Queen Bee (Lowcountry Tales #12)(27)

Leslie was quiet then. She was thinking about Hunter and Tyler’s welfare. If Leslie knew anything about me, it was that I adored those kids. And even though Leslie wasn’t crazy about having her own children, at least so far, she certainly understood crisply how they could be compromised if Archie married the wrong person.

She looked up with a huge grin on her face.

“I’ve got it!” she said. “I’ve got the solution!”

“What?”

“I’m going to seduce the shit out of him and wreck their relationship!”

She was so pleased with herself and her marvelous scheme. I was less so. And, excuse me, why was she so confident that she could waltz right into Archie’s life?

“What? What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I’ll take one for the team.”

“Really? Can you do that?” Just how far was she willing to go? Knowing her, she’d go as far as it took. I wasn’t so sure I liked her plan, but I couldn’t think of a better one. “What if he doesn’t want to fool around with somebody else?”

“Please! He’s a man, isn’t he? I’ve yet to see one say no. Watch him resist. Watch and learn, little sister.”

“I don’t know, Leslie. This could really backfire. I mean, if he’s in love with her and tells her what you’re up to, they could put the house on the market and move to Timbuktu.”

“Let’s sleep on it and talk some more tomorrow.”

“Okay.”

We said good night and I slept like a stone, but morning came early. I tossed and turned a bit, watching the rising sun creeping up through the slats of my blinds. I was remembering the previous night and Leslie’s plan. Maybe she was right. I was never going to have Archie. But maybe we could stop Sharon from having him, for the sake of the boys. I wasn’t pleased one bit with the idea of Leslie putting the moves on Archie. But I’d do anything to get Sharon out of the picture, so I swallowed my damaged pride.

I finally got up and dressed and poured myself a giant mug of coffee. Momma and Leslie still slept. I took my disappointment out to the bees in the haze of early morning’s light and told them everything I was worried about. I know it may sound peculiar to say this, but I felt better when I unburdened my heart to them. In my whole life, there had only been two men I’d ever loved: my father and Archie. Both had broken my heart.

I don’t want to seem melodramatic, but there were things I just didn’t understand about men and never would. How could our father put himself so far ahead of the needs of his daughters? How could Archie do the same thing to his sons? Look at Leslie, Dad. Take a good look at what you did to her. Who did she choose as a partner? And me? I chose an older man who rejected me before he had a chance to consider me. I wasn’t even worthy of consideration. Thanks, Archie. Nice job, Dad. Nice job.





“Things happen when they are supposed to, you know,” Archie said.

“I don’t know about that,” I said.

“There’s an Indian dude, Srikumar Rao, who said, ‘When the flower blossoms, the bee will come.’ ”

“Oh, please,” I said.


Chapter Nine



Leslie Takes the Mike

I had given our seduction idea a lot of solid thought and come to a few conclusions. I’d had enough of my own pathetic marriage to justify trying to stop someone else from making the same mistake. And I knew it was probably immoral to execute the plan as it stood, the actual seduction, I mean. I decided to see how it might take shape, you know, get a sense of where Archie’s mind was, and then I’d worry about the morality of it all.

Holly was deeply upset for more reasons than one and I felt it as though it was happening to me. It was awful to see my little sister be rejected by the only man I’d ever seen her have an interest in. Even though I wasn’t itching for children and there was a chance I never would, I had a healthy respect for Holly’s desire to see these kids be happy.

Holly was right. If Archie married this horror show, they would have to do whatever Sharon told them to do. And if she had children—well, we’ve all read “Cinderella.” It could be a sad situation for the boys. If they gave her too much trouble, they’d wind up at Camden Military Academy, or worse. But in any and all cases, if Archie sealed the deal with her, she’d be able to wield a ridiculous amount of power. According to Holly, Sharon made no effort to endear herself to Archie’s boys. I believed her and wondered why Archie wasn’t thinking about that.

So, how exactly was I to begin? A lot of naughty ideas floated across my mind and I finally settled on one. I’d start with timing, going outside to get the morning newspaper in a flimsy nightgown when Archie was leaving his house. So I stood at the window and watched and waited. At seven fifteen, his door opened, and he stepped onto his porch. I hurried down the steps and saw Holly was way out, deep in the backyard with her hives, cooing with the bees. Then I leaned over to pick up our paper, giving Archie a clear view of an option to Sharon. I know, I hadn’t even met her, but this was war. And remember? All’s fair? Then I stood up and pretended to be embarrassed, as Archie was staring at me like I was naked, which I practically was.

“Hi, there!” I said. “Oh, my goodness! You caught me!”

“Good morning!” he replied with a very wide smile. “No worries! How are you, Leslie?”