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“What?” He holds his hands up in submission.
I take the plush crocodile I’ve been clutching against my side, clamped under my arm, and point it at Angus. “Don’t think I don’t know what you are up to.” I glare at him, then wave the crocodile back and forth between Jensen and Alice.
“I don’t know what ye are insinuating, Aussie-sheila-turned-crocodile-huntress.” More innocence—not.
“You have no shame, and you’re getting way ahead of yourself.”
“I doubt that.”
I worship the ceiling. “Troublemaker,” I mutter under my breath.
“Heard that.” He has to have the last word. Angus places his hand over his heart with a dramatic flair. “You wound me and to think I have a ‘you beaut’ surprise for ye.” I chew the inside of my lip to stop myself from laughing at his use of Aussie slang combined with his continual terrible attempt at an Aussie accent.
I’ve been avoiding Jensen’s eyes, but I can no longer help myself. My friend is chuckling to himself.
Huh. So, this might not be as bad as I think, keeping whatever Tucker and I are from him.
“Alice, sweetheart, I think Bronwyn Bear would like to get reunited with Barry Bear after their time apart. I have enjoyed spending time with Bronwyn so much, but she needs Barry now you are here. Please take her off my bed, and I thank you for allowing me the honor of her company. Please do me a favor and take Angus with you for the reunion.”
“Okay. I love you are going to be my sister and Barry and Bronwyn Bear can be together again. They’ve missed each other.”
I smile sweetly at Alice and narrow my eyes at Angus, sending him a death-ray beam at his head.
He stands and shrugs, both palms facing out to me. “Hey, I didn’t do that part, but it will be nice to keep Barry and Bronwyn together under the same roof. It has been hard on Barry, separated from his true love.”
I roll my eyeswaaaayup to the ceiling and groan.
“Come on, Angus, you can carry my albums. Sorry, Jensen, but I will show you the rest of my pictures when you have finished talking to Ophelia, and I can show you more of her newboyfriend.He is my brother,” she says proudly.
Now Jensen is laughing louder.
Okay, I am stressing over nothing.I think?
“If he’s anything like you, Tucker is one hell of a nice guy, and it will be my pleasure, Alice,” Jensen replies, helping her to pack the albums into her tote bag. “You are a fantastic photographer,” he adds, and I can see he means it.
Jensen is genuinely the nicest guy.
Angus holds his hand out and bows his head. “Sweet Alice, your bag, please.” She hands it over, giggling. He swings the handles over his shoulder then puts a gentle hand to her back.
Alice looks over her shoulder. “One more thing. Will you and Tucker have babies because I want to be an auntie one day?”
My heart clenches, but now is not the time to rip that Band-Aid off. “Honey, I will talk to you and your sister about that another day.” I want to be transparent with the sisters and the MacDougalls, but now is not the time.
“Okay.”
“I’ll be back in five minutes to escort ye, Ophelia.” Angus eyes Jensen, letting him know he is on limited time. Before I can protest, they leave with a quiet click of the door shutting.
A deafening silence stifles the air.
I locate my camera on the wingback chair, pick it up, sit down where Alice just vacated on the bed, and give Jensen a guilty grimace because I know I told him I wasn’t looking for a guy or a date.
Jensen breaks the ice. “Cool outfit. Hell of a nice man, Steve Irwin.” I swallow a lump in my throat, tamping down my emotions—Hell of a nice man.
“Thanks. You look nice too.” Ugh! Polite talk is not our thing. We joke around. We are easy. This is not easy.
“So… you have a boyfriend?” Okay, he is not messing about.
Time to start at the beginning.
