“Amen.” Cass sniffed. “Shannon, I just wanted to say thanks for dinner. And thank you for keeping the twins upstairs.”
Mack couldn’t believe she’d said that. “Cass. The twins are adorable.”
Jed blinked. “Ah, yeah. Maybe you can babysit them some time.”
“No thanks. Kittens are one thing. Kids another.”
“Kittens?” Shannon said.
The kids had a magical ability to appear out of nowhere. They emerged from the shadows and started interrogating him about the kittens.
“Mack rescued them,” Cass told them. “He helps with Pets Fur Life, a charity that helps home stray animals. He found the kittens.”
“Wefound them.”
“Yes,wefound them behind a restaurant last week. He’s helping them grow big and strong so they can be adopted.”
“Damn it, Cass,” Jed growled under his breath.
“Kittens!” Sam looked to her mom. “Please, can we get one?”
Mike added, “Yes, Mom. Please? Please? Please?”
“Ah, well, they already have a promised home,” Mack said quickly, seeing the trouble brewing. “But if more come in, I’ll be sure to let your aunt know.”
Jed clapped an arm around his shoulders. “You’re a good man.”
“Thank you,” Shannon gushed. Her children’s eyes narrowed, so she tacked on, “For helping those poor little kittens, thank you so much.”
Her kids seemed satisfied and told Mack goodnight. Sam hugged his leg before darting away with her brother upstairs for bed.
“I guess I’d better go too,” Mack said. “My ride looks annoyed with me.”
Cass snorted. “Hey, you have nothing to do tomorrow, but Jed and I have to work.”
“And I have the weekend free.” Shannon gave her husband a smug smile.
“No, you don’t.”
“I don’t?”
Jed drew his wife in for a kiss and whispered something in her ear.
She blushed and drew back. After clearing her throat, she said, “I guess I do have some work to do. I better be getting paid by the hour.”
“Ouch. That sounds like a tough gig.” Mack cringed at the sight of Jed’s broad grin. “Come on, Cass. Before I start putting two and two together. I don’t want any lingering images.”
She snickered. “Get a room, you two.” Then she hugged her partner and his wife and tugged Mack out the door by the hand.
Once at the car, he pinned her to the driver’s side and kissed her. She was soft and warm, so sexy. He wanted to sink into her and never leave. “Ah. Been waiting to do that forever.”
***
Cass, out of breath, prayed no one had seen that.Crap.A curtain twitched. “Argh. Get in the car.”
Once inside, he grinned and stared at her while she drove them back to his place. “Your friends are great.”
She sighed. “They really are. And they liked you.”
