Page 55 of Mother Clucker

“I’ll have to be a firm maybe until that day. Is that okay?” Zach asked.

“It’s fine. Really. More than I could have hoped for.”

“I’ll definitely be there.” Gabby smiled. Calm for a woman who didn’t know if her husband would be here, or half way around the world fighting.

“I’m a go for now. But just like with Zach, that can change at any moment,” Nick said. “And here comes Dani, so she can speak for herself. Sad that I’m probably going to be more available even though I’m back on active duty, than she is now while she’s trying to finish up the final days of that damn show.”

That damn show. Yeah, Nick had been an unwilling participant on Cold Feet. But the executive producer was right when she said the camera loved him. And the fans really loved him.

“Hi. Sorry, I’m late. I’m Dani,” she said to Lucy and me.

“I’m Heather. This is Lucy. It’s so nice to finally meet you.”

“I know, right?” Dani agreed. “Crazy that we both work for the same company but we’ve never met in person.”

“They usually like to keep us locked away in Burbank.” Lucy laughed.

I wished that weren’t true but it kind of was. It wasn’t until we’d pitched the chicken farmer show idea that we’d ever been sent out of the office.”

“So what did I miss?” The flustered woman set her big bag on the table as Nick gave her his chair.

The production associate sat heavily, looking like she’d been working every one of the eighteen-hour days I knew the crew was putting in on the Cold Feet set.

I did a quick recap of what we’d covered for her benefit.

Dani nodded as Nick, clearly the devoted boyfriend, set a wine in front of her and rubbed her back as he stood behind her.

“So what kind of participation are you looking for from Cold Feet exactly? Just Nick?” she asked, looking used to the fact her SEAL boyfriend had become a reality star.

“Well, I was kind of hoping maybe one or two of the bridesmaids and groomsmen might be able to pop by. Joanne approved the idea. If they’re available and you’re finished production before Saturday.”

Dani let out a snort. “We’d better be finished. The contract with the homeowners for the beach house is up next week. But yeah. I’ll pitch it to the cast when I get back to the house tonight. I definitely can't promise the bride or the groom will show, but as for the others, I think they’ll be into it.”

“If nothing else, it’ll be perfect for their Instapost.” Nick rolled his eyes, telling me his true feelings about social media.

“For sure.” Dani nodded. She directed her attention to me. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“Thank you so much. That’s really more than I’d even hoped for.”

If David thought the Strickland video response had been wild, wait until he saw what kind of attention the Hermosa Beach Animal Shelter Strickland Feed Adopt-a-thon was going to get with the help of some stars.

It was going to be epic! I couldn’t wait to tell him. But when? Just because we’d spent last night together didn’t mean he’d want to see me again tonight.

I could text him. I had a good reason. I did have big news about the adopt-a-thon. But after us being together last night it felt weird calling or texting.

Would it make me look clingy? He’d seen me this morning at the shelter. Would he think more than once a day was too much?

Crud. Sex complicated everything. Really good sex, even more so.

21

David

“So you’re leaving tomorrow?” Drew asked.

I leaned my forearms against the frame of the coop’s wire mesh run and nodded. “That’s the plan.”

He paused, feed scoop in one hand and glanced up at me. “You tell your girl that?”

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