Page 122 of And Then Came You

Maybe that’s why I’m addicted to her—her scent, her taste, the feel of her quivering around me—but this is one addiction I never plan to overcome.

* * *

Ipark Lexi’s car, heading into the local bagel shop. She had the weirdest craving for bagels and lox this morning, but what my lady wants, she gets.

After waiting in line behind a well-heeled woman who was obviously ordering for the entire town, I grab our food, eager to get home.

“Mister, do you want a kitten?”

A squeaky voice stops me in my path, as I gaze down at the small boy, a box by his side. “Not particularly. Thanks anyway.”

“Oh, well. No one wants her,” he replies, the grin sliding from his face.

I’m always a champion for the underdog, or in this case, ‘under-cat’. Squatting by the boy, I offer an amused shrug. “Show me.”

He pulls out a tiny ball of fluff, placing her in my hands. “She’s the runt. She was real sick when she was born, but she’s getting stronger.”

The boy isn’t kidding. This little one can’t weigh more than a couple of pounds. Lifting up the kitten, our gazes connect and she lets out a throaty meow. For something so small, she’s certainly got a lot to say. Reminds me of another petite beauty in my life, who’s equally opinionated.

I’m a goner.

“How many more do you have?”

“None. She’s the last of them.”

Huffing out a sigh, I pull out my wallet. “How much?”

His face lights up at the question. “Twenty bucks?”

Handing him a fifty, I put the kitten back in the box and set off for the pet store. Talk about an unexpected stop. Lexi is going to wonder what town I went to for bagels.

Forty-five minutes later, I’m back at Lexi’s condo, the kitten now secure in a carrier and a load of kitten stuff in the trunk. “I’m back. Sorry it took awhile.”

“Long lines?” Lexi pads into the hall, her eyes widening as she sees the carrier. “What do you have there?”

Opening the carrier, I pull out the tiny ball of gray fur, placing her in Lexi’s shocked hands. “I was had. The kid said no one wanted her, and I couldn’t have that.”

I also know that Lexi is a huge animal lover, and her precious cat died last year. She claims she isn’t ready for another fur baby, but judging by the way she’s cuddling this little one, they’ll be best friends in no time. “She’s adorable.”

“She’s yours.”

A smile breaks across her face as she smooths the fur from the kitten’s face, and I’m struck by how gentle she is. She’s a natural nurturer.

She’ll make a great Mom.

I’ll admit that I’ve been thinking about it. The idea of a family, with kids making tons of noise as they run across the farm fields, is, for the first time, something I want. But how do you broach that topic to a woman you’ve only been dating for a few months? Even if you both agreed that taking it slow was for sissies?

“I love her, but I live on a main road and I hate the idea of her being cooped up inside. Cats need fresh air.”

Okay, this isnothow I planned to broach the topic, but here goes nothing. “She can live at the farm.”

Lexi’s mouth skews to the side in mock annoyance. “Are you telling me you got me a gift and now you’re taking her back?”

Settling next to her on the couch, I grasp her hands, hoping she can’t feel the tremble in my body. “I’m telling you that both of you are moving to the farm. This is going to be a busy six months, getting this winery off the ground. I need you there. I can’t do this without you.”

Tracing her fingers along my jaw, Lexi leans forward, pressing a gentle kiss to my lips. “What happens after six months? Are you kicking me out?”

“If you keep giving me lip, I will,” I tease, wrapping my hand around her nape as my tongue tangles with hers in a leisurely battle. “You’re moving up there for good, E.T. I don’t want you four hours from me. Hell, I don’t want you four minutes from me. We can keep this condo, visit the beach every month.” I force myself to quiet, since I’m not entirely certain Lexi is on board with this scenario.

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