But that subtle “softening” of Eric’s boundaries had somehow allowed forthis. Never, in all his days active in his profession, had “Eric Christiansen” evenbrushedwith the law, and here, while he stood flat-footed in his pajama bottoms, cradling a purring kitten, stood Brady, the adorably earnest deputy, staring up into his camper.
“Heya,” said the other man, pulling off his SCSD ball cap and tucking it into the back pocket of his regulation blue twill pants. “You wouldn’t want to offer a fella a cup of coffee, would ya?”
Eric’s eyes bulged out, and Eddie/Oliver, sensing distraction, took that moment tosplang,all four feet extended, right into Brady’s arms.
“Whoa!” Brady exclaimed, catching the kitten deftly and cuddling him next to his chest. “Hello! Aren’t you special. What do we call you?”
“I’m not sure yet,” Eric said, horrified. “But oh my God, he’s got a death wish!” And then, aware that he had no choice, not if he was to maintain the standard of civility set by two auto mechanics with nothing to lose but pride, he took a step back and gestured Brady inside.
The camper rocked slightly as Brady used one hand on the doorway rail to steady himself when he took the two steps up. Eric backed into the kitchen and extended his hands to take the kitten, but Brady gave him an impish look and turned his shoulders.
“No,” he said. “My kitten. You get your own.”
As if on cue, Katie mewled from the bathroom, and Eric arched his eyebrows.
“You were saying?” he said. “Here, sit down at the table. She needs room.”
First he set her in the litter box, which she used like a dog would use a lawn—on command, all veterinary advice to the contrary. When they were washed up, he pulled her little wheeled contraption from below the sink and set her in the hallway so she could scamper.
“Oh wow! What’s this?” Brady’s look of delight was unfeigned, and Eric felt the pinging of attraction he’d felt the night before grow a little louder.
“This is Katie,” he said.
“And this guy?”
“I’m still deciding,” Eric told him. Brady, still holding Eddie/Oliver, leaned down to rub Katie between her ears. “If you can keep her from under my feet, I can brew us some coffee.”
The gaze Brady sent him was pure worship, and he was forced to laugh. Apparently policemen had the same vices as the rest of the civilized world.
“Deciding between what and what?” Brady set Katie down on the floor under the table and used his leg as a block while he dazzled the little boy kitten with his charm. Eric was starting to see where that might be a strong point.
“Oliver, which I thought was adorable and ingenuous—look at that innocent little face—or Eddie Puss.”
“’Cause Oedipus, right?” Brady cackled. “Oooh… that’s a tough one, given his little club feet. I wouldn’t be able to decide either.” Gently, Brady bent down and touched noses with the little black Cornish rex. “You, sir, are a work in progress, like the rest of us.”
Eric felt Brady’s eyes on him and half expected the question then—the name had rung like a bell in Ace and Sonny’s little kitchen, and Eric had been so startled he’d had a hard time containing his expression.
Say it, he thought.Ask me if I’m Charlie.
But Brady didn’t. He just continued to flirt with the kittens, like that moment had never existed.
Eric wondered if it was rational to feel disappointed.
“So….” he said, hoping Brady would fill in the rest.
“So…?” And to his annoyance, he realized the little shit was toying with him.
“How’d you find me?” he asked.
Brady’s chuckle had the ring of smugness to it. “Well, oddly enough, I was on the balcony of my apartment last night, when I saw a line of cars leaving Ace’s place, and then they disappeared.”
Eric glanced at him in surprise.
“You were….”
“I swear, I wasn’t trying to snoop,” Brady said, and then frowned at Katie. “Darlin’, you’re not getting by there, so I suggest you stop running into my foot. Okay, then. If that’s your thing, carry on.”
Eric grunted, half in frustration and half in… well, charm. Brady’d awakened Eric from a sound sleep, finagled his way into Eric’s kitchen, and was now entertaining the kids. How was Ericsupposedto react?
