19. Heath

Chapter 19

Heath

“ C ome on, Jeff! Let’s go!”

Any other day, the dang bird will follow me so close I practically step on him, but today he’s just a shithead, either running to hide or trying to bite me. Maybe it’s best I just leave him here.

“That bird is sketchy today, Heath.” Dante stands beside me as Jeff paces near the chicken coop, feathers fanned out as he ignores me.

“More than usual, you mean?”

“Definitely.” Dante leans closer, even though we’re the only two around. “You smell like a night at a cheap motel and no soap.”

I shrug. “Not a cheap motel, and there was plenty of soap. I chose not to use it…the second time.”

Dante chortles and bumps my shoulder. “You dog! Gotta say I didn’t think you had that in you.”

“Neither did I.” Turning to him, I grab his arm. “Is that weird?”

“You should know by now I don’t judge. I like to roll in cherry-flavoured powder for Colby and be an all night lik-a-stix . You do you, my friend.”

I forgot about the weird thing those two have with FunDips . I’d like to forget again, but it’s quite an image .

“Um, right. So why do you think Jeff is so odd? He usually loves to go for coffee and a car ride. He’s acting like a dick.”

Dante bobs his head in agreement. “Mhm. He sure is, but I’m not sure what the issue is. Maybe he smells Marko on you and is jealous.” He slaps his thigh with a snort, but I’m not amused.

“Be serious. Should I call the vet or something?”

The bird has always been strange, but never like this with me.

“I don’t think so. He’s still eating and drinking and all the other stuff birds do. Maybe leave him here, though, today. You wouldn’t want him doing something stupid.”

“Yeah. You’re probably right.” It shouldn’t be the end of the world, but I’m sad he won’t be joining me today. It’s our thing. “Do you want me to bring you anything back from the Screaming Bean?”

“Ooooh! If they have any of those shortbread cookies, I could go for a few.”

“Will do. I’m going to head in then. Keep an eye on Jeff for me.”

Dante nods and heads off to Dan’s place for his morning coffee visit with Dan. Jeff still struts around the chicken coop and screeches here and there. But Dante is right. It’s best to leave him here as much as I don’t want to.

After locking the door of my car from the inside and making sure it’s secure, I head for my morning coffee.

Without Jeff.

** *

After dropping a bag of a dozen cookies for Dante in my car, I walk over to Dark Horse Tattoo. I only left Marko a few hours ago, but the same fizzy feeling washes over me, knowing I’ll get to see him again once I step through the doors.

It’s still weird for me to feel like this. But I love it. Since I met Marko, so much has changed, and I feel like the luckiest guy on earth.

The door chimes as I enter. A man waits in the seating area, flipping through a design book, and he nods. Smiling back, I walk down the hall where Marko’s station is.

I find him there, hunched over a sketch pad, his coffee next to him.

“Knock, knock. Is this where I find the handsome owner of this tattoo shop? I need to lodge a complaint.”

Marko turns with a smile that could guide ships in the night and takes the few steps to greet me.

“Hello, ljubavi . What kind of complaint can I help you with?”

“It’s been too long since you’ve kissed me.”

He laughs softly and grips my chin with his thumb and finger.

“Let me fix that. I don’t want an unhappy customer.”

His lips brush across mine with a tenderness that makes my heart leap. Marko deepens the kiss, and my tongue chases his while I forget where we are until a throat clears .

Marko presses his forehead to mine and slides his hand to the back of my neck, like he needs me to stay connected to him. And right now… I think I need that.

“What is it, Curtis?”

“Sorry lovebirds, but I just wanted to ask if you’d like me to take the Friday afternoon client so you can leave for your grandma’s earlier. They’re new and you always get first dibs, but I can call them now.”

Marko lifts his head and nods.

“Thank you. Go ahead, and if they’re okay seeing you, then take it.”

Curtis raps his knuckles on the door frame.

“You got it. I’ll let you know.” He pauses. “Nice to see you, Heath. You make the big guy smile more. I like it.”

He leaves us just as fast as he came, and Marko’s fingers massage my neck.

“What’s wrong? You seem like you’re not your normal self. Where did your sunshine go?”

