Chapter17
Queen Bee
Lawson woke in Dani’s bed with her curled in his arms.Bibi snored softly in her own bed.The dog had one in every room of the house, proving both she and Dani preferred it when they were close.
She was a fantastic dog—protective and smart—she’d proved it last night when she and Boomer had followed the same trail.
To Lawson, the trail had shown the asshole in a panic.He’d run full out, only swerving when hitting an obstacle.He’d flailed around in the bush a bit, probably trying to figure out his direction.
With Bibi and Lorraine’s dogs on his tail, he would have been nearly shitting himself.Bibi sounded like a hound from hell when she was pissed.He’d bet Lorraine’s big dogs were the same.Deep barks echoing behind as the asshole ran.
Too bad they hadn’t caught him.
The dogs had followed the trail to the road and then back almost fifty yards until the trail had disappeared.
Because the asshole had found his car.
His trail and the distance he’d emerged from the bush proved the fucker didn’t have good wilderness skills.Even in an unfamiliar forest, Lawson and his buddies would have been able to forge a straight path to the vehicle.
The asshole didn’t have training.
No surprise.
His gut told him it had been Jeremy Beaumont, Evelyn’s husband.
The man hadn’t been smart enough to realize that Evelyn was making progress in her conversation with Dani.A more patient man would have waited, and trusted his wife.
Beaumont did neither.
Dani hadn’t said it outright, but it was clear she didn’t like the man, just as it was clear that her sister had been curious about Dani and her life.
Lawson would bet his boots that the woman wouldn’t understand the allure, but at least she’d appeared interested.That boded well for Dani to forge a bond with at least one person in her family.
And it made Lawson curious as hell.What was the brother like?Were he and Beaumont alike?Had he been the one in the field?
No matter how he turned it around, Lawson didn’t think it had been Evelyn or Dani’s mother.He’d have to talk to Bella Robinson about arsonists.Were they typically male?
Dani’s hand moved on his chest.“You’re thinking awfully hard.”
He chuckled and pulled her in more tightly.“Good morning.”
She kissed his chest and climbed up on him, so they were eye to eye.“Did you sleep at all, or did you worry all night?”
He drifted his hands down her back and traced designs low on her spine.“With the way you wore me out last night?I slept.It’s a habit instilled by the army to wake early.”
Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled at the reminder of their lovemaking the previous night.“I wish we’d discovered more about whoever tried to hurt the bees.”
“We found out a bit.Bibi and Boomer were amazing.”
She sent a smile toward her furry mountain of a dog.“They were.I wish Bella had found something she could use to prove who set the fire.”
Lawson was unsure whether to share his thoughts.If they weren’t about her family, it would be easy.
Dani tilted her head.“You have suspicions.Do you think it might be Jeremy as well?”
He needed to remember how smart she was.“He’s high on my list.Marcus took down his details, and I’m sure he’ll be following up with him today.”
“Good.I think I’ll call Evelyn.”
