“Maybe, but that’s not nearly as damning as leaving her house at the ass crack of dawn.”
I nodded, making my way to the back of the house, but paused when I glanced down the hall. Was she going to be okay? It didn’t feel right leaving her when I didn’t know if she was okay.
“Don’t worry. Josie will take care of her.”
“I wasn’t worried,” I lied.
“It’s cute you think no one can see how bad you have it for her. My advice? Run away now, or hand it all over to her. You’re already in too deep.”
I wasn’t prepared for anything more than I already had with her. Fucking was one thing. A relationship was something I just couldn’t deal with. I had a plan, and nowhere in that plan was there a woman. The goal was to get back in the ring.
She would only mess that up.
So, I headed to the back of the house and slipped out the back window, then ran across town to the gym. Except that my keys were at the house. Luckily, that house was currently parked in the preschool parking lot behind the gym.
As usual, when my home on wheels was moved around, the key was always placed in a lockbox with a code only I would know. Don’t ask me how people knew these things. Everyone in this town was way too nosy, which was why I tried to keep everything as close to the vest as possible.
I flung the door open and stepped inside, instantly greeted with a foul smell.
“What the fuck?”
Sniffing, I walked through the small house, toward the bedroom where the odor became stronger. I opened the cracked door to the bedroom and grimaced when I saw the pile of shit on the floor.
“Meow!”
My eyes drifted to the bed where a kitten was currently making itself at home on my comforter.
“No,” I said firmly, narrowing my eyes at the little beast.
It rolled over, stretching its paws in my direction as it eyed me with what I could only say was a playful smile. The little fucker was already claiming me as his owner. That was definitely not happening. There was no fucking way I was allowing a kitten into my life for any reason.
Who even brought the little devil here?
As if reading my mind, the kitten pranced across the bed to a pet bed where a note was tucked in.
Sam,
I finally found the perfect kitten for you! He’s not quite potty trained yet, but I’ve left everything you need in the kitchen. Enjoy!
Georgia Bennett
I crumpledthe note in my hand, cursing under my breath. I should have known that day in the bookshop would be my downfall. Now I was stuck with the little vermin until I could figure out a way to get the little rat out of here. I could always fake an allergy.
But as the little shit trotted over to me and rubbed his head against my leg, I found it difficult to actually find the words to kick the little creature out.
Until his claws dug into my leg and he used my body like a climbing tree.
17
CASSIDY
Alyssa came rushinginto my shop, her eyes wide as she plopped her coat on my counter, knocking books out of the way.
“Did you hear about Clara?”
“Who?”
“Clara. The Parker family matriarch.”
