Chapter 8 Nice And Slow
Nice And Slow
Lawson couldn’t get enough.
Of Dani’s taste. Her soft purrs and gasps. The sensation of her curves pressed against his body.
Kissing her in the sunny clearing was everything he wanted. Hell, it was everything he hadn’t known he’d wanted.
He hadn’t even let his hands wander, and he was addicted.
Dani tasted like the sunshine around them mixed with a splash of honey.
He hadn’t a clue how long they remained tangled in the embrace, but he finally managed to slow the kiss. It took even longer to pull his mouth away from hers.
He didn’t loosen his hold on her. Instead, he kissed her forehead and then rested his there. “You okay?”
Her throaty chuckle had him smiling back.
She leaned back a little to lock her eyes on his. Hers shone. “I’m okay. More than okay. You?”
He laughed. “Hell, yeah. I’ve been dreaming of that since you opened your garage door.”
The flush in her cheeks deepened, and she rolled her lips together, amusement shining from the smile she tried to hide. “I pretty much slammed the door in your face.”
He grinned. “You did. And I deserved it. In my defense, I was completely unprepared for you, and I couldn’t form a coherent sentence.”
Her lips tipped up. “You saw me in the field.”
“I couldn’t see your face. You were wearing one of your floppy hats.
Add in the chunky sweater, the dress, and the work boots, and I somehow convinced myself that you were someone’s grandma.
I was sure you’d be thrilled with my offer to pay for the truck you obviously weren’t interested in restoring. ”
While he’d spoken, her eyes had widened, and that smile grew. “I feel like I should be insulted.” The laughter in her tone belied her words.
He kissed her lightly and pulled back to smile. “Don’t be. I’d lost my mind over Beatrice. When I knocked on your garage, I lost my mind over you. I wasn’t expecting you, Dani.”
In more ways than one. He’d genuinely thought the woman in the field had been older. But he also hadn’t been expecting the double gut punches of desire and curiosity that had him stumbling over his words.
She grinned. “I wasn’t expecting you either. My imagination went wild. I thought you were spying on me, and I could only think of two possible reasons for that.”
Damn it. He’d scared her. Her next words confirmed it.
“First, I created some extremely ridiculous conspiracy theories about how my family might use the drone to gather information about me. Then they’d use it to coerce me into a marriage I didn’t want. Or get me to give up a life I love because they wanted to preserve the illusion of a happy family.”
Lawson ran his hands up and down her back, trying to offer comfort. “I’m so damn sorry.”
She shrugged. “Not your fault. My imagination can go off in wild directions sometimes.”
“What was the second reason?”
“I thought maybe a rival beekeeper was checking out my business. When I chose this area of Vermont, I ensured I wasn’t encroaching on anyone’s local business.
I wondered if someone was moving in, and they wanted to check out the competition.
I worried they might use the drone to disorient my bees and keep them away from their hives. ”
Damn it. Lawson tightened his hold into a hug and held her close. “I’m so sorry, Dani. I didn’t mean to scare or worry you. First with the drone, and then with my inept attempt at a greeting.”
She laughed and hugged him back. “It’s okay. You couldn’t know I tend to spiral down rabbit holes of conspiracy theories. Bibi tried to show me you were a good man, but I didn’t quite believe her.”
Lawson kept his hands moving. “I’m still sorry. Even after talking to my family, I showed up the next day alone. They’d all offered to come with me to introduce me properly and convince you there wasn’t anything to fear, but I came on my own anyway. You’re like a magnet, and I couldn’t stay away.”
She leaned back to look at him again, amusement in her eyes.
“When I was finally brave enough to leave the garage and go into the house, I got my phone and researched you. When I realized everything you’d said was true, I knew there couldn’t be a connection between you and my family.
None of us has reached out in over a year, but I obviously haven’t completely dealt with my emotions in that department. ”
Lawson brushed another soft kiss across her lips. “I think you’re amazing. You’ve created something wonderful that makes you happy and supports you. Not many people can say that.”
“Thank you. It matters a lot to hear that. I still feel like an immature brat who ran away from home. I know I need to talk to my family like an adult, but I’ve been too fearful.”
“Can I help?”
