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How to deal with this flying bottle of steroids going forward is still on the top of my list of things to do. With pleasure or without but preferably the first. I’m not done with him yet. Any of his forms, let alone the only one I’ve had so far.
“Are you bringing that ferret back into this house?”
“I’m going to take exception to your use of the noun ‘house’ to describe what is clearly an estate, my scrumptious,” he tries.
I narrow my eyes and read between the lines. Plus note the stunning grin across his equally stunning face. He only uses this smile when he’s been particularly rambunctious. A less considerate way to say it would be that he’s being fucking ridiculous. Since he’s being idiotic but in a dumb, sexy way, it makes me annoyed and grateful at the same time.
I’m glad he wants to give Lucy things. Really, I am. I guess I’m just going to have to swallow my discomfort on this one.
Damn he’s hot, I think as he pulls out the carrier from behind his back. The ferret peeks out from its rolled up blanket and presses its nose against the mesh screen of his handheld house. It’s definitely not the smelly cutie's fault that it’s prone tostinking and my daughter would rather climb a tree than wash anything.
“Might I remind you, my mortal snack, that it’s a bold-faced lie that demons can’t love.”
“Why, you calculating bastard,” I say, cozying up to him and going for a peck on the cheek. He’s too quick and steals a kiss instead. I’m too busy swooning to pretend I care.
“Ew, what are you guys doing with the door open?”
Lucy’s voice is horrified, giving me the opportunity to step into the shoes of my own mother. I’d blurted a similar string of words when I was about Lucy’s age. Only back then, it was directed at my mom and Santa Claus, who I challenged to a fight before realizing the old frump in a suit was my dad. Oh, how time flies.
“We have neighbors,” she continues, coming down the stairs and right toward what I’m sure will be her new best friend. I just hope it lasts more than three weeks, and she elects to keep it clean and full on her own.
“We better not,” Argoss growls and the ferret in the cage lets out a series of squeaks.
“Is that a ferret?”
Argoss’s confusion is immediately replaced with a gleaming grin when our daughter blurts this out.
She skips the last two steps and lands on her feet with her arms outstretched.
“A fine and mighty familiar,” he explains, setting the carrier on the ground.
Lucy practically salivates over Argoss as he unzips it to free the gray and black ferret from its cage.
“She’s talking about our animal neighbors, by the way,” I explain and gesture to the woods in the distance.
“They do more than kiss in front of us,” Argoss states as he stands, leaving Lucy to gush over the animal.
My lips thin as I try not to laugh at his genuine good sense. I do not need Lucy perking up at her favorite cue to start eavesdropping like she’s so good at. The birds and the bees can wait. Now is about the ferret. That and him explaining himself.
“Steve dropped him off just now,” he whispers. “Says he’s pretty sure he’s allergic.”
“Is he okay?”
“Mr. Steve, look at what I just got!”
We both look to see Steve ambling through the open door.
“Steve, Jr., I think I’ll show you your new room,” Lucy says, scurrying away with her newly named pet.
“Steve, Jr.?” Argoss grumbles. “Argoss, Jr. wasn’t taken.”
“Ooh!” Steve’s sudden shout makes me jump as I turn to watch him scratching his arms. “Did it just get real itchy in here?”
Steve doesn’t stop scratching until we’ve settled him in the master bathroom’s sauna, leaving him to regain some moisture in private as we talk. Argoss and I stand in our bedroom, and I almost can’t believe what I’m about to say.
“That was really thoughtful of you to help Steve. Like for real this time.”
He smiles at my admission. “I know,” he replies, pressing his lips to mine. “It’s why I think I’ve earned your forgiveness over the ferret.”
