“Good. Then let’s pack up everything and get it done today.”
Slowly, I set my pastry on the plate. He was right. And…and I’d be living here, with Jack from now on. A part of me was ecstatic, and the other…terrified. It was a huge step for me, and I prayed it wouldn’t spring up and bite me in the ass.
JACK
Three hours later, we were back on the road, heading toward Sea Cliff, the growling cat from hell contained in a travel carrier on the back seat of the SUV I used to cart Ray’s stuff. Despite what she’d predicted, Wilbur hadn’t thrashed her entire place, but it appeared as if a tornado had hit the kitchen.
Guess the evil imp knew not to push the hand that fed him too far. The monitored kibble dispenser for his daily feed—three days’ worth—was scattered everywhere. The damn feline had left a dead bird and two mice amidst the chaos. At least the mangy brat hadn’t crapped anywhere.
I glanced back at Ray. She had her eyes shut, and sported fresh scratches on her forearm, not that I’d escaped scratch-free, but the nuisance was caged for now.
“It’ll be fine, kitten.”
She opened one eye. “Kitten?”
“Yeah.” I nodded, deciding it was wiser to keep my attention on the road for what I wanted to say. “Wilbur attacks because you refused to behislittle kitten. Now, with me, because I know which way to stroke your fur, you purr—”
“Really?”
I cut off my grin.
“Jack Griffin, you do like to push my buttons, don’t you?”
“I don’t push, kitten. I stroke, caress, and lick you into surrender.” I finally glanced at her.
She bit her lip, her eyes going more gold than green in desire. Then, because it was Ray, she rolled her eyes and exhaled, stirring her inky, purple-streaked bangs. She could do that, pull herself from her emotions or shut them off. I frowned, not liking it.
She cast a quick look into the back seat. “What was I thinking, bringing you along, huh?” she asked the cat, then reached back to probably stroke the cage.
A low purr drifted through the SUV.
What did you know? That gray hellhound did like her.
It could be why he’d messed up her place, because she wasn’t there enough for his liking.
Ray settled forward again. “I should have asked Nigel first about bringing Wilbur—oh, God!” She bolted upright, her seatbelt yanking her back in place, eyes wide with anxiety. “Wilbur will ruin your home.”
“It’s just a house. Pops will love another animal around.”
“It’s an elegant mansion, Jack. You have expensive things…everywhere.” She groaned and slumped back in her seat, rubbing her brow. “Maybe…maybe, I should check around and see if someone will take him.”
“Why?” I slowed the SUV to a stop behind a bike at the red traffic light and glanced at her. “You love that grumpy creature.”
“Yeah. I seem to have a thing for testy cats.” She shot me a smirk, making me want to kiss it right off her tormenting mouth. I knew she meant me. I didn’t care, watching as she played with her tongue piercing for a bit, remembering how it felt on my tongue, my cock—
“I know!” She blasted me with a wide, excited smile. “I’ll take him to my parents.”
“You don’t have to do that. Wilbur can stay with us. He’s a part of you. And anything that is you, I want.”
Color crept into her tan face.
“He eats a lot,” she warned, slipping back to ignoring the little ways I tried to make her see how much she mattered to me. “Tuna is his mainstay. God, imagine if I’d given him salmon first?”
But I was patient. I could wait. The lights changed to green, and I headed toward the quiet neighborhood of Sea Cliff. “Stop worrying. It’ll be fine. If anything, he’ll keep the staff on their toes.”
“Yes, he definitely will.” Then she bit her lip, her eyes darkening with emotion. In the next second, she’d unclasped her seatbelt, leaned across, and kissed my cheek.
Hell, I wished I weren’t driving so I could demand a proper kiss—no, make that an improper one—but to see her smile, it made everything feel right inside me. I cleared my throat. “Put your seatbelt on.”
