Dani returned to Beatrice, removed her bee suit, and set her honey container near the path to her cottage.
Lawson grinned at her, removed his safety goggles and turned off the sander.
He set it all down and stood.“You’re looking happy.”
“I am.I was just thanking Frannie B for everything.Without her, I wouldn’t have had the courage to make my own choices.And her trust fund gave me enough money to buy this land and start up my businesses.I owe her so much.”
Lawson squeezed her hands.“I’m betting she’s proud of you.Sounds like she wanted you to grab life with both hands, and that’s exactly what you’ve done.”
She released his hands and gripped his shirt to pull him down for a kiss.“I enjoy grabbing with both hands.”
Lawson roared with laughter and lifted her so she could wrap her legs around his waist.“Any particular things you’d like to grab?”
“I have a few ideas.”
He grinned.“So do I.Want to try them out here in broad daylight?”
“I’ve got enough gumption if you do.”
“Oh, I do.”
Then he turned to press her against Beatrice’s side and kissed her with so much love that even her toes tingled.
And she imagined she could hear Frannie B applauding before leaving them to their fun.
And fun it was.
Bonus Scene
Mara Evans
Mara struggled to stop the shaking, which had started in her fingers, traveled up her arms and through the rest of her body.
Right into her heart.
How dare he?
Egotistical ass.
Overbearing boor.
Handsy jerk.
Sexist clown.
Untalented fool.
Mara ran out of adjectives by the time she reached the bus stop.Knowing she was far too early for the next bus, and unwilling to sit, she stomped to the next stop.
Her temper simmered, and she was close to angry tears.Not happening in public.She wouldn’t give the ass any satisfaction.
Not that he would ever know she’d cried, but she would know.
Instead, she channeled her inner Elphaba and sang No Good Deed.Inside her head, of course.No matter how angry she was or how many people loved Wicked, belting out the song on the bus wouldn’t go well.
Once she reached her apartment, she could let it out.
And then what?