Her smile lit up the clearing. “It means so much that you would offer. Maybe. If nothing else, I’d like to bounce ideas off you about how to do it. If I’m weaving conspiracy theories about them tracking me down with a drone, it’s a sign to grow up and deal with the situation.”
He ran his hands up to cup her face. “You’ve done amazing things with no support from anyone. You’re definitely an adult and acting like one.”
Her smile softened. “Thank you. For years, I’ve been acting like I’m hiding out when they know exactly where I am. I worry they’ll try to convince me to move back, even though I know I won’t. It’s time to talk with them so I can move on.”
He nodded. “Sounds like you’re ready for that conversation. If you want moral support, I can be there. Or I can bring ice cream to celebrate when you’re done.”
Dani laughed and reached up on her toes. “I’ll put some thought into it and let you know how I want to deal with it. But right now, I’d like to kiss you again.”
He laughed. “That sounds like an even better plan.”
And it was.
For the next few days, Dani mulled over how to deal with her parents. She wanted to stop looking over her shoulder, both metaphorically and physically.
Until her conversation with Lawson, she’d never verbalized how she felt. Now, she couldn’t stop thinking about it.
Even though she’d been an adult when she’d left the city and bought her property, she’d always felt like she was disobeying her parents. The guilt had run deep, which was silly.
She had nothing to feel guilty about. Not finding joy in the same things as the rest didn’t make her wrong. Just different.
It was sad that they didn’t understand her, but it was also unfortunate that she didn’t understand them.
After the incident with Paul, the only conversations had been bitter and emotional on all sides. Her siblings were six and eight years older than Dani, so they’d never been close. Had she ever had an adult conversation with them?
Maybe if she stopped acting like a guilty child, they’d stop treating her that way.
It made her cringe. She’d been running her own business for years. While Frannie B had been her role model and left her the seed money for her business, Dani had done it alone.
She’d filed paperwork, signed over large amounts of money, paid taxes, and handled her businesses. She’d done hours of research to ensure her careers were profitable and complied with local and environmental regulations. Hard work didn’t scare her.
None of that was childlike behavior. But the way she’d been hiding, the hours she’d spent worrying about being coerced to give up her lifestyle were.
Even thinking about it from a different angle made her feel better. There wasn’t a way for anyone to force her to do something she didn’t want, so why was she wasting time worrying about it?
That had to stop now.
And it was all because of Lawson’s drone. At the time, she’d realized her fears were ridiculous, but part of her had still believed in them.
With Lawson’s quiet support, she’d grown up more in the past weeks than in the past few years.
She’d never be an outgoing extrovert who loved to be in large groups, but she wasn’t hiding out anymore.
Maybe she’d reach out to Lorraine to arrange a playdate for Bibi and Lorraine’s troop.
She could go into Phail and do more than grocery shop and pick up packages.
Or maybe she’d call Jolie and talk about her pond. She needed a decision about that soon.
She knew from Lawson that his entire family approved of her setting up new hives nearer the orchard.
Jolie loved working with the land. Before she could second-guess her impulse, Dani pulled out her phone and texted Jolie.
When there had been dangerous men after some people on the farm, Knox insisted that all the neighbors exchange phone numbers in case anyone needed help.
Which made her smile. Knox and Lawson were a lot alike.
It wasn’t even a minute before Jolie answered her text. I’d love to help. I’m at the duck clearing and can be at your hives in about twenty minutes. Does that work?
A thrill ran through Dani as she replied in the affirmative. Maybe being a secure adult wasn’t as far out of reach as she thought.
“Come on, Bibi. Let’s fill the wheelbarrow with the tools I might need, and we’ll head to the backfield.”
She also filled up a few reusable mugs with water and added sandwiches and some of her honey bakes to other containers. She and Lawson had been meeting for lunch in Beatrice’s meadow, so she’d already prepared the food. Now, she added a bit more of everything with a smile she couldn’t contain.
Jolie walked through the trees shortly after Dani arrived with her wheelbarrow full of tools. “Thanks so much for coming.”
Jolie grinned. “Are you kidding? I’m so excited to help you out. This is going to be fun.”
Dani laughed at her enthusiasm. “I think so, too.”
