Page 8 of Rafael

Johnny’s cage was front and center with a sign posted next to it that read,Adopt Me.

As Gisele delivered her potion, the receptionist told her about Johnny’s plight and the fact he’d be euthanized if he couldn’t be rehomed.

When Gisele approached Johnny, he cursed but didn’t bite.

She told the receptionist she’d take him if they could deliver him with the cage to her shop. She ran a few more errands that day. By the time she got back to her shop, a van was waiting to unload Johnny and his cage. He’d found a home, and Linda had gotten her raise.

Gisele had no problem adjusting to sharing her shop with the bird, but the customers proved more of a challenge. Tourists loved him, churchy women hated his potty mouth, and people became believers in the sign she’d posted that read,I bite.

So, he’d chased away a few customers.

Gisele couldn’t have lived with herself if she’d walked away and learned he hadn’t found a home and had to be put down.

Cheeky bastard,Johnny said.

“That’s right. But he’s a keeper,” she said.

He’s a keeper,Johnny echoed.

Gisele’s eyes widened. She’d tried to introduce less colorful words for him to mimic. This was the first time he’d repeated anything she’d said. Up to that point, his vocabulary had been what he’d learnedfrom his previous owner—all colorful and offensive to most people.

“He’s a keeper,” she said, hoping he’d repeat the words.

Johnny walked away.Cheeky bastard.

The sound of a siren made Gisele hurry to the front entrance. A sheriff’s vehicle pulled up in front of her store, lights flashing.

The sheriff himself, Jimmy Bergeron, stepped out of the SUV and lifted his chin toward Gisele. “Ms. Gautier, I hear you ran into a little trouble.”

“Yes, sir. Someone broke into the shop and made a mess.”

As the sheriff started toward her, headlights flashed. Four vehicles raced along Main Street straight for the Mamba Wamba Gift Shop. The lead SUV had a rotating red light attached to the roof.

“What the hell?” The sheriff frowned, pushed his hat to the back of his head and stood fast while each vehicle came to a skidding stop around the sheriff and his ride.

The older man shook his head as the occupants leaped out. “I should write speeding tickets for every one of you.” He lifted his chin toward Shelby Taylor. “Especially you, Deputy Taylor.”

“I used my light,” she protested. “Besides, when I heard my friend, a pillar of the community, was in trouble, I had to get here.” She hurried forward and took Gisele’s hands. “Are you okay?”

Gisele nodded, her gaze going to the man standing beside Remy, Shelby’s fiancé.

Rafael.

Her pulse sped up for no reason. So, the man was drop-dead gorgeous. He was still a womanizer, breaking young girls’ hearts. What was he doing there?

“Gisele?” Shelby’s face moved in front of hers, blocking her view of the man whore.

Gisele forced a hint of a smile. “I’m fine. But the shop’s a disaster, and I need help with Johnny.”

“What’s wrong with Johnny?” Shelby looked over Gisele’s shoulder. “Did the perp hurt him?”

“Not that I can tell.” Gisele stepped to the side, allowing Shelby to enter the shop. “He tipped the cage over, and I can’t lift it on my own.”

Shelby paused halfway through the door, turned and met Remy’s gaze. “You hear that? A damsel in distress needs muscle power.”

“On it,” Remy said.

Gerard, the big guy on his left, cracked his knuckles. “Just show us where.”

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