“A specific chef. Carmy from The Bear. It’s a TV show about a restaurant.”
“I see. And you know about K-pop Demon Hunters?”
“Are you kidding? I am so down with what the kids are into. Haven’t you heard? I’m gonna be a dad.”
“Ah, so the rumor is true.”
“Sure is. You’re giving snail tours?”
She smiled. “Tilly’s interested so I thought I’d show her the ones that like to come out after the rain.”
“Show me.”
She blinked. “You want to see the snails?”
I want to see them through your eyes. “Educate me, Doc.”
“Okay.” She hunkered down, which sent her skirt riding up along with my dick. Heh. Still a horny teenage boy at heart. The backyard security light shone on a brown-shelled snail sneaking along the path.
“This is your typical garden snail, Cornu Aspersum, which means ‘spotted horn.’ It’s rather plain and ubiquitous but exhibits many of the characteristics we associate with snails.”
“Such as?”
“First, the shell, which is protective and has three to four whorls. It also has a foot, hence its classification as part of the genus gastropod, which means ‘stomach foot.’ They use this appendage to inch forward, leaving behind a mucus trail.”
I listened to her speak, loving her enthusiasm about this most commonplace of creatures.
“So this is a hermaphrodite?”
“Most species of snail are. It’s an evolutionary adaptation that ensures their continued success. Of course, people think these ones are pests and work to eradicate them because of the damage to plants. But they’re mostly harmless in a garden like this.” She turned to me and placed a hand on my bare bicep. “You must be cold.”
“Not really.”
“It’s not the first time you’ve appeared half-naked outside.”
Inside, too. And hardly half-naked, but I was wearing short sleeves. Gotta show off the guns, and if it drew certain hands to reach out and touch …
“Guess you have that effect on me, Francesca.”
She stood. “Let’s get you to some place warm.”
I pulled myself upright. “Perfect. I’d like to talk to you in private, too.”
She opened her mouth—I assume, to object—so I stepped in and placed a finger on her lips. “I want to hear about the doctor’s visit, and I’d like to plan how we’re going to manage this with all the family members around.”
She grasped my hand and pulled it away. “We probably shouldn’t be meeting in the dark like this. I don’t think anyone would buy your cover about snail education.”
So droll. “Meet me upstairs in Adeline’s room, second door on the left.”
“If I must.” Very Wednesday.
I gave her a moment to head inside, then followed. Unfortunately, I ran into Conor again, who halted my progress.
“Were you talking to Franky just now?”
“Yep, what of it?”
My nephew reared back, as if struck. Such a drama queen. “Uh, pretty sure you two are sworn enemies.”
