Page 33 of Touch Her and Die
Emilee eyed Gertie and I followed her gaze.
Gertie, somehow back on the ground, was snuggled up to Parks’ leg.
“This is ridiculous. What, now the chicken wants Parks too? I’ve tried to draw the line at animals. But really?”
Emilee snorted and walked over to grab her. She squawked once and then seemed to accept her fate.
“Oh, flirty Gertie. What can I say. She knows what she wants. To be fair, she knew Parks first. He rescued her off the side of the road. Parks was on his way here to dump another problem at the pigpen, and the way he tells it? Well, he saw these little white and black feathers blowing with the wind. She stood out I guess.”
I turned to study him. Was this really my Parks? What else was I missing?
“It was a sight. Her little ass in the air. I don’t know what made me stop, but I did, and there was Gertie with her head stuck in the grass. So, you and Gertie and Emilee won’t be doing anything. I am heading back to the city to deal with the situation.”
What in the purgatory was happening?
“You’re laughing at a chicken butt? And you really believe I will stay here?”
I turned around and reached for his chin, forcing him to look into my eyes. The thing was, he knew how to hold his own with me and I swear his glare was stronger than mine.
“Oh, princess. I know you will stay here. Because if you don’t? Well, let’s just not find out.”
A shiver ran down my spine at the terse tone of his voice and the way his already deep baritone seemed to fade into a bedroom voice with every whispered word.
I blinked away the annoying hold he had on me.
“No. Please. Let’s find out what will happen?” I winked at him and turned towards the house. There wasn’t exactly anywhere else to turn.
The gravel crunched under the boots I’d worn for far too long.
“Where’s the bag?” I asked, still walking. He would bring it in. I knew that much at least.
I heard more gravel crunching and laughter. I didn’t bother turning to see him. Instead, I pretended not to hear them as they talked. The anger and jealousy and frustration I felt? I didn’t know what the hell to do with it. I stood glaring at the door like that was going to change anything in my life.
A few hours ago, I was talking to my sister and now? I was miles from her and everything that I knew. The few jobs I took in other states were never in places like this. I didn’t do the middle of nowhere. People here didn’t want to be found and most of them were far enough removed I didn’t think many had a price on their head. Then again, it would be a great place to hide in plain sight.
“Everything was delivered this morning and set up as asked.”
Set up as asked? I made a slow pivot on my heel and let the damn curiosity win.
“What is set up? You don’t really think—”
Neither of them was as close as I’d assumed. I was off my game. Emotions making me messy. Confused. This place? My life with Parks? I felt like a fish out of water.
I watched Parks walk around the car and pop the trunk, pulling out something. I stopped at the sight of a cat carrier.
“What’s that?” I asked.
Of all the crazy ass men in the world, this one fell into my fucking vagina, and I was so smitten that the boyish grin he looked at me with? Ah, hell.
“It’s the Dick. I got him a cat carrier and some kind of little plush den thing. I sent my guy over to the pet store the second I hatched up this amazing plan. Anyway. Emilee has his vacation home all set up.”
My eyes burned. Why did my eyes burn?
Fuck.
FOURTEEN
parks