I huff a small breath and allow my finger to trace the horse pattern on his shop-branded T-shirt.

“What gave it away?”

“You have a light that follows you everywhere, ljubavi , and it’s not here right now. I can just tell.” He takes my coffee cup and sets it aside before pulling me into his arms.

“I think something is wrong with Jeff.”

Marko’s arms settle around me, and I rest my head on his chest. While I’m still upset with my bird’s behaviour, Marko just makes it better.

“How can I help? What might make you happier? ”

“This helps. I like this. But you can’t hold me all day while I have a mini meltdown.”

Pushing away from him, I reach for my coffee. After taking a drink, I tell him all that happened today with Jeff. The attacking and weird stuff and how he seemed to not want anything to do with me.

“It wouldn’t hurt to find someone who specializes in birds to talk to about it.”

“I think that’s what I’ll do when I get back. We rescued him because he was probably going to be killed, and Blaze couldn’t let it happen. None of us know anything about peacocks, but he just seemed to like me, and he’s been fine all these years.”

“I wish I knew what to say to make you feel better.” He reaches for my hand, twining our fingers together. “If you want to stay with him this weekend, don’t feel you have to come with me. There will be another time, and I don’t want you to worry about him while you’re away.”

Why does he have to say sweet stuff like that? Nobody I’ve dated before ever gave me that kind of advice. If there was a problem with Jeff, it was brushed off. He’s just a bird. Let it go . But he’s not. Before meeting Marko, Jeff came first and taught me I was important to people. Well, important to a bird, I guess. But Jeff gave me the confidence to explore new things. Like trying my hand at being a travel consultant. I wasn’t good at it, but I tried.

“Thank you for saying that. I’ll let you know. But I really want to go with you.”

Marko smiles again and tugs me closer. Leaning on the counter, he pulls me between his legs and runs his nose up my neck .

“I want you to as well, but there’s no pressure, okay?” He kisses my neck. “And by the way…you smell amazing.” An appreciative rumble in his chest vibrates against me. “Did you do that on purpose?”

“I did it for me. I like the reminder that I’m yours. Dante said I smelled like a cheap hotel with no soap, though. So I might need to do something else.”

Marko chuckles before kissing me again.

“There are many, many ways I can claim or mark you, ljubavi . And I’d be willing to show you every single one.”

Fuck. Me.

“Yes, that,” I breathe. “Let’s do that next time. Soon. We’ll do that soon.”

I don’t know what all these ways are, but the blood is already rushing south just thinking about it.

“Marko, your client is here.” Curtis pops his head in the door and whistles. “You two are adorable. But work before play, boss man.”

Marko gives him the finger and kisses my neck once more before easing off me with a sigh.

“Will you be okay today?”

He brushes his thumb across my cheek, and my chest tightens.

“Yeah. The guys are around and will help me. I have support.” Stretching up on my toes, I kiss his cheek. “I’ll keep you posted.”

Grabbing my coffee, I slip out of his room before I run into his arms again and beg him to tell me about his other ideas of claiming me. It’s one way to distract me from the Jeff issue.

When I reach my car and I don’t have a bird’s feathers to tuck into the back, the distraction vanishes .

Then my phone buzzes with a text, and it’s Dante.

Dante: You need to get back here. Jeff just had a short circuit.

My thumbs are a blur as I text my reply and I drive my car faster than I should to get there. Just as I pass under the ranch’s archway, there’s an ominous clunk and bang under the hood, and my car loses all power. Steering the car to the side of the lane, I let it coast to a stop before getting out.

Deep inside, I know there’s no babying this thing back to life. My car just died and I don’t even know what the issue is with Jeff. What’s that saying? It’s gone from bad to worse?

“Heath!”

Dante waves from across the yard and jogs over to me.

“Sorry to bother you, but Jeff went berserk and attacked one of the barn cats. Dan got her and already took her to the vet, but Jeff is…I don’t know, man. Something is up and he won’t let anyone near him. We need to get him penned before he does something else.”

“Where is he now?”

Dante doesn’t get a chance to answer. The loudest screech I’ve ever heard sounds from behind Alec’s house and I take off towards it. Lord, let this be something I can deal with.

