Zoe & Dylan: The Sons of Dusty Walker Read Online Free Page A

happening, Boo Bear.”
    “But, mama, she tolds me she wants to come live with Tigger.”
    Tigger being the Tabby kitten that Zoe had been sweet talked into adopting from Callie’s mom.
    “Did you hear that? Your child is the next cat whisperer. Best to take Smoky home with ya since the boy clearly knows what he’s talkin’ about.” Callie returned Zoe’s glare with an innocent smile.
    Like the evil woman knew the first thing about being innocent. If she even owned a halo it was only to provide dressing for her horns. Zoe dropped onto her haunches and petted the kitten. The puff ball rumbled the loudest purr in existence, its big blue eyes full of sweetness. Aw, damn. This is why she avoided pet stores and animal shelters. Unfortunately there wasn’t much she could do when it came to avoiding Callie’s halfway house for cats, dogs, and pretty much every creature that took passage on Noah’s Ark. “Boo, we wouldn’t want Josh to be sad if we take Smoky.”
    Right on cue, Callie’s six-year-old son looked up from his video game. “Nah, it’s okay. I’ve already got like eight of ‘em.”
    Zoe sighed and lifted her attention to Callie. “You need a twelve step program.”
    “No, what I need is for my mom to move out on a hundred acres somewhere so she doesn’t have to keep unloading her fur baby army on me.”
    A rough kitten tongue swiped across Zoe’s finger. Hunter giggled. “See, mama? She loves you.”
    Callie’s gaze sparkled, confirming that Zoe was screwed.
    Five minutes later, Zoe hustled Hunter out to her truck, his beloved new kitten hugged tight to his chest. Best to get out of there before Callie foisted anymore puff balls on her. She buckled Hunter into his car seat and slammed the door shut just as a black Range Rover pulled into the neighboring driveway. A muscular behemoth of a man climbed from the vehicle, his eyes shaded by a pair of mirrored sunglasses. He nodded to them. “Ladies.”
    They all stared after him as he made his way inside the single-story ranch. As soon as he’d shut the door behind him, Zoe and Rori shot their focus to Callie and simultaneously demanded, “Who’s that?”
    “Do I look like I know everything in this town?” Callie sighed at the pair of raised eyebrows her response elicited. “Okay. The only intel I have is his name. Quinn Lafferty. He moved in last week and I haven’t had a chance to dig for more information.”
    “He’s certainly a big un,” Rori provided.
    “Easily a ten incher, I’d bet.” Callie’s expression turned sheepish. “Not that I’ve been obsessively checking out his package every chance I get.”
    “That wasn’t what I was referring to.” Chuckling, Rori tossed her bag inside her vehicle. “Though you’ll have to give us the scoop if you somehow work the question into your next round of intel gathering.”
    “Lordy, you know she will. Let’s not encourage her further.”
    “Mom,” Josh called from the front porch. “Snowball just barfed in your shoe again.”
    “Oh joy. Sure you don’t want a matching set of kittens?” Chuckling at the look Zoe gave her, Callie offered her and Rori a departing hug before rushing toward the house.
    Zoe turned her attention to Rori. “Want to grab lunch?”
    “Wish I could but I’m due to meet a client at Cyber Wise in about fifteen minutes.”
    “Next time then. Maybe we can get all the girls together before the hectic holiday craziness takes over our lives.”
    Rori’s expression turned shrewd. “You could give us a good excuse by setting that wedding date.”
    Zoe averted her gaze. “I’m working on it.”
    “Honey, is everything okay?”
    “Yeah, why wouldn’t it be?”
    Rori lifted her shoulder in a half shrug. “I don’t know. It just seems like you’ve been pensive lately.” Worry flashed in her eyes. “You’re not having second thoughts about Dylan, are you? Because I can guarantee the man is crazy about you.”
    “No, I know he loves me. And Hunter.”