Page 79 of Interference

I would never stop thanking any deity who’d listen that the person who’d saved us was Anthony.

Chapter 21

Anthony

Wyatt didn’t say anything, but his gait changed a little as we were coming into Woodinville. Though he wasn’t quite limping, he was getting there, and every now and then, his lips would tighten when he stepped.

I checked my phone and casually asked, “You want to stop and grab something to eat? It’s getting on to lunchtime.”

“I could definitely eat.” He winced. “I could stand to sit for a bit, too.”

Thought so. And God knew I’d spent enough time around athletes—and been one myself—to know that even when we knew better, we’d be dumbasses and insist we were fine. Pride goeth before the faceplant on the ice.

Fortunately, there was a small deli not far from the trail. Under the pretense of not wanting to take the cats into the restaurant, I suggested we grab a picnic table and have Wyatt sit with the critters while I went in to order. Once he had set up a water bowl for Lily, I handed over the cats’ leashes.

“They won’t be a handful, I promise.” I gestured at Moose and Bear. “Just hold on to the leashes in case something scares them, but otherwise…”

Wyatt laughed. “Yeah, they don’t look like major flight risks right now.”

They definitely weren’t. Moose was sprawled across most of the picnic table, surveying his domain like a lion. Bear… Well, he was on the bench next to Wyatt, noisily licking his butt. That would keep him occupied for a while.

I showed Wyatt the deli’s menu on my phone. Once he’d decided what he wanted, I went inside to order.

Admittedly, the break was good for me. I was off-balance and had this weird feeling like I needed to catch my breath, even though I was in great physical shape and we’d been keeping a pretty mild pace.

Except this kept happening even when we weren’t walking. Watching a hockey game with Wyatt. Eating a meal with him. Talking about whatever with him. Laughing our heads off while the cats chased the laser pointer or got fucked up on catnip.

Just… being around Wyatt.

At first I’d thought it was guilt. Simon kept accusing me of sleeping with Wyatt, and for some stupid reason, I felt guilty about that. Like I was cheating on him somehow despite not being involved with Wyatt or Simon.

But more and more, I didn’t think that irrational guilt was the reason my head went light and my mind went blank whenever I was around Wyatt. More and more, I didn’t think that had anything to do with Simon at all, and everything to do with the man sleeping in my guest room.

Feelings were weird.

I shook those thoughts away and ordered our food, along with a few pieces of chicken for Moose, Bear, and Lily. I hadn’t thought to ask Wyatt if she was allowed treats like that, but I got her some just in case.

The deli was quick, fortunately, so I was gone all of fifteen minutes. Balancing our drinks and carrying the food in a bag hanging off my wrist, I headed back to the picnic table where I’d left Wyatt and the animals.

Lily was, of course, sitting dutifully beside Wyatt. Bear was now on the picnic table, sprawled on his side with his belly fully exposed.

Moose sat on the table beside Bear, ignoring his brother and focusing intently on a blade of grass that Wyatt was running between the cracks in the table. He batted at it, looking for all the world like an overgrown kitten.

And Wyatt…

Holy fuck.

I almost dropped the drinks I was carrying.

He was watching Moose bat at the grass, and his smile made the whole world tilt a few degrees. I was an unabashed sucker for people who loved animals, and Wyatt was absolutely adorable, grinning as he played with my usually aloof cat. Was my heart melting? Was that what this was? Because I loved it.

I was about ten feet away when Bear must’ve heard me. He lifted his head, chirped, and got up. That got Moose’s attention, and he too turned to me and chirped, forgetting about Wyatt or the grass.

“Hey guys.” I couldn’t help smiling at their expressions. “Ready for some lunch?”

“Eating could be a challenge,” Wyatt pointed out. “They, uh…” He gestured at them. “Take up a lot of real estate.”

I grinned and tapped the bench. Moose obediently hopped down and sat. Bear needed me to get his attention again, but then he jumped onto the bench beside Wyatt.

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