rabbits, big problem." Which having two dogs running tame pretty much
eliminated, he mused.
"Why didn't anybody tell me!" She whipped off her hat, rapped it against
her thigh. "What do we do about it? How do we make them stop?"
"Couple ways." Guilt stung, just a little, but Ethan rationalized that
deer and rabbits could be a problem, so she should take precautions
anyway. "Dried blood."
"Dried blood? Whose?"
"You can buy it at the garden store, and you just dump it around. It'll
keep them away."
"Dried blood." Her lips pursed as she made a mental note to buy some.
"Or urine."
"Dried urine?"
"No." Ethan cleared his throat. "You just go out andayou know, around
so they smell it and know there's a meat eater in the vicinity."
"I see." She nodded, satisfied, then whirled on her husband. "Well, get
out there then and pee on my marigolds."
"Could use a beer first," Cam said and winked at his brother. "Don't
worry, darling, we'll take care of it."
"All right." Calmer, she huffed out a breath. "Sorry, Ethan."
"Yeah, well, hmmm." He waited until she'd hurried out, then lowered
himself to the edge of the bed. He slanted a look at Cam, who continued
to lean against the door. "That wife of yours has a streak of mean in
her."
"Yeah. I love it. Why'd you steal her flowers?"
"I just needed a few of them," Ethan muttered and pulled on his pants.
"What the hell are they out there for if you get your head cut off for
picking them?"
"Rabbits? And deer?" Cam began to hoot with laughter.
"They're garden pests right enough."
"Pretty brave rabbits who hop between two dogs and right up to the house
to select a few flowers. If they got that far, they'd mow the whole
garden down to the ground."
"She doesn't have to know that. For a while. I appreciate you backing me
up. I thought she was going to punch me."
"She might have. Since I saved your pretty face, I figure you owe me."
"Nothing comes free," Ethan grumbled and stalked to the closet for a
shirt.
"You got that right. Seth needs a haircut, and he's already outgrown his
last pair of shoes."
Ethan turned, shirt dangling from his fingertips. "You want me to take
him to the mall?"
"Right again."
"I'd rather have the punch in the face."
"Too late." Cam hooked a thumb in his front pocket and grinned. "So,
why'd you need the flowers?"
"Just thought Grace would like them." Muttering, Ethan shrugged into his
shirt.
"Ethan Quinn stealing flowers, going out--voluntarily--to a
jacket-and-tie restaurant." Cam's grin widened, his eyebrows wiggled.