Page 74 of Knotted Laces

“Color me surprised that the grumpy billionaire has a sense of humor beneath all that—” I wave my hand at his expression, and right on cue… “—scowl.”

He shakes his head. “Why are all the women in my life determined to torture me?”

NowIsmile. “It’s probably just your face.”

A roll of his eyes before he turns for the rink.

But then he pauses, glances back at me.

“Hey, Phillips?”

“Yeah?”

He unleashes that silver-fox, stroke-me-between-my-legs smile.

“You’re not interested in adopting a cat, are you?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Cam

“How did I get here?”Athena asks on a sigh.

I grin. Becausehereis Chrissy’s bright and colorful adoption center, full to the brim with adorable kittens and cats, people who’ve paid a few bucks to entertain (and socialize) the furry menaces, volunteers, and…us.

A member of the public who’s about to adopt a cat.

Not me.

But Athena.

Because Jean-Michel convinced her visiting the adoption center was a good idea.

Justvisiting.

I grin. I knew from the moment that I came out of the arena a couple of days ago to find them in close conversation and overheard the team’s owner discussing the work that Chrissy does in great detail, that this would be the result.

Athena, on the other hand, seemed to be in denial that this would be the inevitable outcome?—

A cat sitting on her lap, purring like crazy, and staring up at her with eyes that mean she’s just placed a huge order for pickupat a local pet store (where, funny story, the volunteers might have mentioned that adopters receive a generous discount at).

This was after having filled out and turned in paperwork to take this little fluffball home.

And after making an appointment with Chrissy’s vet to get a checkup and make sure the kitten is in the system there so he stays on track for all of his vaccines.

And this was allafterplacing an online order for extra supplies and food and litter, all of which will be automatically shipped every month.

Prepper.

My girl is a prepper.

I love it.

I loveeverythingI learn about her.

“Come on,” I say lightly. “You knew exactly what you were in for the moment you walked through the door.”

Silence.

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