When Evan jumped from his seat, he’d mistakenly stepped on the family cat, Gus, who despite his largely overweight body, managed to scale Lake like a coconut tree. The cat’s claws dug into where they met flesh. He’d draped himself across Lake’s shoulders and made himself into a fluffy, makeshift scarf, with orange fur covering his victim’s lower face.
The Colonel and Evan took turns trying to coax the feline off while Lake’s eyes darted frightfully between them. Searching for anyone who might free him from the cat’s bondage.
Georgia didn’t know whether she should laugh or cry. Dakota merely stared at her and Caroline, as if he knew they’d somehow collaborated to destroy the dinner party and the overly handsome face of their guest.
Georgia bit her lip and twisted her hands together just as her mother gently pried her beloved cat from Lake’s neck. Lake, uncharacteristically disheveled, looked as if he’d barely survived the ordeal. Georgiawould NOTadmit how attractive she found it.
Fresh claw holes around his collar, scratch marks along his arms, and wild hair were nothing compared to the fire she found in his eyes when the dust finally settled.
Mrs. Remillard had seen to Lake’s health and wellbeing after the incident and then insisted the boys stay for dessert. To be served on the porch. Far away from ill-willed house cats. Everyone gladly left the sweltering heat of the dining room, now in shambles, but Lake grabbed Georgia’s arm before she could escape with the crowd.
Rather than accost her verbally, he merely stood in front of her. Silent. Foreboding. At full height and arms crossed over the defined chest Georgia tried valiantly not to give notice to. Lake looked like he could stand there all day. A marble statue, whose sole purpose–glaring laser beams into her forehead.
“I’m sorry!” she blurted before she really even knew what she was saying. “I amSOsorry. I didn’t mean to–”
Lake’s eyebrows raised.
“Okay, I did mean to…” She bit her nail and looked at her feet, only to have Lake uncross his arms and ever so delicately pull her hand down from her mouth and lift her chin, waiting and still uncomfortably silent.
“Are you… Are you okay?” she managed to ask, only above a whisper.
Lake stepped closer, crossing his arms again. “I hate cats.”
Georgia nearly barked a laugh, catching herself with Lake’s close proximity. “That’s a real shame. Gus seemed to really love you.”
“Peaches,” he growled.
“Lakeland,” she sang playfully.
“You owe me big time. My little distraction saved the day for you.”
“Yourdistraction?” Georgia threw her hands on her hips, indignant, but still feeling guilty. “That wasmydistraction. And I never meant for the Gus thing to happen, obviously.”
“Obviously.” He leaned a little closer, still glaring. “I think you would have done anything to avoid what your Mamma was about to do.”
“And what is that?”
“She was gonna set me up with one of the Remillard girls. Theyaregreat cooks, after all. Best this side of the Mississippi.”
Georgia stifled a snort. She forgot how much she’d missed this side of Lake Lovett. Light verbal sparring and attempts to outsmart each other.
“Right. Right. Right. Of course you’d think that. You bein’ so very, very single and all.”
“And you, wearing that lovely lavender sweater. You don’t look like you’re sweating like a sinner on a Sunday,AT ALL.You’re clearly the right choice.”
An unfortunately timed sweat bead dripped from her temple, but she’d show no weakness.Let it rain, she thought. She’d win this round.
Georgia nodded her head, biting her lip for a fraction of a moment, and decided then and there to stifle the old, shy, slightly insecure Georgia Snow Remillard. She was a grown woman. Strong and confident.
She had just disrupted an entire dinner party with the force of her sheer will, a well-placed foot flex, and a little bit of help from her mother’s obese cat. She could stare Lakeland Lovett in his piercing eyes and win this small battle.
“The only problem with that, Lakeland, is that when it comes down to it, there really is no choice.” She placed her hand gently on his chest.
No, Georgia, do not get distracted by this pectoral muscle. It does not matter.
It does not exist.
She gave that muscle a little pat pat pat like an old friend. Lake’s eyes narrowed, and then he felt what Georgia had seen moments before, sneaking up behind him. The cat staked his claim on Lake’s long leg. Gus began to rub his fat little body up against Lake’s jeans like it’d been years since the attack that’d connected them for life.
