Chapter 19
Stings Like A Bee
It took Dani about three seconds to switch into work mode. The designs had been buzzing—haha—around her head for days.
Bees, butterflies, ladybugs. Apple blossoms.
No fairies this time, but a new line of apple designs. Even if people didn’t have apple trees of their own, the designs would be eye-catching and fun.
While she didn’t use enhancers often in her designs, these cried out for pink and red pieces of glass. Ones that would attract the light and sparkle in the sun.
While Bibi snoozed by the door, Dani moved straight to the welder.
She’d bent so many pieces to vent her fear and frustrations over the past few weeks that she could skip that step.
For now, she’d weave the thinner strands of metal into the shapes of bees, blossoms, and apples.
Later, she would bend the larger rods into the ovals that would be the outer frames.
If the apple-based honey was as unique as she hoped, she could turn it into its own line.
Maybe she’d turn one of these designs into a logo.
Could she combine it with the farm’s logo?
Although she didn’t know if the farm had a logo.
Or a name, for that matter. The No Phailed Apples Inn was an outstanding name that made Dani smile.
Could she play on that? No Phail Apple-Honey?
She’d have to see if the honey actually had an apple flavor, but it was fun to experiment with designs and ideas.
She’d gift some of these designs to the farm and the No Phailed Apples Inn. It would be an excellent way to repay their kindness.
Once Amber and Gray opened the inn, guests might spot the designs and ask about them. It would be smart business all the way around, but she mostly wanted to thank the Malssums and the others for everything they’d done for her.
She could make specific designs for Lorraine as well. Ones featuring members of her troops. That would be a challenge, but the dragons had worked out well. She’d have fun making the dogs, too.
Bibi yawned and turned in another circle before plopping back down.
Dani laughed. “Are you jealous that I was thinking about other dogs? Don’t worry, I’ll make one for you first. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before.
Beatrice would love to have a Bibi design decorating her field.
Maybe she’d like one featuring herself as well. ”
With her head spinning with ideas, Dani turned off the welder and moved to her notebook, noting designs and ideas she would refine once she started working with the metal.
Dogs, bees, blossoms, trucks. And those were just the beginning. Could she take personalized orders for people who’d like their own pets or vehicles showcased in the design?
Her business brain liked that idea. Personalized pieces came with higher prices, which was good for the bottom line.
But she’d always relied on her own visions.
How difficult would it be to create something to someone else’s specifications?
Maybe she’d experiment with some of Lawson’s family first. Try it out to see if it was a good fit.
She didn’t want to deal with fussy customers. Maybe it would be easier to stick to creating her own designs.
Dani’s phone beeped, and she smiled. “Probably Lawson, checking in again.”
It was with the added information that Amber and Boomer were on their way for a visit.
She texted back with a smiley face. Bibi and Boomer got along well, as did she and Amber.
It would be fun to bounce her new ideas off her friend.
Amber would have thoughts about the designs she’d want to showcase at the Inn.
And maybe throughout Gray’s gardens as well.
Bibi rose to her feet and went into her stretching routine. It would take Amber ten or fifteen minutes to walk through the fields, so Dani returned to her welding. She could finish up the section she’d abandoned before her brain had exploded with the new ideas.
Creating the bee’s wings was fun; stretching out thin pieces of metal and adhering them with tiny welds was challenging. It had taken her months of practice before she’d managed anything good enough not to melt down again.
This one would be pretty, with the bees hovering over the blossoms.
Bibi’s growl drew Dani’s attention. Her heart jumped at the sound. What was happening now?
She shut off the welder and lifted her headgear. “What’s wrong, Bibi? What do you sense?”
Dani grabbed her phone. If there was danger, she needed to head off Amber and Boomer.
Glass shattered behind Dani, and she whirled to see a bottle sail through the window and land on the floor. The bottle burst, spilling liquid.
Worst of all, there was a flaming rag attached to the mouth of the bottle.
Which meant the liquid was likely flammable.
Panic filled her, and she had to blink to shove it back. There wasn’t time to panic. Her garage was full of paints and other items that would add to any fire. It might even be enough to explode.
She had to get her and Bibi out.
But she also had to prevent the flame from reaching that liquid and starting an explosion, which she wouldn’t be able to outrun.
Bibi’s barks filled the garage, and Dani looked for something to cover the liquid. Could she contain the explosion?
Although it felt like hours, she was sure it had been only seconds. The flame hadn’t moved much.
Bibi’s teeth clamped down on Dani’s dress, and her dog tugged her toward the door.
She had to move. Had to decide. Run outside to where someone probably waited? Or try to put out the flame?
With a deep breath, she made her decision.
Lawson grabbed his phone when it rang with a call, not a text. Everyone texted, so his feet were already moving when he answered. “Amber. What’s wrong?”
“I heard what sounded like an explosion. Boomer took off for Dani’s at a run. She’s not answering my call.”
Lawson ran to the nearest ATV.
Behind him, he heard voices and didn’t bother to waste time or energy calling. They'd follow.
His entire focus was on getting to Dani’s as quickly as possible.
He raced the machine through the trees. They’d made a faint path with their travels back and forth, but there was no ready-made trail for the ATV.
He had to twist through brush, but it was still faster than running.
When he reached Beatrice’s field, he passed Amber, who was running to the cottage.
He didn’t slow down. Instead, he hollered at his sister to wait for backup.
He didn’t bother checking to see if she listened.
He stopped the ATV at the fence that ran down the middle of Dani’s property, separating her yard from the fields. If it weren’t a sturdy fence, he’d have rammed the machine straight through it.
Instead, he turned it off and jumped the barrier. He’d been wearing his gun in a holster at his ankle, so he pulled it out as he ran.
