But her eyes aren’t on me.
They’re on Thorn.
Hmm.
“No, thanks. I need to head back to the office,” he murmurs.
But I don’t miss the way his eyes linger on River right back.
Doublehmm.
“Really?” Chrissy says, obviously disappointed as she bends and opens the door to one of the carriers. “We were all going to stay for dinner—and no, that’s not a dinner you’re going to cook.” She smiles at River. “Rome and my dad are bringing food.”
Protest flashes across River’s face. “I couldn’t possibly?—”
“Yes, you could,” Rory says, linking her arm through River’s.
“No—”
“Oh, honey. I?—”
“Sweet mother of Christ!” Thorn shouts.
Right as the front door swings open again.
THIRTY-ONE
BROOKS
The shout hasme bustling forward…then promptly screeching to a halt as I fight a smile.
Thorn—surly, grumpy, taciturnThorn—Wilkenson is jerking like he’s being electrocuted, arms and legs shooting out to the sides, back bending in odd angles, curses raining from his lips as a tiny ball of white fluff crawls up his body.
Calf. Thigh. Hip. Back…
The ball of fluff doesn’t stop moving until it’s settled itself on Thorn’s shoulders.
“Meow!”
Hell if that isn’t a cry of victory.
The room is silent, the girls looking at each other with wide eyes and smothered smiles.
Thorn is glaring down at his shoulder—though it has to be noted that he hasn’t made a move to dislodge the interloper.
“Should I?” Briar asks, stepping toward him.
Chrissy loses her fight with her smile. “I think Thorn has been claimed.”
Thorn glares at her…but still doesn’t remove the critter. Instead, he nods at Briar. But when she tries to lift the kitten off him, the kitten digs its claws, making him curse again.
“I…uh…”
“I think this means he’s staying for dinner,” Rory says, her mouth curving up.
“No—”
But there’s a knock behind me and the next ten minutes are a flurry of unpacking the food Jean-Michel and Rome have brought, releasing the rest of the kittens from Kitty Jail and the baby from Car Seat Lockup, the arrival of Jace and Marie, and finally convincing River to sit down and take a break for a change.