Jolie rubbed down Bibi as she looked around. “I know a bit about what bees need, but I’m not an expert like you. Why don’t you walk me through this setup, and then we can head to the new clearing?”
Jolie was a quick study, and her knowledge of how the Vermont climate affected the land was stellar. By the time they arrived at the new clearing, Dani knew much more about the land, and she figured the same was true for Jolie’s bee knowledge.
Better yet, they were having fun. Instead of a friendly acquaintance, Dani now had a friend.
Jolie studied the small clearing and nodded. “It’s a good area. A small pond isn’t going to go wrong here. In fact, I’m betting there was once a pond over here. And maybe a small creek heading that way into the forest.”
Dani sighed. “Climate change probably affected that.”
Jolie nodded. “Probably. Sometimes, the land just changes of its own accord. If we follow the land’s lead, we should be able to get the pond going. We may have to help it along for a bit, but hopefully it’ll thrive on its own in a season or two.”
Jolie staked out an area, imitating the natural flow of the land, and then they got to work with shovels.
An hour later, Bibi alerted them with a happy bark. Her wagging tail was further proof that no danger approached. Hemsworth, Jolie’s Australian shepherd, loped through the trees, and the dogs went into their sniffing routine.
Male voices preceded Lawson and Ford entering the clearing. Even hearing his voice had Dani’s body reacting. They’d only been kissing for a few days, but those kisses filled her mind most of the time.
They filled her heart as well.
The more she got to know Lawson, the better she liked him. His easy-going attitude, flexibility, work ethic, and positive nature were incredibly enticing.
She wanted to rush across the clearing to kiss him, but they hadn’t discussed their budding relationship or whether they would be open about it in front of others. Dani’s world rarely included others, so she hadn’t even thought of it until now.
Would Lawson want to keep their relationship private?
Unsure of what she should do, Dani smiled at both the men and turned her attention to the area for the new pond. If Bibi hadn’t been playing with Hemsworth, she would have buried her hands in her fur. That always grounded her.
Nerves bounced through her as she felt Lawson approach. When he was close, she looked up to find him watching her with a slight smile. “Hey. I like today’s dress.”
Before she could respond, he leaned down to brush his lips over hers.
Relief soared through her. With him, she wasn’t an embarrassment or something to hide. He was okay with his sister knowing they were growing closer, as in kissing closer.
She reached up and kissed him again, keeping it just as light. “Thanks.”
They shared a goofy smile and then turned to find Jolie and Ford grinning at them.
Jolie’s smile widened. “That makes me happy. Okay, let’s put the extra muscle power to work and dig up this pond.
Then we can learn how to assemble a hive, although Dani only has the one suit, so we can’t get too close. ”
Then Jolie studied her brother. “Unless you have a suit of your own.”
Dani started to laugh at the thought, but Lawson shrugged. “Not yet. Should be here in a few days, though.”
He hugged her to his side when she stared at him. “Can’t let you have all the fun. I was going to surprise you when it came.”
Jolie grimaced. “Sorry, I ruined it.”
Lawson merely laughed. “No worries.”
Dani agreed. “It’s definitely a surprise.” One that warmed her heart and proved that she was falling for the exact right kind of man. “We won’t need suits today, anyway. I want the pond to be ready before I order the bees. I emailed earlier asking about their supply.”
Ford frowned. “You don’t just take some bees from your current hives and spread them out?”
“No. They become a family to each other and their queen. It’s easier to start with a new queen and group.”
A while later, they were all sharing food and relaxing in Beatrice when Dani’s phone beeped.
She pulled it out, assuming it was a notification that her preferred supplier had plenty of bees to ship her way.
It wasn’t.
It was an email from her mother. The subject line read Business.
Shock rippled through her, and Lawson rubbed his hand on her leg. “Everything okay?”
It took her a moment to yank her eyes from the message. “I don’t know. It’s from my mother.”
His eyebrows shot up. “What does she want?”
The fierce growl in his voice made her feel better. “I don’t know.”
But there was only one way to find out. She steeled herself, reminding herself she was a self-sufficient adult who didn’t have to comply with any demands. Then she tapped open the email.