“Everyone likes me.” At her huff, he added, “Especially you.”
“You wish.”
“I do wish.”
They listened to music on the way home, arguing when he tried changing the station to classic rock. Cass preferred contemporary pop. He paused when an oldie by George Michael came on a different station. Of course, it had to be “I Want Your Sex.”
Mack guffawed. “I do. I really do.” Just as she pulled up to his house, he said, “Say, you want to come inside and play with my…kittens?”
“Oh stop. That was terrible. What the heck is ‘kittens’ a euphemism for anyway?”
“I’m not kidding. I’m in the mood for some pussy…cats.”
“Mack.” Her lips twitched, and she tried not to humor him. “I’d better get home.”
“But it’s cold out. Come on. I swear, I won’t make a move on you.”
Too bad.
“Cass, you can at least make sure I get inside all right. What if I’m mugged? What if I slip and fall and can’t get up?”
“Stop.”
“What if I get lost? It’s dark out.”
“Oh my God. Okay.”
He waited for her to turn off the car before exiting. Then he opened her door and helped her out.
“I’m not so old I can’t get out of my own car.”
“Shut up.” He put her hand in the crook of his elbow, like a perfect gentleman, and walked her to his door.
Cass didn’t know why, but his treatment warmed her all over, and she could feel her heartbeat racing.
Mack let them both inside and hung up their coats. They set their shoes aside, and he immediately turned on the fire.
The kittens woke and started crying to be let out of their pen.
“Oh, hey guys.” Mack smiled.
His expression looked so tender, she had to look away.Huh. How about that fire? It sure feels, um, hot.
“Want something to drink?”
She looked up to see him holding both kittens.Ah-dor-ah-ble.
Cass cleared her throat. “A cocoa would be nice. With marshmallows, if you have them.”
“What, am I a heathen? Of course I’ll serve them with marshmallows.” He put the cats down and walked into the kitchen, muttering, “Does she really think so little of me?”
Cass sank to the floor and had kittens climbing on her. “Oh wow. You guys are definitely trouble. Cute and furry and so soft.”
She let them crawl all over her and had fun playing with them. Their tiny teeth and claws no more than pinpricks against her skin.
“Be right back,” Mack called from the kitchen.
“Take your time.” She sat on the floor near the fire, laughing as they kept trying to pounce before falling over each other.
