“Sure, buddy. He especially loves tummy scratches.” I stood and stepped back, letting them have some time together. Then I watched as he and Jagger fell in love.
A guy who must be his dad crossed his arms over his chest and watched affectionately. “We weren’t supposed to be getting a dog. Zach wanted a lizard, but he’s scared to go near the snakes. I think he’s found his pet, though.”
“Looks like it.”
“Brendon.” He held his hand out to shake, and I introduced myself. “You look great on that line with Hux and Gauthier. Hoping for good things this season.”
“Me too. I want the ring.”
“You already have a ring,” Spencer said from behind me as he slipped his arms around my waist.
“Spencer, this is Brendon, Zach, and Jagger the pup. Brendan, my husband, Spencer.” They shook hands, and we chatted for a minute until Zach was tearing through the crowd of people in the pen hot on Jagger’s tail.
“Zach, slow down,” he called, then shot us an apologetic look. “Better go sort these two out before they destroy something.”
“Whatcha doin’?” I asked, turning in Spencer's arms and wrapping mine around his shoulders. I pressed a kiss to his jaw, and he flicked his eyes toward the cat section.
“Patting a kitty.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked and wiggled my brows. “Was she tall and gorgeous?”
He smirked and squeezed my hips before leaning in and pressing another kiss to my jaw. “Black and feisty,” he murmured against my skin.
I hummed, then added, “Show me.”
“Nah, it’s okay.”
“Show me, Spencer. I want to meet her. You wouldn’t have mentioned her if you weren’t already in love.”
He nodded and we walked over there hand in hand, stopping every few feet to sign something or take a selfie. I didn’t mind this kind of thing in small doses, and most of the time I got away with being relatively anonymous. But Spencer couldn’t do that anymore. We needed a bit more space and a lot more privacy.
It was time to get our own place. The hotel wasn’t cutting it anymore.
I watched as Spencer went straight up to one of the volunteers looking after the kittens, spoke with them for a moment, then reached into one of the cages.
The bundle of fur he pulled out was jet black. She popped her head up and looked around with big yellow-green eyes, and I was enchanted. The way she purred when he stroked her fur was adorable.
“I don’t think they’re going to be able to rehome her,” Spencer said miserably.
“Why?”
He held her out for me to take. Her fur stood on end and she hissed. I hesitated, my hand hovering just out of her reach.
“How about I just pet her?” He nodded, and I turned my attention to the kitten. “You’re a beautiful girl, aren’t you?” I touched her head and ran my fingers gently down her back. Her fur glowed in the light, and it was soft as silk. Her eyes were cautious—wide and judgmental as she took me in. I went to run my fingers down her fur again, and she hissed, barely tolerating me. I backed off, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
“She’s not liking the crowds so much. She bit a lady who picked her up, as well as one of the volunteers.”
“I don’t think she likes me either.”
“We’re the only people she’s let touch her since she was pulled out of her cage this arvo.”
“So, what, she’s just been sitting in the carry cage alone this whole time?”
“Yeah, except when I was here.” He scratched under her chin, and the kitten nuzzled Spencer’s chest and purred loudly. His smile was indulgent, full of affection as he looked down at her while her eyes drooped closed and she fell asleep right there in his arms.
“She has the cutest little toe beans,” he murmured quietly.
She really was beautiful—exactly like her new daddy, because there was no way in hell she wasn’t coming home with us.
