Oh, that is not helpful.
“Now go and do what you need to do,” he continues, gesturing toward Bobcat Billie’s roped-off enclosure. “I’ll take care of Skip.”
“Ms. Moore,” another volunteer calls, “the photographer just arrived.”
“Shoot,” I mutter, gripping my clipboard tighter. “I have to go. Things are getting off schedule.”
“Go,” Maverick says like he has every right to send me off to handle my own fundraiser while he deals with a biker trying to pet a blind bobcat.
Thankfully, Skip hasn’t ignored the rules. He’s still standing outside the rope, leaning forward with far too much interest and absolutely not enough fear.
I don’t want him getting bitten.
I also don’t want Billie more stressed than she probably already is with so many new smells and voices around her.
And I definitely don’t have time to explain to the photographer why one of my guests has claw marks across his face because he tried to sweet-talk a wild animal with murder in her heart.
I take one last look at Maverick as he approaches the biker.
Then I force myself to turn away.
Because if I don’t, I’m going to stand here all day wondering why the scariest man I’ve ever met somehow makes my heart flutter.
Chapter Seven
Livy
“Are you gonna be my mama’s husband?”
Mr. Moretti freezes.
Not a lot.
Most people probably wouldn’t even notice.
But I do because I have sharp eyes.
His hand stops halfway to his jacket pocket, and his eyes move from where Mr. Skip is walking away from Bobcat Billie’s area to me.
I stand beside the snow cone truck with my clipboard held against my chest because I’m working today. I’m not just running around like the other kids. Mama said I’m a helper, and helpers have responsibilities.
Also, I have a pen with my name on it.
That makes me official.
Mr. Moretti looks down at me for a few seconds, then slowly turns his body toward me like I asked him something very important.
Which I did.
“That’s a very big question, little one.”
I tilt my head. “Really?”
“Really.”
“That’s weird.”
The corner of his mouth moves like he wants to smile but isn’t sure he should.
