Right as I was about to go into a full-fledged explanation on the reasons why I would not be letting Rocco anywhere near my pantalones, or any of my body parts, the man himself walked out of the room holding a much-refreshed-looking Pulga.
I looked at my phone and saw that my mom had sent a missive encouraging I invite Rocco to dinner, because there was a motherfucking conspiracy to have me deviate from my “Dick WILL NOT Distract Me” plan.
I put my phone in my bag without answering. I did not need to get into a thing with my mother right now, especially when my resolve to keep Rocco at a safe distance was dangerously weakened by the prospect of him getting close enough to pet my feline-named body parts.
As soon as the tech handed over a small cardboard crate to temporarily carry Pulga, he happily handed over his credit card and turned, his eyes scanning the waiting room until he spotted me sitting by the bulk dry dog food aisle. The smile that appeared on his face when I lifted a hand in hello was radiant. The skin around his eyes crinkled as he walked toward me. I stood up with my heart racing in my chest and smiled back. He looked more relaxed than he’d been when we arrived, and very grateful to see me there. More than grateful, he looked glad.
“Is the patient all better now?” I asked, pointing at the crate.
“Yeah. She’s doing fine. Some dirt got in her eye, so it got a little infected. The vet cleaned her up and gave me an ointment. She also gave her the shots she needed. Apparently, she’s only a few weeks old, so she was just undernourished and dehydrated, but she should be fine. Pulga’s a trooper.”
I twisted my mouth to the side and nodded very slowly. “Infestations tend to be sturdy.”
“Hey, she’ll hear you.” He covered the vent of the crate with a hand, but he was smiling hard. Oh man, the things happening in my body right now. There was throbbing, there was pounding.
“Do you want to help me pick out some stuff for her? I need to get her food, a bowl, litter box and a few other things.” He signaled to the store area, where they had everything a pet could possibly need and more.
“Sure. I’m not the shopper in the family, but I can do Pulga a solid now that we’ve gotten to know each other.”
He shook his head, closing his eyes. “Thank you, for everything,” he said, sounding embarrassed. “I can’t believe I showed up at your house like that.”
He sounded disgusted with himself and everything in me wanted to interrupt whatever was happening inside that head. This wasn’t the guy I’d gotten to know over the last couple of months. This guy sounded like he didn’t think he deserved to have people look out for him. I hated it.
I walked up to him, getting close. Closer than we’d been since the night of the cookout at his place. “It’s fine. I don’t mind. And as much as I love my family, there are a lot of us. My place is roomy for one person, but it’s certainly tight quarters for five people.” I gestured toward the Dallas streets, where I assumed my mother and grandmother were wreaking havoc. “Besides, it’s better to give my mom and my grandmother some space when they’re doing the meal preparation. I just get in the way.”
He looked surprised at that and tipped his head to the side like he had no idea how that could be possible. “You get in the way in a kitchen? But, you’re an awesome cook.”
Oh no, that thing happening was not butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“Thanks. I’m okay, but not as good as they are, and things can get a little heated in there when all of us are together.”
He nodded, as if he understood, but the tension in his shoulders, made me think his idea of “heated” was not the same as mine.
“I mean, they tease and get loud and joke around, and it’s a little tiring. It’s fun, but I find I need breaks from it.”
He seemed to relax with my explanation and it occurred to me that I had not asked much more about his family since that night his sister called. I glanced up at him and smiled, hoping he could see how much I liked being with him now. That this moment and his company was not an imposition or a nuisance, it had been...a nice surprise.
I grabbed his hand, the one that wasn’t holding tightly to the crate, and led him to the store.
“Come on, let’s get this little pest some stuff.”
His lips turned up into a conspiratorial smile, like he was about to tell me he knew I’d find it as delightful as he did, and man it was getting harder to remember why getting mixed with Rocco was ten kinds of wrong. “Can we get a second bed in case Pulga wants to sleep over at yours?”
I balked and started backing away with my arms crossed in front of my face. “Never. That fluff ball is officially uninvited to my house for overnight or any other kinds of visits.”
I wasn’t sure why me shutting him down was making him laugh hysterically, but if I had to guess it was probably the fact that I was smiling like a loon when I said it.
We got in the car with a much-improved Pulga now sitting in a brand-new bright red carrier. Rocco was a few hundred dollars poorer, but you would not have thought it from how happy he looked when he got behind the wheel.
I settled in and looked at him with a grin on my face. “You’re really happy you found this little cat, aren’t you?”
He powered up the car and looked at me for a moment. “I’m just glad she’s okay. I was scared I wouldn’t be able to help her.”
“Well, yeah, thatisgood, but even if you hadn’t been able to save her, you tried. Hard.” No, that warmth in my chest was not feelings. It was hunger and his heated leather seats.
He nodded solemnly and turned back to look at where Pulga’s carrier was secured with a seat belt. “I’m glad we were able to help her though, and I couldn’t have done it without you.”
That “we” made something a lot like joy course through my body, and before I knew it, I was breaking all the rules I’d self-imposed for Rocco Quinn.
