Page 64 of Until It Was Real

“Do you love all animals or just otters and parrots?”

“I love them all. Animals are sweet and cuddly. Humans not so much.”

“I don’t guarantee Plank will be sweet and cuddly.”

He turns down a driveway and we bump around as he drives the unpaved road for a few minutes until we arrive at a cabin in the woods.

“Phew,” I say when the cabin appears. “I was worried you were leading me into the woods for nefarious reasons.”

He switches off the engine and glances over at me. His blue eyes are full of heat, and I shiver at the promise in them. “Whenever you want me to kidnap you for nefarious reasons, you let me know. I’ll get the handcuffs ready.”

My jaw drops open. I’ve never used handcuffs in the bedroom before. But judging by the tingling in my nether regions, I’m ready to try. With Rhett. No one else.

He pinches my jaw and shuts my mouth. “You’re trouble, Havoc.”

He kisses my nose before jumping out of the vehicle. He rounds the front and I wait for him. I might as well enjoy his gentlemanly act for as long as it lasts.

He opens the door and grasps my hips. His fingers dig in as he lifts me to set me on the ground. I remember how good those fingertips felt digging into my hips as he sank into me from behind.

“Trouble,” he murmurs before pressing his lips against mine in an all too brief kiss.

“Says the man who wants to commit a felony on our first date.”

He chuckles as he takes my hand and leads me around the cabin to the shed out back.

I frown. “Is Plank in the shed?”

“Nope. But the extra key to the back door is.”

I wait by the back door as Rhett sneaks across the yard to the shed. He opens the door – it’s unlocked – and snatches a set of keys from inside.

“Is there anyone home?” he asks as he returns to me.

Damn. Was I supposed to be doing reconnaissance? I suck at committing felonies. I blame Rhett’s ass. It’s very distracting. And sexy.

“I don’t think so,” I hedge.

We listen at the door for a minute but when we don’t hear any movement inside, Rhett unlocks the door and we tiptoe into the house.

“Where’s Plank?” I whisper as we walk through the kitchen.

“Where’s Plank? Where’s Plank?” A not quite human voice mimics.

“I think we found him.” Rhett points to the bird in the cage in the corner of the living room.

“He’s pretty,” I say as I walk toward him. He’s a vibrant red with blue and yellow on his wings.

“Plank’s pretty,” the bird mimics.

“And you’re smart, too.”

“Pretty and smart,” it mimics again.

“You can continue to flirt with the bird on the way back to Smuggler’s Rest,” Rhett says. “We shouldn’t stay too long. We don’t want to be caught.”

“Because we’re committing a felony.”

Rhett opens the door to the cage and reaches for the bird. It pecks at him and he snatches his hand back. “Ouch.”

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