“You think this is going to work?” Zeb held out a silver sparkly bow tie.
“I have no idea.” I took it and located Gilligan, the tallest male penguin in the group. “Come here, Gilligan. Let’s see how handsome you look in a bow tie with your tails.”
Zeb shook his head. “This is nuts, you know that, right?”
“Yeah. It was nuts to begin with. Now we’re nearing the line of absolutely ridiculous, wouldn’t you say?”
“Is there anything you want me to relay to my sister?” Zeb asked.
Where should I start? I’d tried to apologize for overreacting but hadn’t been able to find the right words.
“Just tell her I’ll try to get the birds to cooperate with their new wardrobe.” It was easier to leave it at that.
“You know, for what it’s worth . . .” Zeb stopped, although he looked like he wanted to say more.
“What?”
“I don’t know what’s going on between you and Zina, but she seems happier when you’re around.” His big shoulders rolled. “I just wanted you to know.”
My chest squeezed tight. “Thanks.”
“Are you planning on sticking around? Like after the wedding?”
“I’d got a lead on a job that will probably have me traveling all the time.” I lifted a shoulder in an apologetic shrug. “So probably not.”
“Yeah, that’s what I figured.” Zeb nodded. “See you around.”
“See ya.” I waited until Zeb disappeared around the corner again, and then silently cursed myself for the way the conversation went down. It’s not that I didn’t want to stick around. The more time I spent in Ido, the longer I wanted to stay. I could easily see myself settling in, moving out to the ranch with Gramps, and giving things a real chance with Zina. But I didn’t know if I could. What if I started to feel stuck? What if things didn’t work out and I missed the chance to take the job with Munyon? There were too many unknowns. The possibilities spun around in my head until I couldn’t see straight.
I handed out the rest of the sardines to the motley crew of penguins. “Let’s call it quits for today, okay, gang?”
The penguins milled around, waddling in their small group at the end of the red aisle runner. I’d taken to chatting with them while we worked. Not that I expected them to talk back, but it was better than spending all of my time alone.
“You done for the day?” Gramps came in with Herbie on a leash.
“Yeah.” I secured the last penguin. “Want to grab a burger or something tonight?”
“Nah. Your girlfriend’s got me working with one of the dogs who might be a candidate for that veteran program. Her brother’s been helping.”
“She’s not my girlfriend, Gramps.” I shook the idea out of my head. Zina and I had shared some amazing time between the sheets together. But that was all it was. And hell, we weren’t even doing that anymore. She was still pissed at me. Once the wedding came and went, so would I. That was my MO, the way I’d lived all of my life. Onto the next adventure.
“Well I don’t know what you young folks call it then. Is she your booty call?”
“Hell, no.” How did my grandfather even know what a booty call was? “Have you been trying to order pay-per-view again?” Lacey would kill him if she ended up with a huge cable bill. She’d already been generous enough to let us stay rent-free.
Gramps waved off the question. “Why don’t you take that non-girlfriend of yours out to dinner tonight? You’ve both been burning the candle at both ends. Might be good to take a break.”
I let my chin drop to my chest. “Yeah, I’ll think about it.” It wasn’t a bad idea. I probably should spend a little time making up for the way I’d overreacted about the penguin stunt. My grandfather had been coming out of his shell more and more since we’d been at the mansion together. He might actually have a good idea from time to time.
“Good. That woman deserves to be treated well.” Gramps disappeared back behind the barrier.
He had a point. With the penguins crated and fed, I didn’t have any other responsibilities until morning. Maybe Zina and I could find a middle ground, somewhere between the physical attraction and our apparent mutual desire to strangle each other. I might even be willing to make a little conversation. Truth was, I missed her.
When I got back to the mansion, I knocked on the door to the bedroom she’d stolen from me.
“Come in.”
She sat on the edge of the bed, kicking off her shoes. “You need something?”
