Dane couldn’t help turning then. Camellia stood before the counter, consulting the list in her hand, and Van had a rosy stain on his cheeks.
“Good. They’re going to repaint the Welcome to Honey mural on the side of the old Espinoza barn. That’s a big one—especially since it’s right before the festival. And then their booth at the Honey Festival, plus the end-of-year carnival over at the high school? They’ll just need a little adult supervision.”
“I’m sure we can handle that. We’re both adults, after all.” He made a point of eyeing her honeybee earrings and shaking his head.
Tansy’s eyes narrowed.
“The Honey Festival won’t be too much. A couple of hours? I know you both have booths of your own so I appreciate the help. If you’re willing to lend a hand, that’d be appreciated, Dane.” Everett stared expectantly at Dane. “So, what did you have in mind? I’ll do my best to make sure you have what you need.”
“Yes, Dane, what did you have in mind?” Tansy’s voice was sharp.
“Oh.” The only thing he’d had in mind was giving Van a moment with Camellia. He had absolutely no idea. None. So, he smiled broadly and said, “You go first, Tansy. I’ll see if I can build off whatever you’re planning on doing.”
Everett must have sensed he was floundering because he filled the silence. “So far, I’ve lined up a few groups that are willing to help out with crafts—what I need are presenters. Tansy, I don’t know if you’ve already done your mandatory community service hours—”
“Tansy Hill...” It was too good an opportunity not to take. “Mandatory community service? What did you do? I didn’t see anything in the papers.”
Tansy ignored him. “I’d be happy to present, Everett.”
“Hold on, now.” Dane held his hand out. “If she’s in trouble, are you sure it’s a good idea for her to be working with kids or having her do the presentation—”
“Dane,” Tansy snapped. “If you are trying to—”
“All I’m saying is we need to think about the importance of who presents since they’ll act as a sort of role model? For Honey and beekeeping and the festival? That’s all I’m trying to say.”
Tansy pressed her eyes shut. “Everett, as you can see, it’s best if you make sure that whatever roles Texas Viking Honey and Honey Hill Farms play, there’snooverlap in the schedule.” She drew in a deep steadying breath. “At all.” She opened her eyes, smiled at Everett and hurried to her aunt’s side at the butcher counter.
Everett Taggert ran a hand along the back of his neck. “What just happened?” He shot Dane a disapproving look. “You know I was referring to the community service hours she needs to keep her Master Beekeeper’s certification current?”
“I do.” Dane nodded.
“Ah.” Everett shook his head and frowned. “I keep thinking the two of you are going to make peace. What’s that Abraham Lincoln quote? The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him your friend...or something like that.”
Dane glanced at the butcher counter. Things had looked promising until Tansy arrived, red-faced and fuming, to interrupt them. He sighed, watching as both Camellia and Van looked his way.So much for trying to do something good.For a second, Tansy’s gaze met his—all fire and snap and, dammit, sexy as hell. But he and Tansy? Friends? Some wounds never healed. He tried to chuckle but it sounded forced, even to his ears. “That wouldn’t be any fun, Everett. Why would I want to go and ruin what we have?”
Everett shook his head and sighed. “You really think you’re funny, don’t you?”
“You’re the one talking about me and Tansy being friends. That makes you the comedian.” Not that it was funny. He sighed, shoving all thoughts of Tansy aside. “How’s your family? Tell me what groundbreaking things are happening in the goat farming world?”
Everett chuckled then. “Now, that is funny.” But it was enough to keep their conversation Tansy-free. Too bad it wasn’t enough to keep Dane’s gaze from wandering in her direction.
LEIFWASDONE. Today was sucking, a lot. First Dane dragged him to the grocery store and made him miss an online Valorant match with his team. Now, this. Text after text of total bull-crap. Leif was having a hard time not throwing his phone against the wall—or stomping it to dust. And the texts kept coming. About his family... His brother. What the hell? He locked the phone, pressing his eyes shut.
What is wrong with people? Where do they come up withthis sort of BS?
He might not always agree with Dane, but his big brother wasn’t a complete ass. Did Dane and their dad fight? Sure. But there was no way Dane would ever do what these texts said. There was no way—no frigging way. Just thinking about Dane and Kate made Leif want to throw up, right here and now. The two of them, together-together. That was wrong on so many levels. Wrong. Wrong.Sowrong.
Dane and Kate hooked up?
Why the hell was Eddie texting that sort of crap? Leif shoved his phone in his back pocket and gripped the grocery cart handle tightly. Eddie was supposed to be his friend. Sort of. The kid was seriously messed up but Jed Dwyer was Eddie’s dad so it wasn’t like he had a choice.My dad sucks but... Jed Dwyer was a whole other level of sucky-ness. Eddie’s older brothers, Clay and Donny, were big-time tools with a capitalT.Theywere probably the ones making Eddie say all this crap about Dane and his dad and Kate—just to get a rise out of him. Clay was good at making people do what he wanted.
Clay Dwyer was a senior, at least until he got himself kicked out of school, which seemed like a possibility. He’d spent most of the year beating the crap out of every boy in school. Clay couldn’t take on his old man, not yet anyway, so any boy unlucky enough to cross his path on a bad day wound up bearing the brunt of Clay’s fury. Leif was pretty sure that Clay only had bad days. From the way Clay had been singling him out, Leif figured he was Clay’s next target.
His phone vibrated with a text alert, but Leif ignored it. He didn’t want to know.Screwall of them.
He took a deep breath, but it didn’t help the weight crushing in on his chest. Sometimes it felt like the world was closing in on him. Like he couldn’t breathe or think without second-guessing himself. Plus, someone was always watching and judging. And talking. That was all everyone seemed to do around here, talk about other people’s business.Lie, is morelike it.
He glanced at his big brother, who was looking back and forth between the bunches of leafy green lettuce-stuff he held in each hand. Dane didn’t know a thing about vegetables and he was far from perfect but he’d never sleep with Kate. He was too busy trying to fill in for their dad and do the whole role model thing or coming up with ways to shake things up on the farm. Which was stupid.They raised bees. It wasn’t exactly rocket science.Dane seemed to think his every idea or word was golden but Leif was pretty sure his brother just liked to hear himself talk. A lot.All the frigging time.
