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I resist the urge to puff up my chest like a superhero. "It's not a big deal. Rodney brought the hay over as a favor to me."
Dani runs across the barn and throws her arms around me. Somehow she gets her arms around my shoulders, her toes barely touching the floor. "Thank you, Ranger."
I turn my head to look at her, but her lips are there and my mouth collides with hers in a kiss that was clearly intended for my cheek.
I should tear my mouth from hers and apologize, but her lips are soft and the touch of them sends a spark through me that wakes me up.
I've been asleep for so long I didn't even realize it.
Her tongue flicks out against my lips, and she lets out the sexiest little moan. I open my mouth to her as naturally as breathing.
The movement of my mouth seems to bring her back to reality, and she leaps away from as though I'm covered in fungus.
"Gloves," she says, her cheeks flaming red. "I'll look for some."
"You can't be serious," Goldy says. "We don't even have a fence."
"That's okay," Honey says. "We'll call the cousins. If we make a competition out of it, they'll have the fence built by the end of the weekend."
"No," Goldy says, her tone sharp and commanding. "Absolutely not."
CHAPTER TWELVE
Dani
The first truckload of cousins arrives at four in the morning two days after I decide to keep Mari. She's doing great, according to Dr. Ellis, and I am absolutely in love with her.
She stays in her stall most of the time, but Honey or I take her out on a leash a few times each day to graze and stretch her legs.
"They're here." Honey runs into the kitchen, her smile huge.
A week ago, I'd never have expected Honey to be my biggest supporter when I brought a cow home. "I heard the truck." I fill a cupcake pan with batter. Without an industrial kitchen, it takes several more hours than it should to bake everything I need for the bookstore, but it's better than being unemployed and penniless.
Although I am now employed and penniless since I haven't gotten my first paycheck yet, and most of it is going to have to go to food and upkeep for Skidmark and Mari once I get it.
"Me, too." Honey peeks out the window. "I didn't even have to look to know it's the Sullivans."
"Would you mind going out there? I've got another couple hours in here before I can come out and help."
"Sure." Honey heads for the door, but stops halfway there and turns. "I looked at the information you put together. I'm in as long as I can sell my pottery."
My heart leaps with happiness, and my stomach roils with nerves simultaneously. Can we really do this? "We'll figure out a way to sell your pottery and my sweets. Maybe a cow snuggle, a pastry, and a mug?"
"Snuggle a cow, get a mug and a sweet treat," she says, her grin wide. "I love it. This is exciting, Dani. We can make this business whatever we want."
And wasn't that maybe the scariest part of all? "A Sanctuary Farm pottery shop and bakery."
Her grin widens, her pale eyes lighting. "Why not? It'll be one of a kind."
"That's for sure."
I go back to my baking and she hurries outside. As the early morning wanes on, I lose myself to the familiar steps and scents and the feel of dough in my hands. This is my happy place.
And if I make a batch of cherry danishes I hadn't originally planned to make, it has nothing to do with Ranger or that kiss and everything to do with me needing to use up the cherries before they go bad.
And if I'm yawning more than usual as I pop the blueberry muffins in the oven and mix up the batter for blueberry scones, it isn't because I've been staying up late thinking about that kiss and wondering why I haven't seen Ranger in two days.
I have no reason to wonder about that, because everyone in town is talking about Ranger hunting for Bigfoot all hours of the day and night. Bigfoot has been causing all kinds of trouble for the corporation building the resort, though the fake monster hasn't caused anymore property damage, and everyone in town has an opinion about who Bigfoot might be.
