“Thank you,” I repeated, meaning it.
Robin had settled onto my chest, held securely in my palms. His eyes closed and he purred like a diesel engine. I felt Jesse watching us, and something in her gaze made my chest tighten.
“I think you two can handle it from here,” Candi said. “I’ll leave you to it. I’m meeting my fiancé for a late dinner.”
Jesse smiled warmly. “Congratulations on your engagement. That’s a lovely ring.”
Candi beamed. “Thank you, Jesse. You’re so sweet. My fiancé is incredible. Maybe we can double date one day. But not until his divorce is final. We need to keep our relationship on the down-low, or his shrew of an ex-wife will demand even more money than she’s getting. We met a couple of weeks ago, and Iswear it was love at first sight. Like in the movies. He proposed three days later.”
I suppressed a smile. Classic Candi—impulsive and optimistic to a fault. But I was genuinely happy for her.
“I wish you the best of luck,” Jesse said. “He’s a lucky guy. And you look great.”
“Thank you.” Candi gave Jesse a once-over, her smile dimming slightly. “And you look… great too, very competent and hardworking.”
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. Jesse looked exactly like what she was—an artist who’d been working all day. Paint-stained clothes, messy hair, bare face. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
Jesse wiped a paint stain off her brow, looking amused instead of offended. “Yeah, I just came back from work.”
Candi grabbed her purse, said goodbye, and click-clacked down the stairs.
Jesse and I remained kneeling on my doormat. Robin’s loud purring filled the silence.
She cleared her throat. “Are you going to keep the kitten?”
I smiled down at the tiny ball of fur. “I think he’s decided he’s keepingme.”
We smiled at each other, and for a moment it was like before—before the misunderstanding, before the hurt and confusion. Except it wasn’t the same, because now I knew what it felt like to lose her. The past few days had been hell. My apartment felt empty. My bed felt cold. Everything reminded me of her absence, and not even food tasted the same anymore.
Now she was here, showing me that soft side of her as she looked at Robin with such tenderness. It made me want to show her how kind I could be, how much room I could make in my life for the things and people I cared about. For her.
I watched as emotion flickered across her face, and she swallowed hard.
“It was really kind of you to save him.” She stood, her muscles clearly protesting after a long day of work.
My hands ached to give her a slow, tender massage from head to toe, then make love to her slowly, and fall asleep with my head on her chest.
I blinked, getting to my feet with Robin secure against my chest. “I couldn’t leave him there. It was tricky getting home on my bike, but we managed.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You rode your motorcycle? I thought I’d asked you not to ride that thing.”
My head snapped up, hope surging through me at the possessive note in her voice. “You weren’t here, were you? I didn’t think you cared anymore.”
Fury flashed in her eyes. “Of course I frigging care.”
My heart soared and I swallowed a lump in my throat. She still cared. Robin, disturbed by our rising voices, became restless and meowed.
We spoke at the same time.
“Would you like to come in?” I said.
“Do you need any help—” she began.
We stopped, and I couldn’t help the small smile tugging at my lips.
“You first,” I said.
“Do you need help with the kitten?”
