We leave the warmth and safety of the kitchen behind to start our search. The little brat is nowhere to be found. We’ve searched every nook and cranny of the rest of the house.
I finally took her upstairs. My last hope was that he’d holed himself away in the bathroom behind the shower curtain. But of course not. Now we’re standing in the hall, and her eyes are scrunched together in worry.
“Does he have a favorite place?”
I nod, and her eyebrow arches up in question.
“My room.”
“Oh. Why didn’t we start there?”
I swallow hard and decide to be honest. “I’m not sure I can trust myself with you. Alone in my room.”
Chapter 20
Playing It Safe?
Luna
Hiswordslingerheavilyin the air between us. I make the mistake of looking up. He’s studying me, judging my reaction. There’s no regret on his face. But there is a question. A shiver skates down my back. I’ve been trying to ignore the occasional flip of my stomach or spark of heat skittering across my skin. Wasn’t that hard to do, surrounded by people and cameras. Plus, plenty of distractions in the form of cats. But everything is amplified now that we’re here, just the two of us in the narrow hallway.
The air cools as he steps away from me. “I’ll duck in and grab him. Treats, you know. Bribery.” His words are disjointed, and he almost seems flustered. Not something I’m used to seeing in the golden boy.
By the time my brain catches up, he’s already disappeared through his bedroom door. And maybe I shouldn’t. Maybe this is a terrible idea, but I take one step forward, then another until I’m slipping through the open door.
He’s crouched down on all fours, peering under his bed. Catching the large hockey player on all fours pleading with the cat might be funny if the smooth material of his black track pants wasn’t stretched tight over his beautiful ass.
I’m so distracted by the view, I don’t notice that he’s twisted his head around to catch me in the act.
“See something you like? Shall I stay here?”
“Um.” Heat floods my face. “Did you get him?”
“No. Maybe he wanted to give you a little more time to ogle.” Beau shifts, settling back on his heels, as Bluebeard’s tiny whiskered face peeks out from under the bed.
He lets out his little rusty meow and pads forward, rubbing his head against Beau’s thigh. That cat has impeccable timing. It’s as if he knows.
Beau reaches down to give him a scratch behind the ears, then scoops up the feline, cradling him like a baby. There’s pure adoration on the big hockey player’s face. All traces of arrogance gone, as if I imagined them.
Every last defense I’ve built? Gone. My heart melted into a puddle of goo. I could stand up to anything else. Seeing the care he has for his sister and his team. The vulnerability in his struggle with anxiety. And even hanging out with the cats all day for the photo shoot. These things have been building up. Humanizing him. But the way he treats Bluebeard. That’s it for me.
He stands up, cradling my favorite cat, and steps toward me without looking up. Bluebeard doesn’t look at me either until I reach out to stroke his back. His eyes blink open, and he lifts his head with a trill.
“Hey, buddy. I’ve missed you, but I’m glad you’re happy here.” He vibrates with contented purrs.
This is what I came here for. To check on the cat. Visit him. Now that’s done, I should leave. I look up, ready to ask Beau ifhe’ll drive me home, and he’s staring at me, mouth parted, eyes dark and hooded.
I could step closer, tilt my head up. Based on what he said, he’s not going to turn me down. Or, I could retreat, take the safe path. Ignore this pull between us. Call a car to take me home. Because there is no way I’ll survive another car ride next to him. Not when every single nerve ending is tingling.
Bluebeard squirms out of Beau’s hold, launching himself to the floor, then racing for the open door. Did the cat just give us permission?
Neither of us moves a muscle. Caught in the spell of this in-between place. No one willing to make the first move.
But I’ve never been one to play it safe.
Chapter 21
Harder. Wilder.
