confusion didn’t bother him as much as it should have. But he still didn’t know what one was. He started pulling up a search engine on his computer and waited for her answer.
“It’s basically a chubby South American ground squirrel. They’re raised for their fur because it’s reportedly extremely soft.”
“So this critter is something rare?”
“Not rare exactly, but not a common pet for sure. I don’t imagine there are that many stores that specialize in chinchillas or their habitat.”
Daniel grinned, feeling a small ray of hope. This was something he could actually work on. The bastard had made a mistake, and that’s all he needed to go with. “Thanks, Casey. This is great news.”
“I thought you might like it. I just emailed you the file.”
Then the line went dead, but Daniel didn’t care. He started searching for pet stores that specialized in exotic rodents. Then he started making lists.
Finally, something to do other than stare at the same report.
***
The cabin was an A-frame in the front that stretched out into a ranch-style home. Its exterior was rough, with plenty of real wood logs completing the A. There was a barn in the back that went against the traditional red and white. Instead, the walls were green camouflage as if daring someone to say something.
It was a beautiful area and a lovely house.
Rebecca was up and looking around as the truck rolled to a stop.
The front door opened, and two of the biggest men Shelby had ever seen came strolling out. She glanced at Mike, but he was still completely relaxed. “Are they staying with us?” she asked. Neither had a smile on his face, and the dark-haired man was downright scary. The blond man was actually larger than the other, and they were both quite handsome. But something about the serious face on the brunette worried her. Possible bodyguards, but Shelby hoped not.
“No, but they live close by.” Then Mike exited the truck and came around to open her door.
“The mean one scares me,” she whispered low enough that Rebecca wouldn’t hear.
Mike’s eyebrow shot up, and he glanced over at the two men who had moved out into the yard but stood there like sentries, arms crossed and waiting. “The one with the dark hair?” he whispered back.
“I’m worried he’ll scare Rebecca.”
Mike just shook his head and held out his hand.
Shelby trusted Mike, but she was feeling very unsure at this moment.
He helped her out of the truck then he opened the back door and let out Rebecca. Taking her hand, he led them both over toward the cabin.
Jesus , Shelby thought, these guys were even bigger up close . And that was saying a lot, because Mike was huge. He wasn’t as tall, but he had muscles to spare.
“Shelby, these are my friends and Marine brothers, Zach Steele and Jesse Calhoun.”
She contemplated if she should shake hands when there was suddenly some screaming.
Two of the most adorable twin girls ran out of the cabin and squeezed between the two men.
“You’re Shelby Lynn,” one of them said. They were dressed in jeans and matching blue shirts that made their blue eyes even bluer.
The only difference Shelby could see was that their blond hair was braided on different sides of their heads.
“Hi,” the other one said. “You’re our favorite.” And then she hid behind the one Mike said was Jesse.
Then a mini-version of the scary one named Zach come bounding out of the house.
His chest was puffed out, and he was scowling like his father. “Dad,” he called, “Mom says stop frowning, you’re probably scaring the lady.”
And the big man put his hands on his hips and stared down at his son. “Go tell your mother to come out here and tell me herself.” Then he rolled his eyes and shook his head at Mike as his son ran back inside. “Women.”
“The wives are inside stocking the fridge and the pantry,” Zach said. “We weren’t sure what you’d like so they bought out the damn store.”
“Plus,
“It’s basically a chubby South American ground squirrel. They’re raised for their fur because it’s reportedly extremely soft.”
“So this critter is something rare?”
“Not rare exactly, but not a common pet for sure. I don’t imagine there are that many stores that specialize in chinchillas or their habitat.”
Daniel grinned, feeling a small ray of hope. This was something he could actually work on. The bastard had made a mistake, and that’s all he needed to go with. “Thanks, Casey. This is great news.”
“I thought you might like it. I just emailed you the file.”
Then the line went dead, but Daniel didn’t care. He started searching for pet stores that specialized in exotic rodents. Then he started making lists.
Finally, something to do other than stare at the same report.
***
The cabin was an A-frame in the front that stretched out into a ranch-style home. Its exterior was rough, with plenty of real wood logs completing the A. There was a barn in the back that went against the traditional red and white. Instead, the walls were green camouflage as if daring someone to say something.
It was a beautiful area and a lovely house.
Rebecca was up and looking around as the truck rolled to a stop.
The front door opened, and two of the biggest men Shelby had ever seen came strolling out. She glanced at Mike, but he was still completely relaxed. “Are they staying with us?” she asked. Neither had a smile on his face, and the dark-haired man was downright scary. The blond man was actually larger than the other, and they were both quite handsome. But something about the serious face on the brunette worried her. Possible bodyguards, but Shelby hoped not.
“No, but they live close by.” Then Mike exited the truck and came around to open her door.
“The mean one scares me,” she whispered low enough that Rebecca wouldn’t hear.
Mike’s eyebrow shot up, and he glanced over at the two men who had moved out into the yard but stood there like sentries, arms crossed and waiting. “The one with the dark hair?” he whispered back.
“I’m worried he’ll scare Rebecca.”
Mike just shook his head and held out his hand.
Shelby trusted Mike, but she was feeling very unsure at this moment.
He helped her out of the truck then he opened the back door and let out Rebecca. Taking her hand, he led them both over toward the cabin.
Jesus , Shelby thought, these guys were even bigger up close . And that was saying a lot, because Mike was huge. He wasn’t as tall, but he had muscles to spare.
“Shelby, these are my friends and Marine brothers, Zach Steele and Jesse Calhoun.”
She contemplated if she should shake hands when there was suddenly some screaming.
Two of the most adorable twin girls ran out of the cabin and squeezed between the two men.
“You’re Shelby Lynn,” one of them said. They were dressed in jeans and matching blue shirts that made their blue eyes even bluer.
The only difference Shelby could see was that their blond hair was braided on different sides of their heads.
“Hi,” the other one said. “You’re our favorite.” And then she hid behind the one Mike said was Jesse.
Then a mini-version of the scary one named Zach come bounding out of the house.
His chest was puffed out, and he was scowling like his father. “Dad,” he called, “Mom says stop frowning, you’re probably scaring the lady.”
And the big man put his hands on his hips and stared down at his son. “Go tell your mother to come out here and tell me herself.” Then he rolled his eyes and shook his head at Mike as his son ran back inside. “Women.”
“The wives are inside stocking the fridge and the pantry,” Zach said. “We weren’t sure what you’d like so they bought out the damn store.”
“Plus,
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