Page 52 of Mother Clucker

I laughed. “Now you sound like Heather.”

“Hey, there are worse people to sound like.”

“I guess you’re right.” I drew in a breath.

This did throw a wrench in my plans to visit John. I didn’t want to leave. Hell, I’d like to stay and enjoy sweet Heather all week long. But I also had to deal with some work shit.

Maybe this event was a good thing. An excuse to come back soon and see Heather again.

Yeah. I liked that idea.

I’d head to John’s farm Monday, and then on to home in Texas during the week when Heather was busy with work. Then I’d come back to Drew’s in time for this weekend thing at the shelter.

That I was even considering this was evidence I was nuts over this girl. That I wasn’t worried about that fact proved it. Completely nuts . . . and it didn’t feel so bad.

“So, can you put up with me if I come back here for this weekend?” I asked Drew.

“I think I can handle that.” He shot me a look over his shoulder as he reached for a spoon to stir whatever he had on the stove. “Maybe I’ll even come with you to the adoption thing. You know, now that I’m internet famous and all.”

I rolled my eyes as Drew grinned, seriously enjoying his fifteen minutes of fame.

Internet fame. Christ. Drew could have it. I sure as shit didn’t want it.

20

Heather

“Was it really necessary for us to haul our butts all the way to San Diego to meet?” Lucy shot me a sideways glance from behind her dark glasses.

I saw her annoyance in my peripheral vision as I tried to keep my eyes on the road so I wouldn’t miss the exit coming up.

“Why are you complaining?” I asked.

“Well, for one, couldn’t you have planned this for Monday so we could have gotten a day away from the office?”

“They could only all meet on the weekend.” I was about to drive over the bridge to Coronado and the view was absolutely gorgeous.

Lucy sighed. She clearly wasn’t seeing the bigger picture.

“You do know we’re going to a bar famous for being packed full of Navy SEALs from the base at Coronado. Right?” I asked.

Glancing over I saw her react. One brow high, she said, “That’s what this McP’s place is?”

“Yup.” I nodded. “It’s where Joanne and Maria met with Clay and Tasha, saw the chemistry between them and offered them the jobs on Hot House. More than that, McP’s is where Tasha first met Clay. And you know how that worked out.”

Theirs had turned out to be an epic romance. Ratings gold that played out on the air for millions of viewers.

Lucy opened her purse and took out her lipstick.

Enjoying my victory, I smiled but didn’t comment.

The GPS started to spew directions at me and I had to concentrate to navigate the tourist-laden streets leading to McP’s Pub.

I parked in the first spot on the street I could find near the bar, figuring we could walk the rest of the way.

It was a nice day. This was California, so of course it was. When we weren’t in the middle of a mudslide or wildfire, it tended to be pretty perfect here.

The weather was nothing like where I’d grown up, where it could range from freezing cold and blizzard conditions to beastly hot, depending on the season.

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