After getting home, Natalie went to plug her phone into a charger but was surprised to discover a text from Mason. Her heart did a tiny leap within her chest.
Thank you for confessing to your crimes. We’ll call off Bentley. He’s a good dog but a bad detective. He’s been falsely accusing birds. I’m not telling you so you feel bad, but this crime has ruined a lot of lives.
Instead of plugging her phone in, she carried it with her to the bathroom, sending a quick text in response.That would certainly explain all the new bird shit on my windshield.
She set her phone on the countertop before wrapping her hair in a loose bun and washing her face. She was halfway through brushing her teeth when her phone screen lit again.That can’t be good. Luckily, it’s only been little birds but if they go to the blue jays, it’s probably all over for you. Everyone knows blue jays are the mobsters of the bird world. I don’t want to scare you but…I’m just glad I’m not you.
Natalie almost choked on the toothbrush hanging from her mouth.I’m not worried. I’m sure even mobster blue jays can be bribed with a little seed money.
I…I’m pretty sure you’re a woman after my own heart… It’s too bad you have a target on your back. I can’t afford to get caught up in this bird nest.
Natalie rinsed her toothbrush, catching her reflection in the mirror. She had this ridiculous grin on her face, one that didn’t belong there because she had no business having anything resembling a flirty-type conversation with a guy she’d already decided not to get involved with. She ripped the ponytail holder from her head, scraped her fingers through her hair as she did her best to school her features back to neutral.
He was too local. Too nice. Too much of a distraction she definitely didn’t need. Her focus should be on making the coffee horse trailer a success. Get the Pony Expresso partnership. Plan her next trip to Tahoe because clearly missing this trip was affecting her brain more than she realized. It for sure explained her body’s eagerness to release these weird bubbles of funny, flighty sensations streaming through her bloodstream, resulting in ridiculous grins on one’s face. Next thing she’d expect was some absurd sigh while pressing her hand to her chest, like Mia when she got swoony.
She gave herself one more good look, pressing her lips together tightly, and flicked off the light.
