Without a single regret.
“Best decision I ever made, Bibi.”
Bibi lifted her head and licked Dani’s hand.“Sorry, sweetie, I haven’t opened the lunch yet.I’m going to soak up the sun for a few minutes and shove away all the negativity.”
She was normally good at staying focused on the good things in her life.There were many, and she didn’t like getting caught up in the past or in her family’s perception of her.
Positives.“I’ve got a cottage I love in a beautiful place.Spring is in the air.Most of the bees survived the winter and are excited to explore the area.I’ll have more of the forest planted with pots of wildflowers soon.I’ve got plans for more ways to play with the metal.”
Bibi rested her massive head on Dani’s lap.“I’ve got a best friend who loves me and keeps me grounded.”Dogs were great at staying in the present.
“I’ve got everything I want, Bibi.Jobs I enjoy.Variety in my day.The chance to spend time outdoors doing things I love.It’s a good life.”
It was.
But why did her mind wander to the image of a sexy man standing in her driveway?
Lawson Malssum had been the other reason for her restless night.Although after she’d completed her research, the dreams featuring him hadn’t inspired fear.
Those had been happy dreams.Sexy ones that had her blushing when she woke.
Her eyes drifted closed.The sun warmed her face, Bibi’s bulk warmed her body, and it seemed the perfect place to indulge in a nap.
Maybe she’d have another sexy dream.
Chapter5
You Catch More Flies With Honey
Lawson knew he was closing in on his destination when he spotted what Fox would call a doodad hanging from a tree.The metallic oval artwork showcased wildflowers and bees.It was whimsical and matched his image of Dani.
Bright, airy, delicate.This art piece wasn’t full of nerves, though.Still, he was sure Dani had placed it there.Maybe she’d even crafted it.
Despite making a mess of things, his senses had been alert.The faint scent of heated metal had wafted out when she’d opened the garage door.Instead of working on cars, maybe she was a metal artist.
They’d have things in common then.That should help him when he stumbled around for conversation.He hadn’t thought to ask his siblings what Dani did to support herself.Or if she had a partner to share the load.
He would focus on how to make things better after making such a mess of their first conversation.No one on the farm had met the woman more than a few times.They said she’d been friendly, but quiet.He figured she and Amber might be kindred spirits.
Lawson sent the metal oval swaying in the breeze with a gentle touch and moved forward, eyes alert for more.
Instead, he found a large pot filled with wildflowers.More of Dani’s work?
Why would she set flowers in the shade of the woods?There were still apple trees here, but they were mixed in with more of Vermont’s regular foliage.Birch, beech, fir, and pine.Maples, too.This area was going to be stunning in the fall.
He passed more pots and another hanging piece of whimsy.It all had to be Dani, although Lawson hadn’t asked anyone about other neighbors yet.For someone great at gathering intel in the army, he’d been woefully inadequate the previous day.
He could probably blame that on being sucker-punched by Dani.Gorgeous, sure, but it was more than that.
She had shadows and secrets in her eyes.Pain and sadness, too.
Everything about her was alluring, even how she’d shut down his request for the truck with a simple no and a door in the face.
He was grinning when the trees thinned, and he spotted some bright cubes set on a skid.He’d seen a few around the clearing the previous day, but hadn’t paid them any attention.
He suspected they were more of Dani’s work.Ways to cheer up her space.But he was more interested in finding the woman than in checking out her art.
The trees opened, and Lawson stopped at the edge of the clearing to stare.
