“You know if you hurt her, I’m going to kick your ass, bum leg or no bum leg.”
Seth raked his gaze over his friend. “You can try, but I have no plans to hurt her. She sparkles with magic, Dodge. The woman’s like a damn magnet. I tried staying away, but she makes it impossible. I think you know what that’s like.”
Ford sighed again. “Hell. I do. Knox was not impressed when Jolie and I got together.”
“He kick your ass?”
Ford grunted out a laugh. “No, which means I shouldn’t try it either. Just don’t mess it up, Babs.”
“Not planning on it.”
“Good.”
Mara reached their sides, hands on her hips. “Is this the part where men try to decide what’s best for the little lady?”
He and Ford shared a grin. Ford put his sister in a neck hold. “Not a chance. What names did you and Jolie come up with for the coop?”
Because she’d had years of practice getting away from big brothers, she shoved her way easily out of Ford’s hold and studied the two men. “You two are okay?”
Seth took Mara’s hand, showing her and Ford his intent. “We are.”
Mara looked at her brother, waiting for his response. He sent Seth another look, but there wasn’t much heat behind it. “For now.”
That made Seth chuckle, and he turned them to where Jolie waited by the coop. “How about Chick Magnet?”
Mara laughed. “If we ever get a rooster, that’s definitely his name.”
Ford looked over the coop they’d built. “This one could be Cluckington Palace to match the Duckington Palace at the back. Or Peckington Palace.”
Seth squeezed her hand. “Jurassic Peck.”
Jolie laughed. “That’s a good one. Or Hennsylvania. Anything we can do with the name Phail?”
Mara tilted her head. “No Phailed Eggs? No Phailed Fowls.”
“The Breakfast Club.”
“Coop Deville.”
“The Omelette Office.”
“Just Clucky.”
“Egg-topia.”
“Chick Inn Time.”
Mara’s laugh got louder and brighter with each ridiculous name one of them suggested. She was probably relieved to see that he and Ford hadn’t come to blows. He hoped she was also happy that their growing relationship was out in the open.
He was. It wasn’t like they’d been doing anything wrong, but they’d been taking time to ensure their feelings were real before putting them out in the open.
She was developing feelings right along with him, wasn’t she? If not, he’d figure out a way to make it happen.
Seth could see the future in her eyes and couldn’t imagine his own without her in it.
It was fast, but it was also right.
Mara squeezed his arm. “Is that one good with you?”
