He first brushed his callused fingers over the outer edges, then followed the design to the fairies and flowers in the middle.
Her skin reacted as if he’d touched her.
Shivers of desire.
She swallowed hard to keep her own sound of approval inside.Lawson was right that tonight wouldn’t be the night.
She needed time to consider her mother’s email and practice responding to the courier.Refusing people’s demands didn’t come easily.Her mother had implied she needed to return the papers with the courier.Depending on what they said, she probably wouldn’t do that.
Besides her hasty decision to leave her family behind and move to Vermont to raise bees, she tried to be sensible.
And act like an adult.She couldn’t forget that.She would read the papers and decide from there.Her parents could pay the courier for their time.That wasn’t her responsibility.
“You okay?”
Lawson’s voice broke through her reverie.“I’m good.Just thinking.”
He nodded.“And maybe worrying a little?”
She smiled.He knew her so well.“A little.Still wondering about the documents my mother wants me to sign.”
He brushed his fingers over her cheek and along her jaw.“I’ll come over early tomorrow.I’ll meet you here, and maybe we can play with the metal while we wait for your courier.”
She laughed.“That sounds like fun.”Although playing in the bedroom sounded a lot more fun.
Lawson’s eyes heated, and he tilted up her chin.With a promise for more one day soon in his eyes, he kissed her.
She let herself sink into the kiss, into the present.
Tomorrow was soon enough to worry.
Chapter10
Worker Bee
Instead of walking through the orchard, Lawson drove his truck to Dani’s the following morning.
Leaving her the previous night had been difficult, but he knew if he’d stayed on her couch, they’d have ended up in bed.Their first time together wouldn’t be because she was scared and uncertain.
He had plans that involved hours, not minutes.Dani deserved to be worshipped and he was just the man for the job.Their first time wouldn’t serve as a distraction.It was going to be all about Dani and pleasure.
Grinning, he thought back to their phone conversation the previous night.It had lasted well past midnight.He’d never done the late-night chat thing with another woman, and it surprised him how incredibly intimate it had been.
Her whispered words had filled his room as they’d talked about hopes and dreams.Fears and worries.Plans for her business and his workshop.He’d teased her about bringing his workshop out to Beatrice’s field.All he needed was a battery-operated welder.
It hadn’t been a specifically sexual conversation, but he’d been hard and aching by the time they’d hung up.
Sleeping had taken a while, but his dreams had been stellar and escalated sexy to a whole new level.He couldn’t wait to reenact them with her one day.
He’d texted Dani earlier that he was bringing his truck.Whoever the courier was, and whenever they arrived, he wanted them to have the impression that Dani wasn’t on her own and had people in her life who were ready to protect her, which was true.Not just because of Lawson, but his family and everyone else on the farm would jump in to help.
An extra vehicle on her lot would prove she wasn’t alone, but he fully intended to be at her side.He wasn’t in the habit of putting on an intimidating persona, but he’d learned the skill in the army and could pull it out at will.
He’d used it in many situations to protect kids and families overseas.Hell, he’d had grown men throw down their weapons without even drawing his own.
This was even more important because it was personal.This time, the threat was to Dani.
The courier might be a hired hand, but they were reporting back to Dorothy Richards, and that meant Lawson was fully prepared to pull off intimidating.
