The mothereffer was really enjoying himself.
“Um, Mac. Do you think you—oh God oh God oh God itmoved again.”
She could see the shadow rearing up against the wall.
“That’s what she said.” His voice was trembling with laughter now.
The shadow shifted; she thought she saw a needlelike nose.
“Oh, I think it’s just a possum.” She was somewhat relieved. “Wow, that thing is big. Andnotcute. At least it’s not moving fast.”
“Those things can be mean. And they’ll eat just about anything. It’s probably hungry. Maybe even rabid, if it’s moving slow.”
“You really are a dick, Mac.”
“I really am,” he agreed with purely evil placidity.
He fell silent again.
“Mac?” She hated that her voice was a trifle querulous.
He was instantly as brisk as a sergeant. “Okay, honey, let’s get you out of there.”
Did he just call herhoney? Exactly as if he’d done it dozens of times before? Funny how instantly comforting the word was.
She had no idea how he planned to get into the house, but apparently that was no challenge. She heard footsteps thundering right below her within about a minute.
“Avalon, can you hear me?” he shouted up.
“Yes!”
“I’m going to ram that door open and then we’ll just lower you down on my shoulders. I can handle it. Should be nice and cushy.”
“Cushy?”
Though ramming something sounded hopelessly macho. The very word gave her a little thrill.
“Good cushy. Like a peach. Your butt will feel like one of those neck pillows you carry onto airplanes.”
She closed her eyes and growled a lament that tapered into a colorful string of muttered curses. “I’m glad I can entertain you, Mac.”
“It’s just different, is all.” She heard the laughter in his voice. “I was outside fixing the sprinklers on my property. I’ve done that at least a dozen times before. I’ve never donethisbefore. Stand well back from the door. Way back. I’m going to count to three and go in for the punch.”
“Standing back now.”
The pointy-nosed possum ducked back into the shadows, as if it was listening to the whole conversation. Or maybe it was simply achieving a better position from which to pounce.
“One... two...THREE.”
BAM!
The door rocketed open in a cloud of dust and Mac’s head poked up into the darkness, dust sifting down all around him like he’d just been conjured.
“Hi,” he said.His smile might as well have been a lantern in the dim light. “Scooch forward and dangle your legs down through the opening. I’ll turn around and we’ll get you down on my shoulders.”
He vanished again.
She scooched as ordered and perched on the edge and peered down into Mac’s up-tilted face.
