Will cleared his throat. “Can we please get to work?”

I coughed, and Griffin turned away, rubbing his neck. “All right. I’m going to use a pickax to get at the roots of these suckers. Then you two can pull them out and toss them into the dumpster. Just let me know if it gets to be too much or you need a break.”

I followed Griffin over to the first patch of brush. “You forget. I’m used to being on my feet and cooking all day. And I do yoga. I can handle this.”

Griffin arched a brow. “Yoga isn’t exactly manual labor.”

“It’s harder than you think,” I argued. He scoffed, and I knew I was going to make him pay for that sound. “If it’s so easy, then you don’t mind logging a session with me one of these mornings?”

Griffin swung the pickax into the dirt, striking at the heart of the bush’s root system. “I can handle some yoga.”

Will groaned as he and I pulled at the brush that had come loose. “You are going to regret that those words ever passed your lips.”

I grinned at Will as we dragged the shrub over to the dumpster. He knew me too well. There was nothing I loved more than proving how difficult yoga could be. When I used to teach a regular Saturday class, it was always the highlight of my month when one of the women brought in her doubting husband, and he was sweating and cursing before the class was over.

We worked for another hour or so before Griffin had apparently worked up enough of a sweat to peel off his t-shirt. I swallowed hard as I took in his broad shoulders and lean muscles. Will knocked into me. “You’ve got a little drool there.”

I gave him a shove. “I’m just worried Griffin’s going to get a sunburn.”

Will rolled his eyes. “Are you going to offer to apply some sunscreen for him?”

I grabbed my water bottle and sprayed some in Will’s direction. He darted out of the stream’s path, laughing as he went.

“Cae Cae!” Mia cried.

I was instantly on alert, jogging towards her voice, Griffin right on my heels. As soon as we caught sight of the girls, I saw that Mia had something cuddled in her arms.

“What happened?” Griffin barked.

Mia looked up, eyes wide and full of wonder. “Baby kitty.”

I froze. Mia walked closer, revealing a tiny ball of gray fur cradled in her arms. It didn’t look old enough to be away from its mother yet. I glanced at Griffin and then back at Mia. “Where did you find it? Were there any others?”

“Under one of the bushes. I didn’t see any more, and we looked.”