His buddy’s voice was sappy and full of love.Lawson almost wanted to rib him about it, but it was his sister who’d turned Gray sappy, and Lawson couldn’t find anything wrong with it.
He felt the same about Dani.
They stood for a few seconds before Ford called out.“Wake up, boys.The quicker we get these walls up, the sooner we’ll break for lunch.Move it.”
Laughing, they moved.
Chapter19
Stings Like A Bee
It took Dani about three seconds to switch into work mode.The designs had been buzzing—haha—around her head for days.
Bees, butterflies, ladybugs.Apple blossoms.
No fairies this time, but a new line of apple designs.Even if people didn’t have apple trees of their own, the designs would be eye-catching and fun.
While she didn’t use enhancers often in her designs, these cried out for pink and red pieces of glass.Ones that would attract the light and sparkle in the sun.
While Bibi snoozed by the door, Dani moved straight to the welder.She’d bent so many pieces to vent her fear and frustrations over the past few weeks that she could skip that step.For now, she’d weave the thinner strands of metal into the shapes of bees, blossoms, and apples.Later, she would bend the larger rods into the ovals that would be the outer frames.
If the apple-based honey was as unique as she hoped, she could turn it into its own line.Maybe she’d turn one of these designs into a logo.Could she combine it with the farm’s logo?Although she didn’t know if the farm had a logo.Or a name, for that matter.The No Phailed Apples Inn was an outstanding name that made Dani smile.Could she play on that?No Phail Apple-Honey?
She’d have to see if the honey actually had an apple flavor, but it was fun to experiment with designs and ideas.
She’d gift some of these designs to the farm and the No Phailed Apples Inn.It would be an excellent way to repay their kindness.
Once Amber and Gray opened the inn, guests might spot the designs and ask about them.It would be smart business all the way around, but she mostly wanted to thank the Malssums and the others for everything they’d done for her.
She could make specific designs for Lorraine as well.Ones featuring members of her troops.That would be a challenge, but the dragons had worked out well.She’d have fun making the dogs, too.
Bibi yawned and turned in another circle before plopping back down.Dani laughed.“Are you jealous that I was thinking about other dogs?Don’t worry, I’ll make one for you first.I can’t believe I didn’t think of that before.Beatrice would love to have a Bibi design decorating her field.Maybe she’d like one featuring herself as well.”
With her head spinning with ideas, Dani turned off the welder and moved to her notebook, noting designs and ideas she would refine once she started working with the metal.
Dogs, bees, blossoms, trucks.And those were just the beginning.Could she take personalized orders for people who’d like their own pets or vehicles showcased in the design?
Her business brain liked that idea.Personalized pieces came with higher prices, which was good for the bottom line.But she’d always relied on her own visions.How difficult would it be to create something to someone else’s specifications?Maybe she’d experiment with some of Lawson’s family first.Try it out to see if it was a good fit.
She didn’t want to deal with fussy customers.Maybe it would be easier to stick to creating her own designs.
Dani’s phone beeped, and she smiled.“Probably Lawson, checking in again.”
It was with the added information that Amber and Boomer were on their way for a visit.She texted back with a smiley face.Bibi and Boomer got along well, as did she and Amber.It would be fun to bounce her new ideas off her friend.Amber would have thoughts about the designs she’d want to showcase at the Inn.And maybe throughout Gray’s gardens as well.
Bibi rose to her feet and went into her stretching routine.It would take Amber ten or fifteen minutes to walk through the fields, so Dani returned to her welding.She could finish up the section she’d abandoned before her brain had exploded with the new ideas.
Creating the bee’s wings was fun; stretching out thin pieces of metal and adhering them with tiny welds was challenging.It had taken her months of practice before she’d managed anything good enough not to melt down again.
This one would be pretty, with the bees hovering over the blossoms.
Bibi’s growl drew Dani’s attention.Her heart jumped at the sound.What was happening now?
She shut off the welder and lifted her headgear.“What’s wrong, Bibi?What do you sense?”
Dani grabbed her phone.If there was danger, she needed to head off Amber and Boomer.
Glass shattered behind Dani, and she whirled to see a bottle sail through the window and land on the floor.The bottle burst, spilling liquid.
