Page 65 of Until It Was Real

“I want the sexy one,” the bird says.

I giggle. “I didn’t realize parrots talked this much.”

“Stop flirting with my girlfriend,” Rhett grumbles at the bird.

“She’s out of your league,” it says.

I clap a hand over my mouth before I laugh out loud. “I love you, Plank.”

“Plank loves you, too.”

“Shall I get him?” I ask Rhett.

“Crap. I forgot the cage.”

“Crap. I forgot the cage,” the bird mimics.

I study the parrot. He appears gentle, but I’ve never handled a bird before. I’m a bit apprehensive about stealing him from his cage. What if he flies away? He’s domesticated. He’ll never survive in the wild.

“Freeze! Hands up!”

I scream and rush for the door. I am not getting arrested for stealing a parrot. Rhett chases after me.

“Stop, Havoc, it was Plank. He was pretending to be a cop.”

I screech to a halt on the back porch. I grab my side where I can feel a stitch forming. I wasn’t kidding about not being a runner.

“Okay,” I gasp out. “Get the cage and we’ll go back.”

He heads for his vehicle but swears and pivots on his heel to return to me. “There’s a car coming. We need to get out of here.”

He shackles my wrist and leads me around the house. We jump into his SUV and he drives away as fast as possible on the bumpy driveway. We pass a car and I wave to the occupant, who wags his finger at me.

“Close call,” Rhett says as we turn onto the main road.

“But it was fun. Especially since Plank liked me more than you.”

“Of course, he did. You’re magnificent.”

I wait for the punchline, but apparently there isn’t one. He’s serious. He thinks I’m magnificent. No wonder I’m falling in love with him.

My world tilts and I grab the door handle before I fall over. Falling in love with Rhett? I can’t fall in love with anyone. I should know better.

Apparently, my heart doesn’t care. It wants what it wants.

Chapter 21

“Great. This bird does like me.” ~ Rhett

Rhett

“Where are we going?” Dakota asks as we drive away from theMermaid Motel,where I picked her up from the reception area. She grimaces as we travel over a bump in the parking lot and her cheeks pinken.

I frown. Is she ashamed of living at the motel? There’s no reason for her to feel ashamed. She’s working her ass off to pay the debts of her late husband. Debts she shouldn’t have to pay. Debts she won’t let me pay.

“Uh oh. You don’t appear happy. What’s wrong? Are we going to commit another felony? Are you worried all the animals will like me better than you?”

I reach across the console to place my hand on her thigh. I can’t stop touching her when she’s near. Even if I’m trying to hold off sex until she’s convinced I’m serious about this relationship.

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