Page 55 of Ruin Me

He withdrew with a disgruntled frown. “Have a little faith.”

I eyed him with a narrowed glare but allowed him to pull me from my chair and lead me to the living room. A black bag sat on the coffee table. Mesh panels on the sides revealed an indistinct silhouette inside.

“Kent, what did you do?”

He passed me to unzip a panel on the top. A tiny feline head popped out and I gasped. The orange and dark brown marks of a tabby surrounded two green eyes but from its cute pink nose to its chest was the fluffiest white fur I’d ever seen.

“You got me a cat?”

“You said you prefer them.” Kent shrugged with a sheepish grin so endearing I stared in wonder. “As long as I have breath in my body, I’ll give you everything you want.” He stroked my cheek.

“When I said I would have voted for a cat, I didn’t expect?—”

“Lesson learned. Expect more from me. Expect that when you tell me what you like or what you want, I’ll provide those things. I pay attention to everything you say, even the casual comments.”

I peeked at the cat that’s been observing the surroundings during my conversation with Kent. “What’s its name?”

“Up to you.”

The cat leaped out of the bag and strutted to the edge of the table like he had already laid claim to everything he saw.

As I neared him, he peered at me with a sense of superiority I couldn’t help but find adorable.

“What made you choose him?” I asked.

“He was fluffy without being too fluffy.” Kent stood beside me as I reached out my hand for the cat’s inspection.

The feline sniffed me, then meowed as if demanding something. All without budging from his spot.

Benson and Stabler barreled into the room as if I hadn’t exhausted them during lunch. They jumped at and sniffed the new arrival, their curiosity and eagerness to meet the cat almost tangible in the air.

Without hesitation, the cat launched himself at Stabler. His paws hugged the dog’s throat, and he twisted, slamming the puppy to the ground. Stabler backpedaled and ran behind Kent’s legs. The cat leveled a glare at Benson, and he hied to join his brother.

“I seem to recall you disparaging a cat’s ability to protect.”

Kent stared in amazement at the feline. “Obviously that cat’s been here before. If a don were a feline, it’d be him.”

I wrinkled my nose. “He’s too cute to be a Don. I think I’ll call him Tyger. He’s pretty fierce in a gorgeous package.” I kneeled down to pet the cat, wondering if he would treat me similarly to the dogs.

He peered at my hand then my face then decided to approach me. Surprised, I waited, but he didn’t stop at my knees. Instead, he crawled into my lap and curled into a ball while meowing at me the entire time. When he glanced expectantly at me, I asked Kent, “Did you buy him treats?”

“Among other things.” Kent handed me a small pouch.

I fed Tyger who quieted after the first treat. He pawed at my face until I lavished him with pets.

“I take it I’ve earned your forgiveness.”

I quirked the side of my mouth while sidling a glance at Kent. “You’ve earned more than my forgiveness.”

Heat immediately enters his blue eyes. “Yeah? Give me a hint.”

“A pussy for a cat?”

“I don’t know if you’re trying to be sexy or funny. Regardless, I intend to collect.”

CHAPTER 23

Kent

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