“I get it, I get it.” She held up her hand. “Lovely imagery there.”
“What can I say, I have a way with words.” After all these years, he shouldn’t still enjoy making her squirm this much.
Tansy tore her gaze from his and rolled her eyes but there was no easing of her posture. “At least that’s a real smile.”
The slight increase in the tittering and whispers from the blue-haired audience not-so-surreptitiously watching them was enough to turn Tansy’s cheeks scarlet.
“Don’t make any sudden movements or they’re likely to attack.” Dane nodded in the women’s general direction.
Tansy covered her mouth but her laughter spilled out.
He leaned forward, keeping his voice low. “You know, we could have some fun and give them something to talk about.”
“You’re playing with fire.” Just when he thought her eyes couldn’t get any wider. “I don’t want them to talk about me—at all. Even if I am passing up a chance to slap you.” She looked entirely too pleased at the thought, though there was a twinkle of humor in her eyes.
He laughed again. “That would be one way to go.” How would she react if she knew what he was thinking? Less slapping and more...kissing.What the hell am I thinking?He wasn’t smiling anymore.
“Dane.” Astrid stepped up then, no hint of her always-serene expression in place. “We...we’ll keep an eye out for Leif.”
Right. Leif.“That’d be terrific.” He pulled his phone from his pocket. No messages. He should get back to searching. Not standing here doing whateverthiswas.Making an ass out of myself, that’s what this is. But, before he could take his first step, the Ladies Society swarmed in on them.
“We looked and there are no pigs flying.” Willadeene stepped forward and Dane could almost hear the Wicked Witch theme fromThe Wizard of Oz.
Don’t hum it. Do not hum it.He couldn’t stop himself from laughing. “Good one.”
Tansy shot him what could only be described as a warning look.
Willadeene glanced between them. “I was sure we’d see at least one, seeing as how you two aren’t at each other’s throats. Dane laughing and you smiling and the two of you whispering that way.”
“Sointently?” Corliss added, her oversize glasses so thick they magnified her eyes until they seemed to take up most of her face.
“Oh...no...well...” Tansy’s cheeks went from pink to white.
As much as Dane liked to make Tansy sputter and panic, he didn’t like Willadeene Svoboda rattling her this way, or making another false claim that Dane was having an affair with someone. “Bees.” He shrugged. “We were talking about bees. And beekeeping.” He cleared his throat. “I found some SHB in a couple of hives and figured Tansy might have new ideas on how to get rid of them.”
Tansy nodded, her expression blank.
“SHB?” Ida asked.
“Small hive beetles,” Astrid explained. “Nasty things.”
Corliss, Ida, Willadeene and crew looked skeptical.
“Oh, they’re horrible.” Tansy was all business. “They lay eggs in the comb, ferment the honey and their larvae chew througheverythingin their way. Left unchecked, they can destroy a hive.” She snapped her fingers. “That fast. They’re a real problem for beekeepers and bees.”
“My goodness.” Corliss nodded.
Ida scrunched up her nose in distaste. “That sounds horrible. Can’t you just spray them with chemicals and call it a day?”
“Most chemicals will kill the bees, too.” Tansy shook her head. “It’s not an easy fix, that’s for sure. I...I was telling Dane to make sure his hives were in a sunny, well-ventilated location—”
“Which they are,” Dane cut in, feeling the need to defend himself.
“Also, a good ground drench will help get to the larvae. And traps he can use and rotate, to help reduce them.” Tansy went on as if he hadn’t said a word.
Willadeene was watching them closely, her arms crossed over her chest. “You’re telling me the two of you are talking about parasites?”
She even looked like the Wicked Witch.Leave your flying monkeys at home?Dane chuckled, earning him odd looks from everyone.
