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.
Chapter9
Buzz Kill
Dani controlled her breathing as she opened the email.No panicking allowed.
She reminded herself that she was an adult in charge of her life and decisions.Nothing her mother said or wanted should matter.
But it did.
Inside, she was still the little girl desperately wanting parental approval that had never come.
The email was short and to the point.
Daniella,
We have a business opportunity for Frances Bishop Cosmetics.Your signature is required for the process to move forward.
