Connell (Carolina Reapers 3)

I finally pulled back, sighing as I realized the bird hadn’t followed us over the fence. He’d gone back to his strutting as if he already owned the entirety of my backyard. I wiggled against Connell, and he immediately set me on my feet.

I shoved against his hard chest, but the motion barely phased him.

“If you ever, ever post that video anywhere, I will kill you.”

Connell grinned. “I wouldn’t dream of it,” he said. “I know you hate to be embarrassed.”

“Embarrassed?” I snapped. “I was terrified!”

He pursed his lips in a faux-pout. “I thought you’d be excited.”

I raised my brows.

“I bought them for you…for your reserve.” He motioned to the exotic birds.

The tension in my shoulders dropped, and my lips parted as my heart swelled. “You bought them.” Adult ostriches were insanely expensive. Like... purchase a car expensive.

He nodded.

I opened and shut my mouth several times.

“Why?”

He stepped closer to me, tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear. “It’s important to you.”

I glared up at him, gently punching his hard stomach. “This doesn’t get you out of your community hours, you know. You still have four days.”

A deep, glorious laugh tumbled from his lips, the sound so delicious, so infectious. I had to join in.

“I honestly thought I’d beat you over here,” he said. “I never dreamed you’d wake up so early on your day off. Forgive me?” he asked, the picture of pure innocence on his face.

I glanced back at the gorgeous birds, finally realizing what their presence meant.

My reserve would happen.

I’d bring back the glory of the ostrich to Sweet Water, with Connell’s help.

I turned back to him and smiled before throwing my arms around his neck.

Connell caught me easily, my feet hovering off the ground.

“Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I squeezed him hard, happy tears coating my eyes. “You have no idea how much this means to me.”

His arms held me to him, his mouth at my ear. “I have a feeling I do.”

I relaxed my hold on him, leaning back enough to meet his gaze, a weight in my chest. “I’ll never be able to repay you for this,” I said, the feeling sinking like a stone in my stomach. I wouldn’t. Ever. Never in my lifetime would I make enough money to pay him back. Just another vast difference in the lives we led.

He cocked an eyebrow at me, a chiding look in his eyes. “This is a gift,” he said. “An investment, actually. In the town I live in.”

I smiled softly.

“Someone told me that bringing these birds back would put Sweet Water on the map again, and since I’m a loyal citizen of Sweet Water, I’ll be damned if I don’t do my part.”

I melted. Completely. Entirely. Melted.

He continued to hold me there, no hint of him wanting to let me go as I stared into those mischievous, wonderful blue eyes.

That rumbling sound happened again behind us, louder and longer this time.

“What…are they doing?” Connell asked and turned us so I could see.

One of the larger birds was making the sound and flapping his wings in wave-like motions while one of the smaller birds bobbed its head up and down while kneeling on the ground.

My mouth dropped.

“Sweet tea on a hot day, Connell,” I said, eyes snapping back to Connell’s. “Did you get breeding birds?”

Connell sucked his teeth. “Eh, the breeder I purchased them from might’ve said something about a female in heat.”

I gaped at him, then at the birds, and back to him.

“Sorry?” He flashed me an honestly apologetic look. “I can call him back, see if we can—”

A laugh burst from my chest, cutting off his words.

Connell joined me, setting me back on my feet.

“They’re perfect,” I said once I could breathe again. “Now come on,” I said, motioning for him to follow me around to the front of my house.

“Inviting me in, are you?” He asked, trailing behind me.

“Not like that,” I said, a slight tease in my voice as I ushered him inside. “You and I have to find a corn supplier fast.”

“Corn?”

“Can’t have my birds starving, now can we?” I grinned at him.

“No, we can’t have that,” he said, his eyes trailing my short cotton robe as he followed me into the kitchen.

“Right,” I said, eyeing my lazy morning attire. “You get to Googling,” I said, situating him at my kitchen table. “Help yourself to coffee. I’ll go change.” I spun on my bare feet, prepared to bolt upstairs, but Connell gently caught my wrist, stopping me.

“I think you look perfect,” he said, and I swear my heart leaped for him, for the honesty in his words, his eyes.

I stood there, highly contemplating jumping the man right then and there in my kitchen, but I heard that deep cooing outside and came right back to reality. “I’ll be right back,” I said, flashing him a look of deep thanks.