Page 26 of Mother Clucker

Finally, I gave up on the idea of relaxing. I turned my back on the breathtaking view and headed toward the condo.

Restless, I was itching to go somewhere. Do something. Which was odd since usually I was good at doing nothing.

One long holiday weekend recently I hadn’t left the sofa except to eat and use the bathroom. I’d binged season after season of Lucifer for four days straight.

Today, I couldn’t sit still long enough to even log into my streaming account.

I’d already changed out of my work clothes, so I grabbed my cell and my bag and, after arming the alarm, headed back out the door.

Behind the wheel, I found myself driving to the shelter. I suddenly felt the need to pet a puppy. Maybe it would settle me down. Take my mind off David Strickland and his wrong opinions.

Also take my mind off that T-shirt he was wearing.

Did the man buy shirts two sizes too small? Because it had certainly been tight. So tight I could see his nipples the whole time I was there—not that I was looking.

I walked into the shelter and almost directly into Anna.

“Hey. Back for a visit?” she asked.

“I am. I’m craving some puppy time.”

She laughed. “That I can give you. Kittens too, if you’re interested.”

“Definitely.” I nodded.

She leaned close, conspiratorially. “It’s kind of why I’m still here and haven’t headed home yet. There’s a new litter in back. Seven days old and so cute.”

“Do you actually go home? I was starting to think you’re just here like all the time.” I’d seen her at the shelter on a weekend morning, and now on a weekday evening.

“Pretty much. My law office is right next door so it’s easy to pop over between clients. In fact, I had a visit from our mutual friend this afternoon at my office.”

“Who’s that? Trixie?” I asked, laughing.

“No. Trixie is waiting impatiently at home for me with her daddy. I was talking about David Strickland.”

That name coming from out of the blue from Anna struck me as odd. “Oh, really?”

She nodded. “Yeah. He told me you’d been out to see Rowdy twice already.”

“I have. I wanted to make sure he settled in okay.” And that David hadn’t shipped him off to be processed.

But even as I answered her, my mind spun. Anna hadn’t said it, but it was apparent to me she was the lawyer Drew was having look over the contract. And no doubt David had been behind that choice.

“Rowdy looks very happy at Drew Bowman’s farm,” I continued, dropping the name and watching for a reaction.

She nodded. “He seemed really nice.”

Bingo! She’d just confirmed my guess. Drew had been here too. Dragged here, no doubt, by his buddy David.

Inwardly, I seethed.

That . . . that . . . I wouldn’t let myself think the nasty word I had chosen for David and his suspicious mind.

If he had sunk this deal— My cell buzzed with a text.

“Excuse me,” I said to Anna and quickly glanced at the display.

LUCY: Drew signed! Shoot for the sizzle reel is a go for tomorrow.

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