Dani grabbed a few rods and closed her eyes to imagine some of the new pieces she’d make.The bee, flower, and fairy wind spinners and signs for homes and businesses sold well.She planned to add little statues for patios this year.
The previous day, she’d been thrilled to open her business email to find two customers raving about their purchases.They both sent her photos of where they hung in their gardens.
Adding those to her blog would boost her spirits, and maybe her business.People loved inspirational photos, and they were great for encouraging impulse purchases.
Already feeling calmer, Dani chose the appropriate metal brake, and clamped it to her worktable.She wouldn’t need the welder for the initial bends, and using the required force would benefit her.She’d dealt with many frustrations over the last few years by bending metal.Frannie B would love it, and Dani’s mother would be horrified.Even better.
An image appeared in her mind as she worked.An oblong-shaped wind spinner with a protective fairy guarding bees buzzing around some field thistle.Or wild bergamot.
The details would come later, but for now, she focused on bending the rods into shape for the outer edges of the pieces.
Each spinner would be different, with unique flowers and fairies.But they would work as a set.Six or eight.More?
Images flew through her mind as she set the rods into the correct areas and leaned her strength into bending them into the right shapes for the frames.
When sweat beaded on her forehead, she took a break and pulled out her notebook.She sketched out the ideas that had been forming in her brain.Strangely, her sketching skills were average at best.But once she started working the metal, the images took on life and shape.
For now, she sketched quickly and listed ideas beneath each of the eight designs: types of flowers, individual fairy details, and the number of bees.
Female power would flow through the art.Maybe she could find a name for the collection that implied that.
She never duplicated pieces, but she could imagine this collection expanding.Her imagination was the only limit, and there were days she thought there were no boundaries at all.
The flower choices were infinite, as were the variations of protectors.
Dragons.The dragons could protect the bees and the plants.
She flipped a page and jotted down more ideas.She’d bet lots of people enjoyed dragons as she did, especially when the dragons were on the side of the humans.These would soar and swoop with joy as they protected their domains.
Her brain buzzed with ideas, and she jolted hard when Bibi barked.
Her warning bark.
All the fear caused by the drone surged back, and Dani dropped the pencil to the worktable as a knock sounded on the door.
She shook out her hands and watched Bibi.The Newfoundland dog wasn’t growling or snarling.The person wasn’t someone she disliked, but it was probably someone she didn’t know.
Dani didn’t think anyone other than Lorraine had ever knocked on her door.And that was when her neighbor had brought herwelcome to the neighborhoodcookies.
Because Dani was in the garage, there wasn’t a peephole in the door.Something she would correct at the earliest opportunity.
Another knock.“Hello?Is anyone home?I’m your new neighbor, Lawson Malssum, and I wanted to introduce myself.”
Bibi barked herI want to lick you to deathbark.
No immediate threat then.And Malssumwasthe surname of the people who owned the farm next door to Lorraine.
Wishing she had her phone, Dani wrapped her hand around Bibi’s collar and took a deep breath.She opened the door partway, leaving herself space to slam it closed if necessary.
At first glance, she saw a man about her age with a friendly expression on a gorgeous face similar to Knox Malssum.This meant he was telling the truth.He didn’t crowd her.Instead, he stayed a few feet back and smiled.
She nodded to show she’d heard him, but didn’t respond with her name.Not until she was sure.
Her first instinct was that Bibi was right.The man was lickable.Probably safe.Gorgeous face, athletic build.Jeans and a flannel shirt over a t-shirt.
Nothing like anyone from her parents’ world, which was more good news.He didn’t look like a threat.The Malssums knew about her apiaries, and she doubted they would start their own to drive her out of business.
Bibi wagged her tail hard enough to whack Dani’s thigh.The Newfoundland whined and wiggled, trying to get closer to the stranger.
