She didn’t say the rest out loud.No jinxing the universe.She knew the reason she felt comfortable enough to reach out was because of Lawson.He’d supported her more in the past weeks than anyone had since Frannie B had passed.
He was interested in her world and asked good questions.She hoped she returned the interest and support as well as he did.
Lawson was a fascinating man.He’d talked a bit about his time in the army but hadn’t revealed details of missions.She figured he wasn’t supposed to, but he’d given her a perspective into a career she’d known nothing about.
Obviously, not all of it had been good or easy.Protecting the vulnerable from the evils of the world wasn’t simple.But when he spoke of his time, he talked of the camaraderie with his team and the simple joys of the people he worked to help.
She imagined he’d done more good than he knew.With that steady confidence and strong moral compass, he was exactly the kind of person to make the world better.
His face lit up when he talked about helping, just as it did when he spoke about finding out how things worked.His mind was naturally inquisitive, and being a mechanic was a perfect fit.
Restoring old cars would be another good one.
Her heart tugged at the thought.Beatrice was more than an old truck out in her back field.She’d become part of Dani’s tiny family, along with Bibi.She couldn’t imagine not seeing her friend there when she worked with the bees.But if Lawson wanted Beatrice, she wasn’t sure she had it in her to deny him.
She was pretty sure she was falling in love and she hadn’t kissed the man yet.
Maybe today would be the day.Without discussing it, she was sure they were both conscious of making things awkward.By moving some bees near the apple farm, she was improving the ties between the two properties and the people.
If Lawson decided he didn’t want her anymore, it would be painful and awkward.
She didn’t need to be connected to the people in order to maintain the bees, because the bees did their thing without much help.She could do the honey, pollen harvesting, and maintenance on her own, too.
It wasn’t that she needed help; she simply enjoyed spending time with Lawson.
If he didn’t want her anymore, she’d be able to avoid him.
And she needed to stop imagining future heartbreak.No manifesting that nonsense into existence.
A shift in energy had her turning to the forest with a smile.Speaking of manifesting, had she conjured up Lawson’s presence by thinking of him?That would be an excellent skill to have.
Bibi’s head lifted, and she turned to the forest, tail wagging to let Dani know it was a friend.
More than a friend, but that was only in her mind.
So far.
Maybe she’d manifest enough confidence to kiss the man.
She smiled when he appeared, striding through the trees like he belonged there.Like the warrior she’d imagined only a few weeks before.
He smiled when he spotted her, and his pace increased.When he reached the edge, he patted Bibi.“Hey there, girl.”
Then his gaze rose to lock on Dani’s.“Hi.What has you smiling on this sunny day?”
She wouldn’t tell him she was trying to manifest a kiss, but she could tell him the rest.“I was just thinking that for a man who loves working with machines, you are entirely at home in the woods as well.”
His eyebrows shot up, and he tilted his head as he considered her words.Finally, he nodded.“We spent a lot of time outdoors as kids, both with my parents and then with Fox.The environment was important to everyone, and they ensured we not only respected Mother Nature, but enjoyed being outside as well.We would have loved playing hide and seek on the farm as kids.”
She smiled.“That sounds like fun.I would have liked to have met your grandfather and your parents.”She was glad Lawson had such close ties with his family.And while she regretted not having that with her own, she was glad she’d had Frannie B and had finally found the courage to take her own path.
Lawson closed the distance and took her hand gently in his.The familiar charge of energy raced through her at his touch.“They would have liked you as well.Like me, they’d be impressed at how you’ve created your own business and found happiness doing it.”
Her heart leaped at his words.The only person who’d ever said she was proud of Dani was Frannie B, who’d been gone for a long time.
She couldn’t contain her smile for anything, and it seemed natural to lean forward and up.To brush her lips over his in appreciation of his words.Of his feelings.
She mostly just wanted to kiss him, and this gave her the opportunity.
