Page 12 of Out on a Limb
Like he wanted me to pick him up.
And chances were good this was the closest I was getting to a cock any time soon, so I scooped up the little bird, holding him against my chest as I smoothed down his ruffled feathers.
“I think he likes you.” Andrew reached out like he was going to pet my new buddy. Unfortunately, fluffy and clucky wasn’t in the mood and snapped at Andrew’s outstretched hand.
I couldn’t help but smile. If I was gonna have a cock, I definitely wanted one that was a biter.
Andrew frowned at the bird. “I thought we were friends.”
“He’s probably just scared.” I looked toward the fence that surrounded the property. “Some assholes shoved him into unfamiliar territory.”
I felt his pain.
Another chicken slow-walked across the grass, head bobbing as it went for a patch of flowers lined along the edge of the landscape building.
“We need to get this up and get all the birds out of the garden.” Andrew turned his attention back to the pen I bought at the local hardware store.
I moved a little closer, peeking past him as he started organizing the pieces into stacks. “Have you done this before?”
Andrew picked up the packet of paper and started flipping through the pages. “It seems pretty cut and dried.”
I watched as he started assembling the thing, carefully following each step laid out in the instructions.
Of course he would be the kind of man that followed instructions.
Everything Andrew did was careful and meticulous. Thought completely through and executed precisely.
It probably carried over to all aspects of his life.
I accidentally found myself watching a little too close as he worked an Allen wrench in circles, deftly spinning it with his long, strong fingers.
The rooster in my arms suddenly started screeching, beak open wide, tongue sticking out as he crowed as loud as his little body could manage.
Like my own little cock blocker.
Fitting.
Maybe I should take one of these to my granddad. Might help get him back on the right track.
I blew out a breath, turning away from the scene I shouldn’t be watching. “I’m going to go get the chickens and start bringing them over.”
I couldn’t keep drooling over Andrew every chance I got. There were more important things that needed someone’s attention.
And unfortunately mine was the only one available.
I found Julia herding a group of birds out of the tropical waterscape. Her cheeks were pink and the dark strands of hair falling from her ponytail were stuck to her neck.
It was only nine in the morning but it was already over eighty degrees, and I knew better than anyone what could happen in the heat. I’d accidentally given myself heat stroke trying to impress Andrew with my digging abilities when the construction crew behind us accidentally hit a water main, sending thousands of gallons rushing across our property.
Except I was starting to think maybe it wasn’t as accidental as I initially thought.
“I’m going to go get us some water.” If we were going to spend the day chasing chickens, then we were going to do it hydrated.
There was no time for me to be carried into the sunset by a hunk of hot horticulturist.
No matter how appealing it sounded.
I hopped into my cart and headed up to the entrance building that housed ticket sales, bathrooms, a small cafe, and the gift shop I ran, along with the break room reserved for employees.
