Opening my phone, an instant smile lights my face, and my eyes bug out of my head.
Fluffy, finicky Dumpling lies sprawled in all her glory across Ambrose’s naked, muscular chest.Forget naughty runaway cats … someone call nine-one-one for me.
His accompanying text reads:
Found. Fed. Insulin given.
OMG! Thank you sooo much!
Trade after tonight’s auction?
Yes, please. You’re a lifesaver
Anything for you
My cheeks glow.Anything for me?I scroll back to the photo of Dumpling reclining across his bare chest.
Damn, that cat’s lucky!
Meanwhile, the only warm body I’ve got in bed is the paperback I fell asleep on last night.
So … my place later?
My chest throbs out ayes. What this man does to me is … criminal.
Let’s discuss at the auction?
That’ll be a s—show
Unless you bid on me???
Sorry, don’t have the budget
Understood
“What is it?” Gran asks, watching me fan myself.
“Ambrose found Dumpling, and she’s okay.”
“Oh, that’s wonderful! He’s such a nice boy. You know, that’s the kind of man you should be going for.”
“A hunk like that?” I counter, focusing on heaping jambalaya on two plates, which I carry to the table.
“A hunk like that, a gorgeous girl like you. I don’t see a problem.”
“Oh, Gran.” I sigh, coming around the kitchen island to kiss her baby-soft cheek before grabbing silverware and napkins. “Always the perpetual romantic. But I told you. I’m too busy for men and all their drama.”
I meet her at the table, showing Gran the picture after we’re both seated next to each other at the corner. She giggles. “You don’t have time for that?” She leans over, two fingers to my wrist. “Do you have a pulse?”
My pulse is practically breakdancing, but I’ll never admit that to her.
“And what’s that supposed to mean?”
“Do you think he sent you that picture by accident?” She scrolls down, pointing at his last texts. “Or that he asked you to bid on him for no reason?” A devilish glint sparkles in her mahogany eyes.
“I don’t know.” I shake my head, talking with my hands in the air. “It’s not like I can read his mind. Heck, I barely know the guy.”
“This is what I mean about you going out on a limb … being a little naughty.”
