I had to get myself together, make a comfortable place for the kitten, rub a four-leaf clover, and go the hell to sleep.
Walking in the kitchen, I put the bags on the granite island. She did the same as if she was waiting for me to talk. Deep hazel eyes, almost as dark as chocolate, stared back at me. They were beautiful, mysterious, eyes any sane man could get lost in—I should say something, anything. I should ask her if she wants something to drink or order a pizza. I should thank her again or ask her on a date.
Date? Where did that come from…Pffft date. What?
That was the last thing I needed. I was better alone, happier. I’d seen too many guys on the force get divorced because their wife couldn’t handle the job, the hours, the commitments. I remembered my dad’s words,‘if I could do it all over again, I wouldn’t.’
When I decided to become a cop, I chose to be a lifelong bachelor. I was going to be the cool uncle with the big house. Nothing more.
“Okay, right,” she said, tapping her foot on the floor and probably assuming my silence was something other than my world being slightly tilted on its axis. “Let’s get her set up in the master bathroom. You’ll want her in an enclosed space with a tile floor for the first week or two. Lead the way.”
I mumbled my thanks, grabbing all the bags and breezing through the kitchen and living room, then walking up the stairs and down the hallway. Stopping in front of my closed door, I took a breath and faced Jenna, rubbing the back of my neck.
“You’ll have to excuse the room. I wasn’t exactly expecting company,” I said before stepping in to turn on the light.
Aside from a pair of gray sweatpants laying haphazardly on the bed, the room was clutter-free, but I still felt the need to apologize. Who knew why? The blue curtains were closed over the large bay windows that overlooked the backyard, and my black chest of drawers and matching nightstands were practically empty. I laid the bags on the gray comforter as she walked in behind me and laughed.
“Are you serious, Mark? Are you apologizing for dust-bunnies under the bed? This room is immaculate. I’ll bet the bed even has hospital corners.”
“What? It does not,” I answered.
Yes, it does.
“Hmm. Not only am I fairly certain you’re lying, but there is nothing wrong with a neat room. It says a lot about your personality. Me, on the other hand, I can’t remember if I made my bed this morning.”
“My personality? You’re not going to try to guess my sign next, are you?”
I scratched my stubble and blew out a breath as she walked by me to the bed, running her hand down the comforter before giving me a sly grin.
“No, but I’ll bet I could. Tell you what, if your bed doesn’t have hospital corners, I’ll tell you an embarrassing thing about me. And if it does, you’ll tell me an embarrassing thing about you.”
“Why?” I said before I could stop myself.
For once, I wished my room wasn’t neat and organized because learning something embarrassing about this mystery in front of me sounded better than anything else I’d do tonight. Maybe the kitten purring in Jenna’s arms was really a good luck charm meant to bring Jenna into my life.
Nope. Don’t start thinking like that.
Maybe I needed to get laid. This love affair with my hand was getting old. My exhausted mind had to be grasping at straws.
“I knew it,” Jenna said, flipping the comforter up to reveal neat, hospital corners.
“But I never agreed to anything,” I countered, grabbing the sweatpants and throwing them in the closet.
“Well, it was worth a try, Mr. Grumpy.”
Before walking to the bathroom, she handed me the kitten and got to work, smoothing down the comforter and picking up the cat bed. Flipping on the light, I watched as she set up the bed and eyed the giant clawfoot tub. She swept her eyes over the large walk-in shower, black and white tile floor, and dual sinks before turning back to me.
“Grab the bowls, mix some food, and give her water,” she said, snapping me out of my trance.
I blinked, shaking my head again as I dumped kitten food in a bowl and set a water dish beside it before taking the kitten and putting her in front of the food.
“Is this normal?” I gestured to the way she had face-planted into the food again, eating louder than an old man slurping soup at a deli.
Jenna laughed and crouched down beside me, low enough for me to get a tempting peek at her cleavage. My eyes were drawn to her creamy skin, making me lose all rational thought when her tits swelled as she laughed.
“Oh yes,” she said as I dragged my eyes away. “We don’t know how long she’s been on her own. She needs to eat small meals every few hours. She’ll calm down after a few days.”
Her shoulders shook as she laughed, a strand of hair falling across her face. I found my hand moving before I did. My fingers caressed the soft skin of her cheek as I brushed it behind her ear. I heard the hitch in her breath, and the tension rode up my arm, my body itching to get closer to her.
