple of minutes. Stopping at a gate, he climbed out to open it, then got back in the truck and drove through. He parked behind the big red barn.

Kristy looked out the back window. "Aren't you going to close the gate?"

Jim shook his head. "Looks like the cattle are down by the creek. It'll be okay. We're not staying long." He climbed out of the pickup and walked around to open the door for Kristy.

She made no move to get out. "I'm not so sure about this," she said in a gruff little voice.

Jim smiled. "It's perfectly safe. I do it all the time. Come on. You want to see your bees, don't you?"

Kristy bit her bottom lip. "Can't I just see them from here?"

"You'll want a closer look than this. Come on, honey." Jim took her hand and helped her out of the truck.

They walked to where three rows of five hives stood proud and tall. Bees zipped around through the air, zinging past them, coming and going from the hives.

Kristy ducked her head at a near miss. "I think this is close enough. Just point to it."