Page 29

Jonathan laughed. “Poor bastard. He survived special-ops, a shooting, PTSD, and now it’s the baby that finally beats him.”

“Well, we’re taking our full two hours for work, and he’ll just have to deal.”

“I believe you two can rule the world with two hours,” Alyssa said.

Mia blew her a kiss. “We’re going to try. Let me get back to the house. I’ll see you in there. Remember, dinner’s at four p.m.”

She strode out without missing a beat. Alyssa glanced over to find Jonathan smiling. “You really care about her,” she said softly. She loved that about him, the way he was fiercely loyal to the people close to him and protected them at all costs.

“She’s special. Without her, Chloe and I may have never been this close. She had the guts to challenge me on my decisions like no one else, no matter how hard I fought her.”

“You never had feelings for her?” she asked curiously. “Tried to date?”

His eyes widened, and he laughed long and hard, startling the horses. “Oh, hell, no. Mia and I would’ve been a disaster—we’re both high-strung personalities. Plus, there was never any attraction. It’s funny how everyone assumes a pretty face makes a man fall hard, but chemistry has always been the thing I’ve struggled with most. I fell hard for my wife in college and never looked at another woman. After she passed, the only woman I ever experienced that with was—” He stopped short, clearly realizing his mistake a bit too late.

Her name was never spoken aloud but hung in the air like smoke after a gunshot nonetheless.

“Sorry,” he muttered, taking a step back as if he were afraid he might reach out and try to touch her.

Her whole body clenched then practically wept with the need to tell him she couldn’t do this anymore. That she’d take a chance. That she wanted him badly, too, and it would all be worth the blow-up.

She opened her mouth, but a shadow fell over them, moving closer. Suddenly, his face changed.

“Don’t move,” he whispered. “Don’t even breathe.”

“Is it a bear?” she whispered back, scared to turn. “Sasquatch can’t be in this area. It’s not north enough.”

“Worse. It’s that damn chicken.”

Slowly, she turned. Blinked. And studied the giant, monster fowl that stood a few feet away.

The thing had massive feet and claws, towering tall with a thick body of mottled black. Fat red jowls hung from under his beak. Crazy white feathers stuck out from his head like a designer hairdo gone terribly wrong. A high-pitched shriek emitted from him, and she watched in horror as he scraped his clawed foot on the ground like he was about to charge.

“Hei-Hei,” Jonathan yelled. “Don’t you dare! If you give me shit, I’ll tell Mia, and you’ll be on the table for Thanksgiving instead of under it!”

The chicken monster clearly didn’t like that because he began to cluck and squawk, shaking out his feathers in fury and walking closer.

Alyssa wondered what death by chicken would feel like.

“Good boy,” she whispered. “Pretty boy. Nice boy.”

“Be gone, chicken from hell!” Jonathan boomed.

And then, Hei-Hei decided he’d had enough.

He charged toward Jonathan, ignoring Alyssa, and began to peck madly at the mayor’s feet. Flower and Bambi barely gave him a glance as if used to his temper tantrums, and Jonathan began howling, trying to get away. And then⁠—

“Hei-Hei!”

The female voice snapped out with pure authority. The chicken froze, whirling around, and came face-to-face with Mia. In a matter of seconds, the creature scurried away from Jonathan and began rubbing his feathers against Mia’s boot-covered calf like a cat seeking to be petted.

“I am very disappointed in you,” she said coolly. “I should have known you were trying to sneak into the barn. And here I was, about to share some special treats with you. Now I may give your portion to Captain Hoof.”

The chicken pressed harder, making little sounds of what seemed like an apology. Alyssa stared in pure fascination at the obvious bond between them.

Mia sighed, and her face softened. “I’ll think about it. Now, come with me and leave poor Jonathan alone. Ethan is going to be pissed you acted so badly with our guests.” She shook her head. “Sorry, guys. He means well, he’s just a tiny bit protective.”

She left again, taking the chicken monster with her.