THE DARE (G!P Freenbecky)

Chapter 27

Freen turned to Becky, astonishment in her gaze.

"Look what you made me do!"

"I made you do?" Becky started to laugh. Her grandfather had reached their table and made a great show of presenting Freen with her parrot, letting the bird walk on to her arm. An assistant followed her grandfather, with a portable perch, and Lafitte hopped right up on it.

"Won't he fly away?" Freen asked nervously, and Becky almost felt pity for her.

Almost.

Of course, there was a part of her that was really enjoying her predicament.

"No, no, my girl, her wings have been clipped," Said Phillip. "Now, he also comes with a large cage, a cage cover, several toys, a six-month supply of food, and a free first visit to a vet who specializes in birds." He clapped Freen soundly on the back. "Thank you, you've been most generous in getting our auction off to a rip-snorting start!"

As Phillip headed back toward the stage and grasped the leash of a harlequin-spotted Great Dane, Becky decided there was no time like the present to exit, stage right. But as she started to rise out of her chair, she felt Freen's fingers close around her wrist.

"What about dessert?" Freen asked, her voice low. She sat back down.

That voice. It took her back to a moment in time in a darkened den, firelight flickering, her face so close to hers, her expression so intense.....

Don't go there!

"Ah, I don't —"

"You like chocolate just fine. You told me your grandfather lets you pick out the dessert every year, so I'm assuming you're not self-sacrificing enough to choose something you don't like."

Freen had her there, dead to rights.

"Okay," Becky picked up her fork and cut off a small, smooth piece of the chocolate terrine. "You like chocolate, don't you?"

"Chocolate!" Said Lafitte.

Freen stared at the bird. The perch had been placed behind Mr. LePew's chair, and the parrot looked at the skunk with great interest, his bright eyes gleaming.

Freen had finally managed to persuade the baby skunk that there was indeed life outside her tuxedo jacket.

"That bird is frightening. Are all parrots such fast learners?"

"They say the African grays are the smartest; they pick up words after hearing them just a few times. Sometimes even only once." Becky smiled at Freen sweetly. "You'll have to watch your language."

"Maybe I can donate him to some charity," Freen muttered, picking up her fork.

They ate their dessert in silence while the Great Dane, an Angora rabbit, and an iguana were all auctioned off.

"Four thousand five hundred," Muttered Lafitte, imitating the auctioneer. The parrot paced on his perch, spreading his wings and cocking his feathered head. "No, five thousand, five thousand it is!"

"Cheer up," Becky said. "You could have walked away with the iguana!"

"Iguana!" Lafitte agreed, his head bobbing up and down at the excitement all around him.

"What are you doing the weekend after Christmas?" Freen asked.

"I......ah....."

"You're really flattering to a woman's ego," Freen muttered.

"I really am doing something, but it just isn't coming to mind."

Freen glared at her. "Washing your hair, perhaps?"