Page 60 of Hot & Heavy

"Samantha's the only thing my fiancée left behind when she walked out three years ago. We called the cat Sam until I discovered that he was a she and…" His words trailed off as he realized that she wasn't listening to him at all.

Madrene picked up Sam, which was a feat because the cat was huge, just like her precious Rose back at Norstead. She held the cat up to her face for a kiss. Tears welled in her eyes.

Finally, when she'd cuddled the cat and petted her and showed how much she liked her, she turned to Ian, who was leaning against the wall, watching her with amazement.

"That cat never goes to anyone," he marveled.

"She reminds me of my cat, Rose. What a gift your cat is to me… I mean, your cat's presence here on this day!"

He raised his eyebrows at her.

"It is an omen, I think. A sign from the gods that everything will work out for me," she said.

"Don't you think that's reading a little bit much into a cat?"

She shrugged. "There is another thing I should forewarn you about."

"Omens and warnings," he scoffed. "What?"

"I think I could love a man who loves a cat."

Chapter Nine

She loves me, she loves me not, she loves…

"No, no, no!" Ian put his hands up in the air to halt her words. "You are wrong, wrong, wrong."

"How so?" she asked, walking into the living room and sitting down on the sofa, cradling Sam in her lap.

"Two things. One, this pain-in-the-ass cat is not an omen or a gift, or anything else. Sam is a high-maintenance, stubborn, in-your-face, hair-shedding, hair-ball-puking animal who doesn't know her place."

"Shhhh," Madrene hissed. Sam hissed, too. "You will hurt her feelings."

He rolled his eyes. "You cannot insult this cat. Believe me, I've tried."

"Poor little cat," she cooed, giving Sam another kiss on her ugly little cat lips.

Little? Sam could be the poster cat for Chubbettes Cat Food.

"What was the other thing?"

"Huh?" he said. Then, "The other thing is, you are not falling in love with me. Uh-uh! No way! Not over a cat or any other jack thing in the universe."

She looked at him with skepticism. In fact, she was licking her lips—the same lips that had just kissed a cat—and looking at him as if she were a nymphomaniac, and he'd just invented sex. What a thought!

"Look, it's seven o'clock, and we're both beat. Jet lag and all that. Why don't you take a shower while I fix us something to eat? I've got to be up early to meet with the Commander." And get my ass chewed to smithereens.

She agreed, putting the cat on the floor with reluctance. Sam immediately jumped up onto the sofa, which was a no-no. He could swear that was a smirk on the cat's face, daring him to try to dislodge her now that she had a new friend. He decided to wait till Maddie left the room before booting the feline into the kitchen where she belonged. There was a cat bed there, which Sam rarely used.

After that, he made some grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup, which was about all he had in the house till he went grocery-shopping tomorrow. He had heard the shower turn off about fifteen minutes ago, so he went to see what was holding Maddie up.

In the bathroom, her shirt, fatigues, panties and bra lay on the floor. He thought about picking up the lingerie, but decided that might be a bit perverted. But, uh-oh, what was Maddie wearing, if these items of apparel were here?

His head shot up and he looked toward his bedroom. There was a ringing in his ears, and his heart started racing. His cock had already been at half-staff, just ogling her undies. Now it was full-tilt boogie.

He held a towel up to his middle and walked into his bedroom, flicking a lamp on in the darkened room.

Then he stopped dead in his tracks.