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She could see now it was most definitely the Craig Baron she’d met—sort of—all those years ago. Yes, he was definitely a few years older, a smidge less lanky, but there was no forgetting that face worthy of a magazine cover.
“Whose side are you on?” the prone former classmate snapped.
“The lady with the loaded gun pointed at us.” The grin on Devlin’s face showed no shame. As a matter of fact, she might even say it looked like Craig’s cousin was enjoying the moment.
Who knew some day she’d karate chop a Baron, Craig Baron no less, in the middle of a country barn? Blowing out a deep sigh, she lowered the weapon. “Sorry about that. I’m Kate Donovan.”
Craig nodded. “Apology accepted.”
“Are you related to old man Martin?” Devlin asked.
Old man Martin? “Who?”
“I take it that’s a no?” Craig answered for his cousin.
“Old Man Martin used to own this place. It now belongs to his heirs.” Now that the coast was clear, Devlin took a step closer to his cousin, but continued speaking to her. “If you’re not an heir, what are you doing here?”
“Need to take photos for the Fish and Game guy.”
Craig chuckled. “I hate to point out the obvious, but there isn’t water, or fish, anywhere near this place.”
“I know that.” She almost rolled her eyes at him. Had he been this obtuse back in college? All she’d ever seen were those smiling blue eyes that made her knees go weak no matter how far away he stood, and wavy light chestnut hair that had her itching to run her fingers through it. She was almost sorry he now wore it in a neatly cropped cut more suitable for a businessman than a college student.
“Sorry. No offense intended.” Craig waved both hands at her. “But why are you working with Fish and Game?”
“The owl.”
“Owl?” the two men echoed.
“Up there.” Her arm pointed to the far corner where some large bird had built a nest and the owl had staked a claim to it.
The two men lifted their gaze in the direction she pointed.
“I don’t see anything.” Craig squinted at the dark.
“Look closer.”
At that moment, the only thing visible were two bright yellow orbs that just as quickly disappeared as the bird closed his eyes again.
“He’s probably unhappy with the racket y’all are making.”
“Us?” Craig’s eyes widened almost as round as the owl’s. “We’re not the ones who went all Ninja on you.”
“Yeah,” she winced, “I really am sorry about that.”
“Well, now that we’ve settled that.” Devlin took a step forward. “Do the Martins know you’re having a slumber party with their owl?”
“It’s not their owl.”
“Noted.Anowl?”
She had little choice but to shrug. Truth was she hadn’t made much effort to hunt down the owners. Considering the dilapidated condition, she thought the property abandoned. “These owls and their nests are protected by federal laws.”
“Well, this one can be protected somewhere else.” Craig lifted his gaze to the corner where the owl had settled in.
Hands on her hips, she shook her head. “It doesn’t work that way. Natural habitats cannot be disturbed.”
“Maybe not, but if things go as I expect, this place will be mine in less than ten days, lock, stock and habitat, and the owl isn’t welcome.”
