Page 28 of Big Duke Energy

I was going to playThe Sims.

•••

Inspiration didnotstrike in the morning.

What did strike was Winston.

He was nowhere to be seen, which meant he really did have a secret way out of the house.

It also meant that I had to go out and attempt to find him.

Preferably before the grumpy man known as The Duke of Windermere did.

It was seven a.m. and far too early for an earful from him.

I tied the laces on my trainers and headed out. I was wearing workout gear so I could pretend to be running if I happened to come across Max.

He didn’t know me.

He didn’t know that I didn’t like running.

I could run, I just didn’t like it. I certainly didn’t do it by choice.

Not like he seemed to. If I had any luck, he’d be out running this morning and would avoid seeing Winston at all costs. Unfortunately, I didn’t think Iwasthat lucky, so I was going to have to be quick.

I shook out my limbs to get my blood moving and took off in a gentle jog. I had a treat packet stuffed in my pocket, and I shook it and gently called Winston’s name every few seconds.

I really needed this little shit to show up, and soon.

Five minutes ago would have been great.

“Wiiiinston,” I whispered, looking under a hydrangea bush. I walked around it, moving the branches slightly in case he was hiding right under it.

“Looking for something?”

I jerked up at the sound of Max’s voice. “I thought I saw a rabbit.”

His bright blue gaze was so intense, I knew instantly that he saw right through me.

I’d never been the best liar.

“A rabbit,” Max replied dryly, never taking his eyes off me. “Have you never seen one before?”

I shrugged. “I like rabbits.”

“You know it’s a wild one.”

“No, I assumed you had a whole range of purebred cashmere rabbits that you let roam your estate.”

“Perhaps we do.”

“Really?”

“Of course not. We do keep them, but just regular rabbits. And the wild ones, naturally.” His gaze drifted to my pocket. “Why do you have cat treats in your pocket?”

I shoved them inside properly. “I have a cat. I always have cat treats in my pocket.”

He stared at me.

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