Page 56 of The Jackpot Screwer
“All getting a little tense, right?”
I knew Ellie and was pretty sure that she’d have a spreadsheet and a scrapbook full of things for the new house and was stressing over every little detail.
“Ah it’s all good,” he replied. “I’m just happy I don’t have to be any part of it, but I’ll be glad when Hunt gets his mind back on the job. He’s a little distracted.”
“Hmm.” I shrugged. “Moving in together is a big commitment. As long as he’s not having second thoughts because then I may just have to cut off his balls.”
Jefferson laughed and moved down the porch steps. “No chance of that. My boy is totally gone for that girl. Anyways, I’d best get going. Go on in if you want. Janice and Lynn are cooking soup in the kitchen—I think it’s pork and blueberry today.” He grimaced. “Oh, and if you do, don’t take your shoes off that damn dog of theirs will chew it to its death.”
“Oh my gosh,” I squealed. “They have a puppy. You know Carter got me a puppy, right?”
“Where’d you think he got him.” Jefferson raised a brow. “Okay so, I’ll see you later honey.”
With that he was gone, jogging down the porch steps and over to his truck which was loaded with fencing materials and now had Sam and Tom leaning against it.
As his vehicle pulled away, I gave a courtesy knock on the door and walked in.
“Aunt J, Aunt L, you back there?”
A silver head poked around the door. I knew it was Hunter’s Aunt Lynn-Ann because I’d figured a while ago that she wore her parting to the right.
“Why Bronte, sweetheart, so lovely to see you. You want to come through and taste our new soup?”
The thought of pork and blueberry didn’t settle right on my stomach, so I laid a hand against it and shook my head.
“A little nauseous today, Aunt L.”
“Oh no, morning sickness, sweetheart?”
“Hmm,” I lied, seeing as I’d barely had any at all. Something I counted myself lucky for. “I managed to keep some toast down.”
“Well come on through anyway, we’re just finishing up.”
As I wandered through to the living room, I heard snuffling and growling, and sure enough in the middle of the rug was a cute little puppy. It looked exactly like Mani and was, as Jefferson warned me, chewing on a shoe.
“Oh, he’s adorable.” Dropping to my knees I rolled the pup over and scratched his belly, just like my own little guy loved. “What’s his name.”
“Primrose,” Aunt L replied.
When I looked up at her she was grinning from ear to ear.
“He’s gorgeous, isn’t he?” She clutched at her pale blue blouse and stared down at the puppy. “I think even Jefferson is getting attached.”
Taking another quick look between Primrose’s legs I confirmed it was most definitely a ‘he’.
“Primrose?” I asked.
“Yes, we thought he was a girl. You know that sneaky Carter tried to swap him out for the female puppy, but we spotted it, didn’t we, Janice-Ann?”
Aunt J appeared next to her sister, wiping her hands on a towel. “We did. The female was all black for a start.”
Both sisters moved into the room and sat themselves down on the sofa.
“So, how are you, Bronte, dear?” Aunt J asked, the conversation about their male dog being called Primrose swiftly forgotten.
“I’m good thank you.” As Primrose went back to chewing, I got onto my feet and moved to an armchair. “Getting used to the idea, you know.”
The two sisters gave me sympathetic smiles and sighed.