Out of breath, my gaze finds Jeff on the fence post with what looks like a squirrel clutched and bleeding in his talons. He’s killed the odd mouse over the years, but never anything bigger than that. First, the barn cat, and now a squirrel. He’s never hurt multiple creatures in a day, either.

“Jeff. Hey buddy. What’s going on? ”

He tilts his head back and forth at the sound of my voice and drops the squirrel. Its lifeless body thuds on the packed grass and I wince. Poor little guy.

“What’s going on with you? Do you want to talk over some ice water? I missed you today.”

I know he doesn’t actually understand what I’m saying. I know that. But I swear when he hops off the fence post and walks toward me, he’s agreeing to my suggestion. It’s almost like his little bird brain is saying, ‘ You know what Heath? I’d love some water and to talk this out. I’m not quite myself today. ’

Dante stands a safe distance back, and I wave him back towards the barn.

“I hope you’re not mad at me for staying out last night. Is that it?”

Jeff keeps walking and stops once he reaches me with a tilt of his head. My breath catches in my throat as he fans his tail while staring at me. It’s… unnerving. Almost like he knows damn well what I was up to, and it makes me feel guilty that I left him for a sexfest.

“I like your feathers. Prettiest bird I know.” I figure it’s best to keep walking in case he turns on me. Probably easier to fight him off. But he lets his feathers droop as we walk towards the barn. It’s like he knows he did something wrong and my heart breaks.

I want to pat his head and assure him it’s gonna be okay, but the vision of that squirrel hanging from his claws is a fresh memory. Instead, I just talk to him in a calm voice and walk alongside him until we reach the barn where his pen is.

This low grumble, like a growl, comes from him and he spins his head like I’ve betrayed him for leading him here. With my heart in my throat, I reach for the shovel near the door just in case he comes at me. I hope like fuck I don’t have to hurt my best feathered friend with a shovel.

“Jeff…you’re not well. I’m gonna get you looked at. Trust me, okay?”

He doesn’t move for the longest time, and we stare each other down; all the while he growls at me continuously. Every second that ticks by is a tiny tear to my heart at the thought that he hates me.

“Please, buddy. It’s not safe for you to be out.”

I’m just talking to convince myself now, and he finally turns into his pen. Closing the door and sliding the lock behind him, the air rushes out of my lungs and fresh tears burn behind my eyes.

My poor bird.

Shit. Dante is still outside, probably wondering if everything is okay. Rushing out of the barn, I find the ranch yard full. Everyone is there.

“Are you hurt?” Blaze comes up to me and grabs my arms. His gaze sweeps over me, assessing for damage and his concern only makes me feel worse.

“Not on the outside.” Fresh tears well in my eyes and Blaze wraps his arms around me. Not as good as Marko’s arms, though. “I think he needs help, Blaze. What do I do?”

Blaze releases me, and I wipe at my tear-dampened cheeks.

“I made some calls the other day when you came by. Good timin’, I guess. But there’s a guy comin’ by today to talk and see Jeff. He has a breedin' farm and is into producin' show birds. Mostly chickens, but exotic birds are gainin' popularity. Did you know there are huge chicken shows just like dog shows?”

“Um, no, but I don’t understand. What’s this guy want to do with Jeff?”

Blaze motions for me to follow him up to Dan’s, and he fills me in as we walk.

“I think he wants him to stud.”

“So he’s not sick?”

Blaze laughs softly and pats me on the shoulder.

“Not with something that needs medicine. It sounds like he needs to get laid. But let’s let the bird guy explain it.”

A small cargo van rolls into the yard and Blaze turns, waving at the driver. The van parks in front of Dan’s and a smiling man with light brown hair and a moustache climbs out. He bounces up the steps and smiles as he introduces himself.

“Hey! I’m Terry. I hear you have a peacock that needs some loving.”

Blaze takes his hand. “I’m Blaze and this is the bird’s keeper, Heath. Come on in and explain to him everythin’ you told me.”

Terry follows us into the kitchen and after we’ve had the required small talk and my skin feels far too tight, I can’t maintain the polite control any longer.

“Can you help Jeff or not?”

Terry focuses on me, and when he reaches for my hand and squeezes, my shoulders relax.

“I can. Let me explain.”