Page 40 of A Love Like Pumpkin Spice
“That’s brave too, you know,” I say softly, letting go of the cat to walk over to her. “Knowing what your boundaries are and following through. Starting anew here can’t have been easy.”
“It’s not.” When she glances up at me, I see tears brimming in her eyes that she quickly tries to blink away. “Sometimes I wake up and wonder if by coming here I ran away and took a coward’s way out. That doesn’t feel too brave.” I’m about to object when she softly shakes her head.
“I know, Henry. I know it’s not my fault. The same way you having to put a dog down is not your fault. But that doesn’t change the fact that ithurts. Still, pain doesn't mean you did the wrong thing.”
“It doesn’t,” I agree and step closer to swipe a strand of her hair that’s falling into her face behind her ear. “It’s their loss. You’re a good person, Nic. You easily make the top five of best people I know.” I run my fingertips through her soft hair, laying my palm on her cheek, and she nudges against it like a cat. “If you ever want to … talk,” I start, cringing at how cliché it sounds, “I’m here. And I’m a good listener. Or shit-talker. Whatever you need.”
“Thank you, Henry. And likewise.” Her face softens, when a howledawoo-woosuddenly destroys the moment. “Aw, look at them. Cinnamon and Deanie-Beanie are friends.” She nods to our right, where both are cuddled up on the floor. Apparently, Nic is not the only one finding a new home here.
Chapter 14
Nic
“Maybe you’ll get to meet Chaos this time,” I say with a giggle as Henry and I approach my house. The box with Cinnamon is firmly under my arm, and he’s balancing a bag that contains several cans of cat food on his shoulder, with Jensen’s food under the other arm.
Could I have carried it myself? Absolutely. Am I going to stop a man from showing off and carrying it for me? Hell no.
“Thanks for helping me out.”
“Of course,” he says with a groan as he puts the bag of cat food down on my porch while I unlock the door.
“Can you stay while I introduce Cinnamon to Pumpkin?” I give him a pleading glance. “You know, in case one wants to claw out the other’s eyes. I could bribe you with dinner?” The corner of his mouth twitches in amusement.
“I’d do it without bribery, but I also won’t say no to dinner.”
A giggle escapes me as I push the door open. A giggle? Oh God, I’ve reached the giggle stage of meeting a man. Closely followed by the rambling stage.
Hopefully, I won’t reveal anything too embarrassing when it begins. During Jay’s and my second date, I kept going on about completely random topics, but hey, now he knows that octopuses have three hearts.
I can sense Chaos as soon as I step inside—her warm presence as she rubs against my calf, even a soft vibration of her purring against my leg. Henry seems oblivious, though.
“Let’s get this over with,” I mutter and walk into my living room, where Pumpkin hangs out in her little shoe box. Good thing I have enough boxes to home a zoo from my move. Two of them are coming in handy already, and who knows what else Chaos has planned for me?
Pumpkin is wide awake and trying to climb to freedom, shouting at me for daring to keep her confined. I scoop her into my arms as soon as I set down Cinnamon.
“She’s exploring now and regularly gets herself into all kinds of trouble. I had to put her in box-jail while I brought Cinnamon to you,” I explain, stepping out of my shoes and kicking them into a corner. “So … how do I do this? Just put them on the ground together and see what happens? How do we separate them if they try to claw each other's eyes out?”
“Let’s let them have a sniff while holding them, and once we’ve determined they don’t hate each other, we can put them down.”
“Okay,” I say with a solemn nod and reposition Pumpkin in my arms to get a better hold on her tiny body. Meanwhile, Henry takes Cinnamon out of her box and cradles her to his chest like a baby.
I don’t think I’ve ever been jealous of a cat until this exact moment. Henry’s arms look comfortable. And strong. I gulp. Since when do I fantasize about a guy’s arms?
“Okay,” Henry mumbles, gently stroking Cinnamon’s head. “Yes, you’re a chill little lady. I’m sure you’re going to love having a little sister. Here you go.” He steps closer, and I turn, letting the two cats see each other.
Then suddenly, he’sveryclose. I breathe in his scent that reminds me of freshly brewed coffee and cinnamon. The warmth radiating from him sends heat into my face and makes me forget how to breathe.
And when I glance up, his face isright there. Right in front of me.
His broad shoulders make the cat in his arms appear tiny, his sweatshirt tight over his muscles. A lump forms in my throat and my knees turn weak; I am almost incapacitated by my overwhelming feelings.
Can I allow myself to have these feelings? These butterflies in my stomach, this soothing warmth that spreads over me like a wool blanket when he is near?
I swallow hard.
“Ahw, they’re getting along,” he whispers, his breath feathering over my hair, sending a shiver down my spine and butterflies racing in my stomach.
No, Nic, get a grip.This is about the cats, not the hot guy that might not even be into me. He comes even closer, and our arms touch, sending electric zings all over my skin. But we had thatmoment, that almost-kiss in his practice, at the worst timing possible.
