I hoped.
What if he was dumping the kitten on me as he knew I had cats and would likely have a soft spot for another? I planted a hand on my hip. Then he played me well. We’d see within the hour.
I leaned against my bed while the kitten explored. Desi, Fifi, and Cleo meowed on the other side of my bedroom door. They were likely trying to catch the scent of the furry new intruder. The kitten trotted over to the bedroom door and sniffed at them. While this crew got their nasal kicks, I scrolled through my notifications on my phone.
After a few minutes, the tuxedo kitten jumped onto my lap. He nudged my hand, so I pet him.
“Oh, you’re a sweet thing, aren’t you?” I pet him yet remained wary, all too familiar with a cat’s body language of them tensing up when they had enough. That could be followed by a nip or a swipe of sharp claws.
He let me pet around his head and chin for a bit before curling up for a cozy nap. What a lovable kitty. No wonder Austin was reluctant to give the little fluff ball up.
I reached over to my nightstand to grab something to read. It was just out of reach. Not wanting to disturb the kitty, I slid on my butt inch by inch, getting closer. It took a few scoots before I made it and pulled a cozy mystery. The cat stirred but then went back to cuddle mode.
After I read a couple of chapters with him there, a knock at the back door sounded. The kitten jumped off my lap and ran to the door. I stood. Hopefully, it was Austin coming to retrieve the cat and not his landlord Michael coming to question me about my role in this cat concealment.
Once I placed the kitten back in the carrier, I opened my bedroom door. My three cats accompanied me as I walked through the kitchen. It was Austin indeed.
He smiled when he saw me approach.
“Is it just you?” I teased. “Or the pet police? Am I going to be scolded for aiding and abetting?”
Austin laughed. “Just me. We’re all set.” He stepped forward. “Thanks so much for helping me out tonight, Pandora.” He glanced into the cat carrier. “Did he give you any trouble?”
“No, he’s a cutie.”
“And a bed hog,” Austin grumbled with a lopsided grin. “He cuddles against me like I’m a heating device or pushes into the spot where my feet are, and I let this demanding little furball have his way.”
I chuckled. “With three cats, I know what that’s like.”
“Let me make it up to you.” Austin fixed a steady gaze on me. “How about I take you out to dinner?”
I assessed him, somewhat puzzled. Was it to thank me? Or was this younger, attractive guy asking me on a date?
AUSTIN
Whoa, did I blow it?
Pandora stared at me after I offered to take her to dinner. She tipped her chin up a notch. Did she think I was a creep?
Could I blame her? After all, I’d never spoken to her before but showed up at her back door begging for a favor. Since she probably wanted to be on good terms with her neighbor, I’d put her in an uncomfortable predicament.
But what else could I do?
She tipped her head. “Shifter?”
I blinked. That wasn’t the response I’d been expecting. “Um, yes, well, half,” I stammered. “How did you know?”
She turned her hand palm up. “I sense your magic.”
Moving to a town where witches lived in the open and talked about magic was still new to me.
More questions arose. What exactly that meant was as fascinating as the beautiful dark-haired woman herself, whom my bear kept pushing me to move in closer to and touch.Knock it off,I told him.I’m not going to paw her. That’s not how it works.
How what works? I knew nothing about this mate connection and if what my bear was telling me was real. All I knew was that I wanted to learn more about Pandora and wanted to see her again.
She stunned me when she said, “Sure, we can go to dinner.” She gave me a friendly smile. “After all, you’re new to the neighborhood.”
“I am indeed,” I agreed with a grin. “You can clue me in on all the neighborly gossip.”
