Nothing had happened since the attempt at setting a fire in the field, but no one was taking chances.The quiet should have been comforting, but it wasn’t.They were waiting.
Her family hadn’t gotten their way, so she knew another foray was coming.Dani wondered about calling her mother again but had so far decided against it.If her mother wanted something, reaching out was up to her.
“What are you thinking?”
She grinned.He knew her so well.“Bibi and I were contemplating.”
“Serious thoughts?”
She thought of babies again, but shoved that aside.“Some.Thinking about how much Charlie and Evelyn both enjoyed setting up new colonies.Wondering if she was serious about coming to visit.Thinking about whether I should call my mother or make a trip to the city.Not knowing what’s happening is bugging me, but I also figure she can call if she wants to talk to me.”
Lawson kissed her hair and leaned back against Beatrice’s cab.“It’s hard to know what to do.If your mother had nothing to do with the fire attempt, it would be safe to reach out.”
Dani nodded.“It’s gone so well with Evelyn, I’m thinking about it.There was a lot of misunderstanding between my sister and me.Maybe it’s the same with my mother.”
When Lawson didn’t respond, she looked up to find his face carefully neutral.“You don’t think so?”
He shrugged.“It’s your call, but I wouldn’t treat her and Evelyn the same.Even though your sister is older, she was still a child.Your mother was an adult and knew exactly how she treated you.”
A child’s needs and interests should matter to a parent.“I know.I rarely think of my father in all of this, but he’s a factor, too.”
“What’s he like?”
She thought back.“Spencer Richards is a serious man who doesn’t have time for frivolities or anything unrelated to business.He was never a man to play with us or help with homework.It was our job to figure things out.He was never abusive, not even verbally.Not neglectful, but oblivious.He couldn’t understand that anything was more important than his work.Looking back, I’m surprised he agreed to have any kids, never mind three of them.”
She’d never said that much aloud about her father.Lawson hummed.“Sounds like he wanted an heir or two to work the family business with him.”
Probably true.“I don’t know my brother Nathaniel as well.Even though he’s closer in age to me than my sister, he loved numbers and always wanted to know what our father was doing.I think you’re right.He’s exactly what my father wanted him to be.”
“It's probably normal for parents to want their kids to follow in their footsteps, but it’s also normal to let them follow their own interests.”
She nodded and rested her head against his shoulder.“Even though my father was Frannie B’s grandson, it’s hard to think of him as the head of the company.Probably because I don’t know him as well.My mother was always more in our lives.”
She felt Lawson nod, and for the next few minutes, they sat in silence and enjoyed the sunshine and Bibi’s soft snores.This was precisely what she wanted with her life: time to sit with those she loved, enjoy the day, enjoy nature, and rest after working hard.
She doubted her parents would understand the peace and joy she found here, but she no longer felt like she was less for loving and wanting different things.
Dani gently shifted Bibi’s head and then straddled Lawson’s lap.His hands went immediately to her hips and his fingers drifted over her dress.She leaned down to kiss him.“You’re very good for me, Lawson Malssum.”
He grinned.“Right back atcha, Dani Richards.”
After a long, drugging kiss, she pulled back.“I don’t think I’m quite ready to make love out here in the daylight when anyone could show up.”
Lawson’s eyes sparkled.“Sounds like a challenge.”
When she laughed, he ran his fingers lightly over her skin.“But that’ll have to wait for another day.Once this is all behind us, we’ll see how brave we can be.”
She laughed.This man was brave in every sense of the word.But he was also a protector.He might encourage her to stretch her boundaries, but she didn’t have to worry that he’d push her past her comfort level.
But he was also irresistible, so she lowered her head to kiss him again.“For now, we’ll just get in some warm-ups.”
He was laughing when he kissed her back.
Lawson hated waiting.He preferred action and decisiveness.Waiting for Dani’s family to make their next move was annoying, mainly because Dani worried about it, worried about whether she should take the next step herself.
He’d been digging into her family’s background.Nothing pinged.Besides her brother’s few speeding tickets, the Richards family had no issues.
Jeremy Beaumont was a privileged son from a privileged family.Old money.Stocks and bonds.Trading.Making money for the sake of making money.
