Page 92 of All I Want For Christmas

“Well, there might be a dead nutria or two over there. In cupboards and stuff,” Zander said.

Theo blew out a breath. He probably could've guessed that. Nutria were the large, very annoying rodents that lived in the marshlands.

“Find out what cupboards.”

“That's not the worst of it,” Zander said.

Theo went to his kitchen to set his beer bottle down. “What else?”

“Remember that big life-sized, very real looking rubber alligator that Owen got a year ago?”

Theo’s eyes widened. “The one that almost ended his marriage and his life?”

Owen’s wife, Maddie, wasn't a fan of alligators, found her husband’s sense of humor less than adorable much of the time, and Owen had ended up spending three nights on Zeke’s couch after he'd bought that rubber alligator.

“That's the one. It's now somewhere around that cabin. Somewhere she could stumble upon it.”

“Those assholes,” Theo said.

“Yeah, but the worst part is coming up. And you're about ten minutes away from it.”

Theo scowled and started toward his door. “What is it?” If there was a timer on it, whatever it was, he needed to get over there.

“This is where Mitch comes in. Somehow they rigged it so her power’s going to cut out. And it’s not just the circuit breaker or anything. It’s something Mitch will have to come out and repair.”

“And it’s on a timer?” Theo asked. “How?”

“No idea. But yeah, they wanted it to happen when it’s nice and dark.”

“I’m going to kill them.”

“They did it for a good reason.”

“Don’t defend them,” Theo snapped. He was feeling even more protective now after the time they’d spent earlier. “She's not going to have any lights, or air conditioning.”

“Exactly. They’re trying to make her a little freaked out and uncomfortable.”

“This ischeating,” Theo said, his boot hitting his porch. “If she bails on staying out here, it has to be on her terms. We can'tdriveher away.”

“That’s the thing,” Zander said quickly. “They were just trying to drive herintoyour cabin.”

Theo paused on the bottom step. “What does that mean?”

“They’re not trying to ruin her project. They’re playing matchmaker. They figure if she doesn't like staying in that cabin, she’ll come next door. To you. You can save the damsel in distress.” He paused. Then chuckled. “Sucks having us all know you so well, doesn't it?”

Theo swore under his breath. Because it really did. “I can get my own girl.”

“Well, they seem to like Savannah for you.”

“They're still assholes.”

“No question. But you're on your way over there, aren't you?”

“Of course. I can't leave her over there in the dark, with no air conditioning, stinky rodents, and a possible huge scare with a fake alligator.”

“But you could. If you really wanted her to hate her night on the bayou.”

“Like I said, if she bails it has to be because she decides this isn’t for her. Straight up, fair and square.”

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