nakedness. “I told you Tyler was going to be the death of me.”
A laugh bubbles out of my throat, and Jay stares at me, surprise in his eyes. “Wait, you’re not upset?” he asks.
Tension eases from my body, and my lips begin to work again, the swelling subsiding thanks to Jay’s fast thinking. “I’m not upset, and here I didn’t think anything else could surprise me. I can’t believe Tyler taught Capone all those phrases.”
“This? This you find funny?” A panty-melting grin plays with the corner of his mouth, and dammit if it doesn’t make him look sexier. “The real question is, what’s in your well water back home, Alyson?”
“We have city water,” I say and laugh again— It’s either find the humor or cry at this crazy predicament. I twist to check out the bird again, but when I move, pain erupts beneath my demi-bra, reminding me why I’m here in the first place. “Ouch.”
“Easy,” Jay says, touching my arm, his big calloused hands like a tender caress. So much for forgetting he’s half naked. “We need to get the stingers out, get you cleaned up, and get some pain meds into you. You’re probably going to feel worse later than you do right now.”
“You’re right.” I press my hand to my forehead. “I’m actually starting to feel a bit dizzy.” Although standing here half naked with Jay, my heart pounding against my ribs, could account for my light-headedness. Still, I’m not interested in going to the hospital. I don’t want any kind of paper trail leading back to my family. I’ll just avoid the damn apiary.
Capone lets loose a wolf whistle, and Cluck, who’s still standing guard at the door, squawks, or rather crows, and prances around like he’s completely agitated. Capone flutters around his cage.
“I’m pretty sure I’ve landed on the funny farm.” No wonder I’m laughing hysterically.
“Madness burrows like a tick on a deer in the burbs when you’re surrounded by nothing but land and sky.”
Yeah, yeah, I get it. He doesn’t think I’m capable of handling this place, and I pretty much confirmed it yesterday. “Is that a warning or a threat?”
“It’s the truth,” he says.
“Have you gone mad?”
“I live with a foul-mouthed parrot who has a cage as big as my place and a rooster who thinks he’s a watchdog. What do you think?” he asks with a grin.
All my girly parts tingle in awareness. “What about my uncle?” I ask, needing my thoughts on something, anything, other than the hot beekeeper. “Was he mad, too?”
“Did you not see Mr. Beaver on your back porch?” I frown, and his features soften when he continues, “He was a really nice guy, Alyson. It’s a shame you didn’t know him.”
“I agree. I wasn’t even told about him, but I’m glad he had you guys.” I lightly touch him, and his muscles flinch beneath my fingers.
Capone whistles again, and Cluck struts around, wings flapping. I shake my head.
“I take it they’re not friends,” I say as my gaze goes between Capone and Cluck.
“Mortal enemies.” Jay turns toward the door. “Take off, Cluck. I’ve got this under control. Go check on Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.”
Cluck scurries away, and Capone settles his feathers.
Jay turns his attention back to me, as I stand facing him in nothing but my underwear. “Capone is a bit of a pervert. I’m thinking we should take this up there,” he says and points to the loft.
“Okay,” I say and head toward the stairs, tension back in my body as Jay’s gaze moves over me. “How long have you had Capone?” I ask.
Jay goes quiet behind me, too quiet, and I cast a quick glance over my shoulder. The movement hurts, so I turn back around, but not before I catch the strain on his face, the tightening of his jaw. I clearly touched a nerve.
“About a year now,” he says.
“Tyler taught him all that bad language?”
“No.”
I reach the landing and find myself in Jay’s bedroom. His bed is neatly made, the gray blanket tugged tight. There’s a man’s and woman’s dressers and a swivel mirror, but there aren’t many homey touches, which lead me to believe he’s been a bachelor for a long time.
“You taught him?”
He moves past me, his body brushing mine and eliciting a shiver I’m quick to hide. I follow him into the bathroom.
“He came from a pool hall that shut down. My ex rescued him.” He scrubs his face, a new kind of tightness in his shoulders. “She thought it