Page 108 of The Chance

I welcome it as my arms find their home snaking around his rib cage and his shoulders, my palm to the back of his neck.

His head is on my shoulder and his grip is tight enough to squeeze my swelling heart. It might be bruised and neglected, the muscle beating in my chest, but right now … it feels whole as it beats alongside his.

“Tell me whatyouneed, Mac,” I mutter in his hair.

He trembles against me, and I hold him tighter.

“This,” he answers.

I hum, though it’s thick.

And even though there are a million and one questions rolling through my mind at his appearance, I pull back just enough to look into his eyes and ask, “Did you eat?”

Chapter Sixty-Six

Mac

“What the fuck isthis?”

Hands up and eyes wide, I stare at the sudden jabs in my thighs that belong to the curling creature now taking up my lap.

“Oh, shit. Sorry,” Jordan murmurs distractedly.

He’s behind me, at the stove I could see if I turned around but refuse to look at, while the black and white cat circles over my legs.

The thing sniffs my knee, then flops unceremoniously across me andpurrs.

I think I just fell in love.

Burying my fingers in the soft fur, the corner of my lips lift when the cat looks at me with brilliant green eyes and slow blinks.

Definitely in love.

Shit, this was a mistake.

I swallow hard and get my hands under the creature with every intention of displacing the animal, but then those eyes meet mine and I slump.

“I don’t know what I’m doing here, cat,” I whisper thickly. “I was supposed to be mad at him. One look at him, and now I’m here. What do I do?”

Nothing but the sound of Jordan clanging around in the kitchen responds.

“Right. I’m talking to a fucking cat.” I blow out a breath. “I’ve lost it for sure.”

“I talk to her all the time,” Jordan admits, and I jump at the sound of his voice near my ear. “She can be a good conversationalist when she wants to be.”

Biting my lip, I nod and scratch behind her ear. She lets loose an appreciative noise and lays her head down on a paw.

Shit, that’s cute.

I clear my throat and risk a glance next to me where Jordan leans over the back of the couch and reaches to pat the cat’s head lightly.

My heart nearly stops at the adoration softening his face. The closeness of his person. How, if he’d redirect by like an inch, he’d be touching my leg.

Goddammit, this was a terrible fucking idea.

“I should go.”

“Food’s almost done. At least eat first,” Jordan says almost like he’shappy, then backs up, wafting his clean apple scent as he moves.

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