Page 33 of Austen Persuaded

My throat made a sound.

His eyes were on me.

I moistened my dry lips and tried to form a thought. Anything coherent.

It’s him. And he’s looking at me.

The next thing I knew, I was nearly tripping over the icy front steps into a store, my senses instantly overwhelmed by the smell of cats and dogs. Dazed and desperate, I glanced around. It was a pet store. I walked in slowly, seeking a place to hide where I could still see out the window.

What the heck am I doing?Why did I run in here like an idiot?

The cats for adoption were arranged near the front windows, so I pretended to be looking for a new pet while watching until the coast was clear outside.

Probably a stupid plan, but the only one I’ve got.

When I found a place that seemed relatively safe where he wouldn’t likely see me unless he came really close (and why would he?), I peered outside. From here, I couldn’t spot anyone, but I’d keep watch for a while until it was likely he’d moved on.

Smooth plan, you lunatic.

My self-recrimination was rudely interrupted by a young man’s voice nearby. “Hi, can I help you?” he asked, startling me. “Interested in adopting a kitten?”

I turned to the man, more of a boy. He couldn’t be more than 18 or 19 years old. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe just looking today.”

“Looking … for a cat?” he said hopefully.

So this kid fancied himself a salesman, did he? “I’m not sure yet,” I mumbled, a hint of irritation in my voice as my eyes darted back toward the window.

“You look like you’re window shopping, but from the wrong side of the window,” he said with a laugh.

I turned back to him with narrowed eyes, but when I saw the friendly look on his face, I sighed with a slight smile. “You know what? That’s actually more reasonable than the truth, sadly.”

The young man smiled back. “I won’t ask. As long as you take a moment to look at these adorable little guys and girls. Maybe just hold one of them? Then if you still want to walk away and go home kitten-less, I’ll let you.”

I raised an eyebrow. He was shrewd.

“I’m Franco, by the way. Would you like to meet Charlie?” he asked, pointing to the little cat in front of me.

I nodded reluctantly, anxiously eyeing the window again before turning to the cage.

Franco handed me the kitten. “He’s a Siamese, healthy as can be, and he’s just four months old. He won’t last more than a day or two before someone adopts him because he’s just so cuddly and—” Charlie started purring and immediately climbed up to my shoulder to tug at my ponytail. “Well, you can see. He’s freaking adorable.”

I rubbed Charlie’s fluffy cheeks and gazed at his little face as he rubbed it against mine. For a moment, I forgot about the threat outside; I forgot everything except this adorable ball of fur.

“I’ll take him back now,” Franco was saying as he tried to take Charlie out of my arms.

I clutched him a bit tighter before realizing what I was doing. “Oh, of course.”

“I’m sure you want to get back to your window shopping in reverse,” Franco said. Then he lowered his voice. “I won’t tell anyone.”

I looked at Charlie, back in the cage and gazing at me with his gorgeous little blue eyes, his paw against the cage wall closest to me. Franco turned to leave.

“Wait.”

He turned back, a grin spreading across his face. “Should I get the paperwork?”

I narrowed my eyes. “Man, you’re good. And yes. Go.”

Am I really doing this?

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