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Bree regarded hihtfully “Do you ever turn an animal away?”

He looked shocked “Why would I do that when I can help them?”

Bree , hard security professional to compassionate animal rescuer But hadn’t she always known there was this other side to him? The one that would never leave a fellow creature in distress? Underneath all those e heart She just wasn’t sure Rylan understood why that made him special

She stepped into the rooe wood-fra shower room

“This is perfect,” she told Rylan “As long as Nance doesn’t mind?”

As Rylan stooped to lift Nance up, the cat meowed and shifted position A different noise from the cushion drew Bree’s attention

“Oh, my stars Does she have kittens?” she asked

“No” Rylan rolled his eyes “She has ducklings”

He raised the cat slightly to reveal a group of five fluffy yellow ducklings clustered together beneath her After giving him an offended look, Nance stretched, then flounced fros waddled after her in a little line

Bree sat on the bed and, placing her head in her hands, gave way to the laughter that had been threatening to overwhel her with a bemused smile

“Their mother abandoned the them, but, when they saw Nance, they decided she was their new mama She doesn’t seem to mind” He jerked a thus had taken “In fact, I think she likes it”

“You didn’t tellaway frooodponies?”

He grinned “Nothing so attractive, I’m afraid The best I can offer you is a donkey with attitude”