Bad Boy (Invertary 5)

“Abby?” Victoria’s voice made her realise she was staring at Flynn’s rear.

She blushed as she turned to her sister. “Tea?” she said lightly.

Without waiting for Victoria’s answer, she called for Katy and headed to her house.

???

Flynn wished there was an AA-type group for guys who were trying to behave. He could see it now, him at the front of a room: “Hi, my name is Flynn. It’s been forty-eight hours since I last behaved like an asshole.” And then they’d all shout, “Hello, Flynn.” Yeah, he definitely needed a support group. He was trying hard here. Being good was exhausting—and boring. Plus, he felt he wasn’t getting enough credit. Actually, any credit.

He’d hired a cleaning crew to sort the place out. He’d started buttoning his shirts. He was showering every day. He’d sent everyone away, except the camera crew that he couldn’t get rid of no matter what he did. He’d sat down for a very serious interview with a magazine, where he answered dumb questions like: “What do you find most attractive in a woman?” He’d made sure his answer was mature and politically correct, even though what he wanted to do was sneer and say a talent with her tongue. Because, seriously, would it hurt someone to ask him a decent bloody question?

On top of all this, he’d been lying low. Resting his leg. Watching TV. Being bored out of his mind in an effort to please everyone around him. And no one noticed. Would it kill his family to tell him he was doing well? To give him some encouragement? A pat on the back, maybe?

“Hey, you in there?” There was a thump at his door.

Flynn turned to see his cousin Claire stick her head in. She smiled when she saw him. Claire had always had a soft heart, and for a minute Flynn thought she’d come to give him some praise. He was wrong.

“Got a minute?” she said.

“For you? Never.”

She ignored him and chewed her bottom lip. “I’ve got something for you. It’s outside.”

Now Flynn was curious. He followed her out of the RV and stopped in his tracks at the sight of Grunt holding a small fluffy goat against his chest. His overly muscled arms made the goat seem tiny. The guy had to be taking steroids, because that kind of bulk was not normal.

“You got me a goat?” He stared between the goat and his cousin.

She shuffled in place. “Someone gave it to the kindy as a pet, but it’s getting too wild with the children and we can’t keep it. I thought you could keep it here.” She batted her eyelashes at him, and Flynn wondered if that crap worked on her fiancé.

“You’re giving me a goat?” Aye, it wasn’t sinking in.

The goat bleated.

“Well.” Claire toed the grass. “Harry said you were collecting pets now. He said you had a duck. We thought with all your space, you wouldn’t mind having a goat too.”

Bloody Harry. Flynn was going to kill his brother. “I don’t have a pet duck.”

Claire gave him a look that said she knew otherwise. “If I go in there, will I find a duck in the bathroom?”

“It’s sick. I’m looking after it. The nearest vet is in Fort William. It isn’t a pet. As soon as it’s better, I’ll put her back in the stream.”

“Have you named her?” Claire looked like she wanted to laugh.

“Hell no, I haven’t named her.”

“Harry said you called her Daisy and bought her a pink bow.”

“There’s a good chance you had your last conversation with Harry. I hope you said goodbye. His life is about to end.”

Claire grinned widely. “Okay, I believe you. Harry was wrong. You don’t have a pet duck. But can you take the goat? At least until we find another home for her. You’re the only one with enough space. She’s no trouble at all. Honest.”

Flynn eyed the goat sceptically. He knew nothing about goats. He could see another evening Googling animal care in his future. He let out a sigh. “Fine. I’ll keep the goat. But you better look for another home. This is temporary.”

“You’re the best.” Claire bounced in front of him before giving him a kiss on the cheek.

He wasn’t sure about being the best, but he was definitely the most gullible. Claire nodded to a spot behind Flynn and he felt the hair on his neck jump to attention.

“Will the goat be on TV?” she said.