“Oh please. You’re nearly as big as the socially awkward giant.”
Jeff preened.
“Now quit avoiding answering me. Why are you being so weird about who you’re dating?”
“It’s not that big of a secret.” He flushed.
“Ah-ha! It is. Who is it? Do I know him?” Hope’s Turn wasn’t that big, though he could be dating someone who lived nearby.
Before Jeff could answer, his assistant popped her head in the door. “Hey, Dr. Morrison? We got a call about an abandoned colony of feral cats. I’d go, but we’re swamped today.”
They both looked at Marlie.
I’m such a sucker. “I’ll go. Just give me the address.”
Jeff smile widened.
“But you’re not off the hook.” She poked him in the arm again.
His assistant, Maddie, grinned, handed Marlie a sticky note with the address, and left.
Jeff held up his hands in surrender. “Whatever you say, Mad Marlie. I truly appreciate the help.”
“I know.” Jeff and she loved helping animals. Yet another thing they had in common. “One more thing. Don’t even think of telling my brothers about Ben. You know how they get.”
He mimed zipping his lips then ruined it by saying, “I won’t tell them. But Marlie, it’s probably all over town by now. Maddie told me about it first thing this morning, and she heard it from her cousin who works at the restaurant.”
Marlie groaned. “Great. Well, hopefully I can get past Thanksgiving without them harping about what a douche Ben is.”
“They’re not wrong.”
“I know.” She groaned again. “I’ll go pick up the cats. Movie tonight?” She had a few more days until the school break ended. And since the tournament her team had been supposed to play in had gotten canceled, she finally had some free time to indulge in being lazy.
“Deal. My place though.”
“Sounds good.” She left after grabbing a few cages she stuffed in the back of the veterinary van.
With any luck, she’d be able to rescue the felines before the bad weather really hit.
She hadn’t counted on finding them behind a seedy bar on the outskirts of town.
Or that she’d come face-to-face with the giant who’d propositioned her last night strangling a calico.
CHAPTER 3
Damon didn’t know what it was about this woman, but she kept looking at him as if he’d done something criminal.
“Put the cat down!” She glared at him but didn’t come any closer when he straightened up.
He held the pregnant cat in his arms, pleased she’d finally calmed down. “I’m not hurting her, Marlie.” He smiled, expecting a return grin since he’d remembered her name.
Not like he’d thought about much else since meeting her.
Except she didn’t smile. She snarled. “Bullshit. I saw you choking her.”
His heart raced at her tone. What was it about this woman that made him want so much?
Up close, she looked more cute than sexy. Adorable with that scowl, and he noticed a pale hint of freckles over the bridge of her nose.
