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I have no opinions. I just bake and worry if I'm making a huge mistake jumping into this business with Honey. There's so much to learn about how to run a Sanctuary farm and though I learned a lot about the business side of things running the bakery with Abby, she was the brains behind it. Not to mention I suspect I'm fooling myself, thinking I'll be able to run a sanctuary farm and continue baking, much less sell anything to the very few people who will show up to tour the farm and snuggle Mari.
And constantly interrupting all these very sensible thoughts are memories of that damn kiss and daydreams about where it might have led if we'd been alone in the barn.
Outside, another engine rumbles and tires crunch over gravel. All the cousins are showing up, even Keating Sullivan from Vegas, to help us build a fence around the property.
Deacon Sullivan owns a construction company in North Carolina and is using his contractor discount to get high-tensile wire and staples cheap. A wire fence is the cheapest kind to build, but it still costs more than I have.
Honey sweet-talked our billionaire cousin, Keating, and he's agreed to pay for the fencing in exchange for cow cuddles, a full set of Honey's mugs and serving bowls, and a dozen of my chocolate muffins.
"Good morning, Dani." Goldy walks into the kitchen as I'm taking the last batch of scones out of the oven. I've got half an hour to get everything boxed up and get myself ready for a morning at the bookstore. "I see the cousins showed up against my advice."
I hate how I want to apologize immediately. "They want to help, Goldy. It's just a fence."
I can feel her narrowed eye stare even though I don't look up from what I'm doing. "It's not just a fence, though, is it? I've heard you and Honey conspiring."
Slamming a container shut, I look up at my sister. "We aren't conspiring, Goldy. We're planning. You're only going to be here for another eleven months and then you're taking the inheritance and running. What we do here shouldn't matter to you."
"The house and the land are part of the inheritance, Dani. Are you prepared to pay me and Clover for what we would get if we sell the house, as we originally discussed?"
Shit. I hadn't thought of that. The house and the land are worth millions of dollars. I'll never be able to pay them their share. Not even if the business does well.
"She doesn't have to pay me." Clover hip checks Goldy as she makes her way to the coffeepot, her ponytail bobbing. "The money Dad left us is more than enough for me." She winks at me. "I think a sanctuary farm is a great idea."
"A sanctuary farm?" Goldy asks. "That's not a business, Dani, that's a charity. It probably won't even pay for the upkeep of the house."
A sick, dark feeling settles like a stone in my gut. She's right. This is a terrible idea. I'm not a businessperson, and a sanctuary farm is complicated. There are grants and fundraisers that need to be applied for and organized. There's so much to it and I'm not even remotely equipped to run the most basic of businesses.
Skidmark rolls into the kitchen and right up to me. He's been growing bolder every day, exploring new parts of the house and even making friends with Honey and Clover.
The little guy lifts his pointy nose to look up at me, and I melt. I kneel and pet his furry head. He needs me. Mari needs me. I might not be good at running a business, but I can learn. For Skidmark and Mari, I can learn.
I stand and face Goldy. "Our sanctuary farm will be different. Honey will sell her pottery, and I'll sell my baking. We can attract tourists and charge for people to cuddle with Mari or tour the property. Just because a business is nonprofit, that doesn't mean it can't earn enough to maintain the property and provide me and Honey with everything we need."
Goldy's eyebrows rise and her mouth, perfectly made up like the rest of her face, pinches. "I just want to be clear from the start, Dani. I don't have time to help you build this business, and I'm not going to bail you out when it inevitably fails."
I nearly double over from that blow, but I square my shoulders and meet her doubt and disdain head on. "We don't want your help, Goldy. We don't want anything from you."
A cloud passes over Goldy's face, but I can't identify the emotion.
"Dani," Clover says, voice gentle. "Goldy's just worried. Goldy, Dani can—"
But Goldy spins on her heel and storms out.
***
I look up from organizing the coffee bar to see a woman with Ranger's face smiling at me. "Hi," I say. "Can I help you?"
"Oh," she says. "You are adorable."
"Nope." I hold up my hands. "We're not doing this. Lazy has tried it and failed. Your brother and I barely tolerate each other. Yes, he saved my life twice, but we are complete and total opposites. He can barely stand me and I can never follow all his rules. Your matchmaking efforts will only fail."
Strangely, her grin widens. "You and I are going to be best friends." She holds out her hand. "I'm Hailey Holiday." She winces at my expression. "Believe me, I've never forgiven my parents." She glances around the mostly empty bookstore. "Why don't you tell me what the best pastry here is and come take a break with me?"
Every instinct I have screams at me to avoid this woman. I like her immediately, which means she's dangerous. The last thing I need is to get more involved with Ranger's family.
It's bad enough I can't stop thinking about that kiss. I don't also need to like Grant's family. It might make me like him and I've got my life to get back on track. The last thing I need is another person who's going to judge and distract me. Another person to disappoint if all my plans go to shit again.
"I have to work, but I can tell you my favorite pastry today is the peach muffins. They're plant based, gluten-free, and delicious."
