Page 13 of My Favorite Hero

He lifted his head at the word treat. He loved those.

“Cheese,” I added.

His ears perked up and I chuckled. That was his favorite treat. I finished the drive with my hand resting on his neck, relieved he was back.

At the house, I saw Casey’s SUV had returned. I parked at the side and went in the back, Miller following me. His ears went up at the sounds from the other side of the wall. I stroked his fur in comfort.

“New tenant. She’s got a cat.”

I swore his ears went back.

“No worries, bud. He’ll stay over there, and you’re safe here.”

I grabbed a soda and sat down on the sofa, Miller crawling up beside me. I took a drink as I rubbed his head. “We should have an early night.”

His tail thumped.

“I need to go over and build the cupboards in the morning.” I yawned. “I’ll do that first thing.”

I got another thump.

I frowned, listening to the noises next door. Casey was moving things around, and I idly wondered what she had bought.

Then I wondered why I was curious.

There was another loud noise next door, and I could hear her voice and some curse words. I started to get up, then forced myself to sit.

Whatever she was doing was none of my business.

I didn’t care. And she didn’t want my help.

I wondered why that rankled.

Then I wondered if, somehow, I was fucked.

The laughter in my head told me I was.

Chapter Four

JESSE

Iwas up early the next morning, anxious to build the cabinets and get them installed. I put on a pot of coffee, letting Miller out to relieve his bladder while it brewed. He never left the yard, so I wasn’t worried. He’d run around and sniff the bushes and trees, checking out his territory, then settle on the deck to oversee it all.

I forgot about the new neighbor, though. I carried my coffee outside, looking around, surprised not to see him. I called, expecting him to race around the corner, but he didn’t show.

Oddly enough, I could hear him, so I walked toward the sound, stopping when I saw him sitting on Casey’s little back porch, his head in her lap as she stroked his head.

And the kicker?

The damn cat sat there too, and Miller wasn’t at all bothered by it.

“What the hell?”

Casey looked up, and something caught in my chest. She wore overalls today, a tight T-shirt under them in a shade of blue that matched her eyes. Her damp hair was loose, hanging down to her waist, and she had sneakers on. She wore no makeup, jewelry, or adornments.

And she was breathtaking.

“Morning,” she replied, not looking worried by my tone. “Oh—coffee. I don’t imagine you’d share a cup with me? I haven’t gone to get one yet.”