“He’s so cute,” she says softly, like she’s trying not to disturb him. “What’s his name?”
“Pork,” I say through a grunt, pulling a heavy piece of lumber out of the pile. “Peaches said his name is Pork.”
“Pork.” She smiles down at him. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Pork. We’re going to become very good friends.”
And I’m going to be spending the entire day acting like I’m not jealous of a cat getting all of Odette’s attention.
The worst part? It’s nobody’s fault but my own.
Chapter Ten
Odette
I’ve been cranky, and it has everything to do with Noah announcing to all of Stick Taps that I’m like a sister to him.
But I think Pork is healing me.
The cute kitten lets out a big yawn as he sleeps on his back in my lap. Beans will be so mad when I come home smelling like another cat, but I don’t care. The scene before me is worth it.
“How can you not love this adorable little fella?” I run a finger down his tummy, and he shudders like it tickles.
“Because I have a heart of stone, and there’s no use getting attached to it, because I’m not keeping it.”
I gasp. “What do you mean you’re not keeping Pork?”
“I mean, I’m not keeping him. End of discussion.” He sighs. “Are you going to help me at all today or sit there and play with the damn cat that is most definitely finding a new home as soon as possible?”
I haven’t been playing with the catallday. Just most of the day. Since lunch, at least, and that was a few hours ago at this point. I likely could have left a long time ago, especially since I have a few vendors I need to call, but I didn’t want Pork to be alone. And honestly, I didn’t want to be alone either. Even though it’s a Friday, I don’t have muchelse going on at the moment except planning Izzy’s wedding, and we’re meeting to work on that more tomorrow.
“I’ll take the second option, please.”
“Then leave. You’re in the way.”
“Yes, I’msoin the way, just sitting here on a stool and minding my own business.”
“You’re right, you are.”
I ignore him, then go back to rubbing Pork’s belly. I giggle at that.
“What?” Noah asks with a grunt, pulling his hammer back in a way that shouldn’t be even remotely hot, yetdefinitelyis.
Noah’s comment about his sibling-like feelings toward me were like a bucket of cold water, extinguishing any flame I held for him. It doesn’t mean my body doesn’t react to seeing him work. Watching him sling lumber around all day or swing heavy hammers like they weigh nothing.
Just like he is now.
I roll my tongue over my lips as he takes another whack at the board, the muscles in his biceps flexing with the movement.
“Odette?”
I snap my eyes to him, hoping he didn’t just notice what a trance he had me in. “What?”
“That’s what I want to know. You just giggled. What’s so funny?”
“Oh. Um ...”Shit. What was I just thinking about other than Noah’s incredibly sculpted body?“Pork belly!”
He pulls a face. “What?”
“I was running my finger over Pork’s belly, and it reminded me of pork belly. Do you think Peaches names all her kittens after food? Is that like a thing becauseshe’snamed after food?”
