Page 35 of Hell's Kitten

She’s distracted as the tiny tabby kitten takes a flying leap from my shoulder onto the counter where she’s been leaning during her rant. The fluffy baby skitters to a halt, then starts happily stomping up the sleeve of her uniform.

“Well, hello there!” she says in delight. “It’s my friend from the pub! How are you, little darling?”

I’m glad to have a moment to think as Chancey is charmed by the kitten. I watch Durham and Humphrey skulk around my beloved café, taking photos of my fur babies and getting in the faces of my patrons.

“Urgh, karma issocoming for them,” Leah mumbles as she folds her arms and glares.

Is that why business has been down for a few days? Has this harpy been scaring people off and telling people lies about my business practices?

Well, they can try all they like. I know that Toe Beans has never put a foot wrong or failed any inspection in all the years it’s been running.

But if the mayor’s wife starts a smear campaign, it’s going to be hard to battle that.

Unless we fight fire with fire.

“Leah,” I say. She’s staring daggers at our two intruders as well, but she turns to me at the sound of her name. “You make any TikToks lately? Or Instagrams?”

It takes her a second to catch on. Usually, she’d give me hell for calling those things the wrong words, but not today. Today, a devilish grin spreads on her face. “You mean like a quick ‘day in the life’ sort of thing about all our amazing health and safety regulations with some cute kitty co-stars?”

I shrug nonchalantly despite feeling a small rush of satisfaction. We’ve got something like fifty thousand followers on each platform who adore us. Leah even set up a merchandise shop that brings in a surprising amount of income each month.

I imagine they’d have a lot to say about our mayor and his bogus accusations if they found out.

“Only if you have the time,” I say, catching Chancey’s eye. The sheriff winks at me.

“I’ll go get my phone,” Leah says, already rushing off.

I exhale and rub the back of my neck. Don’t get me wrong. I’m more than willing to fight for my home and my family. But it’s hard to ignore the uneasiness that’s settled in my stomach. In these kinds of battles, it rarely goes well for the misfit outcasts.

It’s even harder knowing that I’m not just fighting for myself.

I look around at all the cats that live here, hoping one day to be adopted. If we have to close, they’ll be forced to go back to theshelter, where their chances will be much lower of finding their forever homes. Then there’s my staff that obviously have bills to pay.

And then there’s Jessie.

I have only just promised him that I am going to take care of him. This relationship is still brand new and delicate. He’s relying on me. I can’t let him down. I’ve got a second chance at being someone’s Daddy with someone I care deeply for.

This bullshit health inspection could completely ruin everything. That feeling of being out of control is sneaking back into my chest, and I hate it. After my biological family disowned me, I swore that no one would ever make me feel this way again. But if the mayor is determined to make the Cardinals his scapegoat, there might be only so much we can do to fight that.

But I will fight. For me and everyone I love. No way am I making it easy for the Durhams. This is my town. My family. My cats. My kitten.

I protect what’s mine.

CHAPTER 14

Jessie

So much forswearing off men for the foreseeable future.

I have to laugh at myself because I’m not even mad about it. Not when I’m sleeping in Nim’s bed every night now and he looks at me with cartoon heart eyes every time he thinks I’m not paying attention.

He’s still not very good with words. In fact, over the past few days he’s been evenmorequiet than usual. I’ve asked him a couple of times what’s wrong, but he just shrugs, smiles, then distracts me with delicious kisses that I’m powerless to resist. I’m sure something’s going on, and after the bullshit lies Parker fooled me with, I’m a tiny bit nervous. But Nim isn’t Parker, that’s for sure. I try and trust that when he’s ready, he’ll tell me. And until then, I do my best to assure myself that it’s not anything to do with us.

I didn’t realize how much anxiety I’d been carrying around regarding how unimportant Parker made me feel. I didn’t have another serious boyfriend to compare it to, so I figured that’s just how busy adults had relationships.

Bullshit.

Even if Nim is tired or stressed or preoccupied, he always finds ways to make me feel important. He doesn’t need wordswhen he’s always making me meals, massaging my shoulders, or stopping me before I run out of the door to press a sweet kiss to my cheek.

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