“That much is true, well, sorta true,” Seth replied. “Monica took me to a fertility clinic to make a deposit, wants to be my surrogate when the time comes—for Irene’s sake.”
He stroked a finger along Dustin’s neck, carefully avoiding his injuries, amazed at the softness of his fur. Until recently, Seth had never really thought about possums, hadn’t even seen one since leaving Georgia, but Dustin? Dustin made one damned fine specimen, in either form. “There’s one condition.”
Dustin cheeped.
“Seems Monica had ulterior motives announcing she’d be the mother of my child. Suggesting that she’ll soon be pregnant excuses her from passel duties. Why she doesn’t want anything to do with leadership beats the hell out of me. She’s so damned good at it.”
Possum Dustin gave a weak nod, cheeping out,“She lacks social skills and knows it. But she makes excellent backup.”
Seth continued, “That she does. But her declining second duties means you’ve got no choice but to get better soon, ’cause the people get kinda antsy if you mess with their leadership structure. And until you get better, Widow Pickens insists on filling the role.” He shuddered, recalling the old lady’s leering grin and her cackled “Hit me, big boy!” while reaching for his hand.
The sound Dustin made might have been the possum equivalent of a snicker.
“Will you be okay?”
Dustin extended his tongue, giving Seth’s hand a quick lick. “You scared the hell out of me.”
The concern in twin button eyes seemed to say,Me and you both, pal!
Seth inclined his head, placing a kiss on Dustin’s snout. “You get better and come back to me. We got us some celebrating to do.” It might have been a trick of the light, but it seemed to Seth that Dustin nodded.
Andy appeared in the doorway, two strangers in flight gear behind him, their uniforms emblazoned with “Channel Four Action News.” One reeked to high heavens of skunk, the other of chipmunk. “Y’all set? We need to get moving.”
“Huh?” Seth’s gaze traveled from the new arrivals to Andy and back again.
“It’s our cover. These boys have an excuse to be up in the air—no explanations needed.”
“Oh.” Seth kissed Dustin’s nose again. “I’ll be waiting.” He watched the men prepare Dustin for the journey, then stood in the parking lot and stared at the heavens long after the helicopter lifted.
An arm fell over his shoulders. “You can’t help worrying, but these next few weeks are critical. Prove to the passel you’re the right choice. Dustin would tell you the same thing if he were here. I’ll keep you informed, and he’ll be back soon, I promise.”
Seth reached up and patted Andy’s arm. “I hope you’re right, man, I hope you’re right.”
“I’D LOVEfor you to come up, but the hospital doesn’t allow visitors.”
The sound of Dustin’s voice was sweet music to Seth’s ears. “This is supposed to be a veterinary clinic. Their secret wouldn’t last long with humans traipsing in and out, visiting.”
Seth sighed. “You’re right, but I’m dying to see you.”
“Yeah, I’d like to see you too, but a man driving up from Georgia to visit a wild animal involved in a hay-baler accident would look too suspicious. We’ve got to keep our secrets.”
“But I’m just one man. No one would notice.”
“Maybe not, but if they let you visit, then the hospital would have to change their rules, and families would start flocking in by the dozens.”
That was Dustin, the voice of reason; a trait Seth believed made him an ideal second-in-command.
“Anyway, I’ll be home in a few days, I’m told. In the meantime….” Dustin lowered his voice to a seductive murmur. “What ’cha wearing?”
Seth crept down the hallway to his bedroom, even though Monica wasn’t due for lessons for a few hours, too busy helping the temporary doctor fill Dustin’s shoes in town. He lay back on the bed, popped the top button on his shorts, and eased the zipper down. “Just a pair of cutoff blue jeans.”
“Good. If I were there, I’d run my hands all over your body. You do it for me.”
Seth slid his fingers over his stomach, less pudgy now than it had been before he began doing physical labor on the farm. He reached a nipple, giving it a quick flick, making it harden.
Getting into the spirit of things, Seth took over. “How about you? Are you naked?”
“Oh yeah,” came the breathy reply. “And I’ve got about a half hour before they bring lunch.”
