Page 11 of Rescued By the Rebel

“Thanks for cooking,” she says as she adds parmesan cheese to her spaghetti.

“Of course, Red. How was your day?”

“Good. All of the animals seemed to be okay. I was worried they would be freaked out after the fire, but they seemed normal.”

“That’s good,” I say as a cat rubs against my legs.

Winnie separated the cats into the office down here and the two guest rooms upstairs, but there are a few that have free reign of the house. I didn’t ask her how she decided which cats go where; I just let her do her thing.

“Did you have any pets growing up?” She asks me when she notices the cat.

“No, my parents said we didn’t have the time for one. What about you?”

“My grandma had two dogs and a cat. My parents wouldn’t let me have one, but that was okay ‘cause I spent most of my time at my grandma’s place and got to help out with hers.”

“Does she still have them?” I ask, and she shakes her head.

“She passed away a few years ago. They passed in the months leading up to her death.”

“Shit, I’m sorry, Winnie.”

“Thanks.”

We eat in silence for a moment, and I search my head for something to say to lift the mood.

“I called a few contractors. There’s one who has availability starting next week. He said they should be able to get it done in three weeks as long as the weather stays good.”

“Did you get a quote?”

“Five grand,” I say, and she seems surprised.

“Oh, I thought that it would be more than that.”

I just nod, not bothering to tell her that I called in a lot of favors to get that price.

“Any leads on who started the fire?” She asks carefully, and I shake my head.

“Nothing concrete. People have seen a dark-haired man around town, but no one has any details about him.”

She nods, and I want to reassure her.

“We’ll find him,” I promise Winnie, and she nods.

“I’m sure we will. I just hope that no other damage is done before then.”

“Me too.”

We finish eating, and I take her plate and carry it over to the sink.

“Here, let me get that. You cooked, so I should clean up.”

“We’ll do it together,” I counter, and she nods.

“What about you? What did you do today?”

“I got some work done, went by the clubhouse, ran down some leads.”

“Sounds busy.”

---