“I’ll put this back.” He nodded toward the hive. “You pour the honey.” Annie took off her veiled hood and poured, watching the thick, golden syrup fill the small jar. Virgil helped her scrape the sides of the container and funnel with a little rubber spatula. As she put a lid on it, she realized the jar was only half-filled. She estimated that it was an ounce or two of honey at most.
“It’s a lot of work for a little bit of honey,” she remarked, feeling the stickiness of honey on her hands.
Virgil nodded. “One bee makes about a twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in his lifetime. It takes a lot of bees.”
“Wow! That’s teamwork!”
Virgil swept some honey off the spatula and held his finger out to her.
“Taste.”
Annie hesitated, realizing the intimacy of the act. Looking at him, she realized he did too. His eyes were dark, inviting. She extended her tongue, licking the sticky liquid off the tip of his finger. She groaned, instantly reaching her tongue out for more and sucking it off.
Virgil smiled, nodding. “Worth the risk, isn’t it?” He put his own finger into his mouth to taste and Annie watched, flushing.
She licked her own sticky fingers. “I can’t believe how good that is!” He gave her a moist towel for her hands. “Nothing like the honey you buy in stores, is it?”
“I’ve never tasted anything like it!”
Annie glanced at Virgil and saw a warm, intense look in his eyes, one she often received from men. She swallowed hard.
“Ah,” he said. “I have one more thing to share with you before you go.
Come down to my apartment.”
Annie left the veil and goggles and followed him outside where the bees were buzzing busily and the breeze felt cool compared to the air of the greenhouse. They took the stairs down one flight, and he led her into his apartment, which consisted of the entire top floor of the building. Annie stopped in the doorway, aghast at the view of the city from his windows.
Intent on sending a clear message, Annie stayed near the door and waited while he went to the kitchen.
“Honey cake,” he said when he returned with a wrapped confection. “If you think raw honey is good, wait until you try this.”
“Virgil.” His name felt like velvet in her mouth. She found herself thinking of Eric, and wishing he were with her to share the experience she’d had today.
“Thank you for everything. I appreciate you taking the time to do this.” He smiled, his face a little sad. “Eric is a lucky man to have a woman like you looking for him. If I see him, I will give him the card you gave me.”
“Thank you.”
In her car, she slipped the honey jar into one jacket pocket and the honey cake into the other. Annie wondered what to do next. In spite of Virgil’s apparent
interest, she couldn’t think of anyone but Eric. She wouldn’t stop looking for him, although part of her felt she was being led on some wild goose chase.
She glanced at her watch. It was getting late on a Friday night, and she had no clients. She searched for the card Dita had written Virgil’s address on.
When she found it in the zippered pocket of her purse, she turned it over to locate the woman’s number. Grabbing her cell phone, she dialed and waited.
“Hello, darling!” It was Dita’s voice, bright and full of laughter. “You didn’t get stung, did you?”
Annie rolled her eyes at the phone. Damn Caller I.D. “No. Listen, I have your honey, but I want-”
“I’m on my way out, dear.” Dita’s voice changed. She immediately sounded colder, more distant. Disappointed? Annie frowned at the phone as the woman spoke. “But if you want to talk, meet me at The Styx tonight at ten. Bring my honey!”
“The… Styx?” Annie’s lips felt numb, like she could barely get the words out. “Listen, lady, I can’t keep-”
“It’s an after-hours club, very posh.” Dita went on as if Annie hadn’t spoken at all. “Fourth and Rochester, right on the corner. You can’t miss it. See you tonight!”
Annie blinked as the phone went dead in her hand. Is this worth it? she wondered, flipping the lid closed and tossing the phone onto the seat beside her.
Closing her eyes, she rested her forehead against the steering wheel, remembering Eric’s smile in the darkness. The recollection flooded her with warmth, and she sighed. I’ll find you, Eric. I promise. No matter what it takes.
The night was cool for May, and Annie stood shivering in the long line.
