Page 23 of Dining for Love

Matty steps closer to Reid. I wonder what it’s like to behave like a totally normal person and be able to stand beside a smoking hot man and not internally combust?

Because I sure as hell do not know.

Reid’s hand rises to pet the kitten, and all I can do is stare. The kitten’s eyes close as she begins to purr loudly, the soundrivaling a Harley Davidson, and the jealousy that flies through me at her pleasure is wholly unreasonable.

Reid chuckles. “She’s a cute little thing.”

“So it’s settled then!” Matty releases her into Reid’s hands. “I’ll be right back with your supplies.”

I watch him retreat before finally swinging my gaze to Reid’s. “He’s...pushy.”

The kitten snuggles into Reid’s chest and blinks at me, satisfied as hell.

Yeah, well, must be nice…

Matty returns with everything needed to take care of a kitten: wet and dry food, bowls, litter, and a litter box, along with a bottle of tiny pills for her leg. “Here we go!” he declares cheerily. “Sure is lucky that I keep these things in my trunk. I’m sure you two can determine the best way to co-parent this little baby.”

“Co-parent?” I choke the word out. “What?”

But Matty’s already backing away with a shit-eating grin on his face. I’m going to kill him. “It’ll be great. And listen, if you two really can’t figure it out—but you’re both grown adults, so I’m sure you will—then I’ll find another home for the sweet, helpless kitten who was wandering around the pier, hurt and about to die. It’s fine.”

I growl. “Is this how you do it?”

Matty holds his hand up to his ear. “Sorry, can’t hear you. Gotta go. Bye!”

And with that, he’s out. Skedaddled like a coward after dropping a live animal into my care.

Well. Scratch that. Into our care. In fact, notourcare—Reid’s care.

Before I can think too hard about it, I flee inside my house and slam the door.

There.

I’m like an ostrich. If I can’t see him and the kitten, then they’re not my problem.

A knock sounds at the door. “Willa.”

“Willa’s not here!” I call.

A low rumble of a laugh comes from outside, and it does things to my lower belly that it shouldn’t. “Pretty sure she is.”

“Nope!”

“Well, I have a little midnight-black kitten here that is rather desperate for some attention.”

I huff. That kitten is already living a better life with Reid than I ever will. Screw that creature.

Honestly.

“You’ll do great with her, Reid,” I call.

“We’lldo great with her,” he corrects. “Because all I did was wander over here to see what the commotion was.”

“That’s what you get for being nosy,” I chide. “Maybe you’ll learn your lesson.”

“Willa.”

“Reid.”

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