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Her eyes sparkled, and her gaze moved from his to the boards and measurements. Her face lit up the moment she realized what he was working on.

“Bat boxes? Maybe owl nesting boxes? Or both? You’re building my boxes, aren’t you?”

She bounced on her toes and clapped her hands. Joy radiated from her, and he had to kiss her again. “Superior detecting, indeed.”

She laughed and hugged him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is amazing. Can I help?”

His imagination soared to all the ways she could help, but he kept his control of his dumbass imagination. “Sure can.”

It took a few hours, but they built boxes for both the bats and the owls. As they worked, they talked about where to put the boxes and how to attract the creatures.

Apparently, the bat boxes needed to be close to the water because the creatures swooped in to drink in mid-flight. Their boxes also needed to be on the outside of a building to help the bats keep warm. If the box was on a tree, the wind would blast it from all sides and leech the heat. No bats would settle there.

They’d put them on the exterior of the two barns closest to the pond, on the sides facing the back of the property. That should give the bats the protection they needed and easy access to the pond for their water.

The owl nesting boxes were different. They were going to try both interior and exterior boxes for those, these interior ones first.

Jolie grinned. “We should be able to attract barn owls fairly easily around here. Maybe a few other species, too.”

“You sure they’ll want to come inside the barn? Doesn’t it make sense for them to want to be outside?”

Jolie shrugged. “We can try those, too, but interior is safer for them and they know that instinctively. Over the past few years, I’ve seen several successful nesting boxes inside barns. Milking barns, equipment barns, and even a threshing barn. The owls don’t care about the noise or activity. They’re way up at the top of the barn and know they’re safe from humans and ground predators.”

She studied the barn where they stood. “We’ll have to add a little open window up top, though. They need a safe way to fly in and out. And they need to see the nesting box from outside. The potential safety should lure them in.”

He studied the ceiling and imagined the roof and the exterior walls. “I think it would make the most sense to add a small opening at the highest point over the large doors on the front of the barns. Then we can add the nesting box high up on the opposite end. They should be able to spot them from there. If the window and the box are both at the top of the building, they should feel safe from the human activity down here.”

Jolie nodded. “And the babies will be safer too. Do you think we can try one nesting box in each of the barns?”

He shrugged. “I don’t see why not. Is there such a thing as too many owls or bats? Is there a tipping point where they mess up the food chain?”

Jolie laughed. “I think you’ve been taking some environmental studies courses on the side. Those are excellent questions.”

He grinned. “No courses. Just listening to a smart woman.”

She reached up to kiss him again. “You’re a very good listener.”

With her, he always would be.

Ford had never thought much about bats or owls before, but it was a hell of a good way to spend a day. They’d spend the next one installing the boxes and hoping to lure in the predators. Who would have thought that he would have so much fun with bats and owls?

As they walked back through the rain to the farmhouse, Ford felt contentment right down to the soles of his work boots. He’d never experienced the feeling as strongly before.

He’d found his place. Here with the farm. With Jolie.

It filled him with joy and with purpose. Couldn’t ask for much more than that from life. This was where he was meant to be.

Now he had to hope he didn’t do something dumb and screw it up.

Chapter14

On The Battlefield

Ford woke bright and early, after a restless night. Sexual longing did that for a guy.

He wasn’t going to be an asshole and rush Jolie. He’d let her set the pace forever. The men who’d cheated on her and stolen from her were assholes of the first degree. And idiots to boot. Jolie was the brightest person he’d ever met. Even if she was no damsel in distress, he wanted to help her kick whatever asses needed kicking.

In the kitchen, he found Jolie stirring a pot of oatmeal on the stove. Her welcoming smile had him moving closer for a kiss.