Without the noise of the ATV, he heard dogs barking as he approached. Boomer and Bibi. They’d cover any noise he made.
He put all his energy into speed and kept his senses wide open.
The dogs were furious, and that wasn’t good news.
Finally, the garage and cottage were in sight. Both were standing, which meant whatever had exploded hadn’t destroyed either building.
Relief coursed through him. He’d been envisioning Dani covered in the garage's debris.
She was alive. She had to be.
Even knowing he needed intel, Lawson couldn’t force his feet to slow. The dogs were pissed, which meant Dani was in danger.
Whoever was there would be focused on the dogs, not Lawson. The element of surprise would help him.
The backup coming behind him would do the same.
All that mattered was Dani’s safety.
His training kicked in enough to have his gun up and steps slowing as he rounded the garage. His aim would be better at a slower pace.
The scene in front of him froze his heart in place.
Jeremy Beaumont held Dani before him like a shield, with his arm around her throat. No weapon that Lawson could see, but with the man’s grip, he could snap Dani’s neck in less than a second.
Panic got shoved down as Lawson’s training asserted itself. The man was done. Dani was safe. Neither knew it yet, but that was the only acceptable outcome, so that’s what would happen. What he would make happen.
Beaumont’s attention was riveted on the dogs, and he hadn’t seen Lawson yet.
Boomer was trained as a protection dog. He knew how to take on an attacker and keep his human safe. Apparently, the dog had Dani under his protection now.
Bibi growled and barked, every bit as menacing as Boomer.
The big mountain of fluff and the German Shepherd had the man backed against the garage door.
A vehicle sat on the road, but Lawson wasn’t wasting time checking out whatever threats it contained.
The people behind him could take care of that.
His only focus was on getting Dani away from the prick.
He had a shot.
From this angle, he could blow Beaumont’s brains out and free Dani. But he knew she wouldn’t want that to happen. She was just rebuilding her relationship with her sister. Killing the woman’s husband wouldn’t help.
Shit. Was Evelyn involved? Was she in the car? Had her conversations with Dani been nothing but a ruse?
Lawson mentally shook the thoughts away. They’d deal with that fallout later.
Beaumont shrieked at Dani. “Make them stop. Shut them up. Get them out of the way.”
Dani didn’t respond, and Beaumont’s face reddened. “Once you sign the paper, I’ll leave. That merger has to happen, and you’re the only thing standing in the way. Once I’ve got my money, all the problems go away. Just sign it.”
Sounded as if Beaumont owed money. Lots of it. Seemed like he was behind the entire mess.
A pheasant call sounded, and Lawson holstered his gun. The call meant the team was in place.
If Lawson had his gun out, it might make Beaumont panic further.
Lawson stepped forward with his hands open and out to the sides. He moved slowly until both Beaumont and Dani could see him. “Let her go, Beaumont. It’s over.”
The man’s face deepened to purple, and his eyes widened. “No. She has to sign. I need her to sign. Then it’s over.”
Lawson didn’t tear his gaze from Beaumont’s as he eased closer. “Let her go, and we’ll talk it out.”
Beaumont squeezed her closer and pointed his other hand at the dogs. “Shut them up, shut them up.”
Even with Lawson’s presence, the dogs hadn’t let up on their verbal assault. Bibi’s deep bark sounded terrifying, while Boomer’s was even more menacing as he showed his teeth in a growl between barks, letting the man know he was looking forward to getting a piece of him.
“Let her go, Beaumont. Don’t make things worse.”
“They can’t get worse. I need that money. I need the merger. She has to sign, and then they won’t kill me.”
That meant he was in enormous debt. The panic proved it wasn’t the bank he owed, maybe gambling debts or poor management. He was hoping to use the merger to cover up his mess.
Lawson crept closer each time the man’s gaze moved to the dogs, almost within reach.
Beaumont looked back at him and realized how close Lawson stood. In a panic, Beaumont turned to the side to angle further from Lawson, and his grip on Dani changed.
That was all Lawson needed.
He reached between Dani and Beaumont. In less than a second, he wedged his body between them. With Dani safely behind him, he slammed the jerk backward into the garage.
The man squealed and tried to bring his hands up to shove Lawson away.
Lawson rolled his eyes at the attempt. Then he whirled Beaumont around and slammed him into the garage. This time, the man whimpered.
Lawson grabbed the prick’s hands, held them with one while he yanked a zip tie from his pocket. He and his buddies all carried them. An army habit they hadn’t let lapse. Not that he probably needed any for this jerk, but keeping him confined would send the right message.
Once he tied Beaumont’s hands, he called, “Clear.”
His buddies materialized from all sides. Knox and Ford moved to check the car and quickly called Clear from there. Gray took custody of Beaumont with a soft Guard command to Boomer.
Lawson turned to find Dani, knowing the situation was under control. As he turned, she launched herself into his arms. He caught her easily and held her tightly, letting the relief consume him. “You’re okay.”
She nodded into his chest, and he felt her gulping in large breaths of air.
He squeezed her softly. “You’re okay.” This time there wasn’t a question buried somewhere in the words. She was safe and unharmed. “I love you, Dani.”
Her head lifted immediately, and her smile told him everything he needed to know. “I love you, Lawson. So much.”
He lifted her to kiss her, banding his arms around her to keep her at the perfect level. She was as light as one of her bees.
Or maybe it was because her love gave him super strength.
She loved him back.
Behind him, he heard Jolie laugh. “Put the woman down, Lawson. Let her breathe.”
Dani lifted her head to laugh. Keeping her eyes on him, she answered Jolie. “I don’t need to breathe. He loves me back.”
“Well, duh.” Jolie’s response was lost in the surrounding laughter. Lawson didn’t care. He just kissed her again.