Page 65 of Arse Over Irish Teacup
Only after a slightly inappropriate amount of time had passed did he step back, wishing her goodnight and returning to his car.
Beth stood, holding her keys while watching him walk away into the misty night then turned and unlocked the door but before she could step inside she heard the meow of a cat. She turned around and there was a cat regal with his long snow-white fur, pink nose, and pair of small crystal blue eyes looking up at her.
“I know who you are. People have been looking for you, Mr. Jameson.” She pushed the door open and the cat dashed inside.
“Were you spying on me and Roan outside? I guess you don’t like him since he said he couldn’t find you. Why don’t you like him? He’s a good kisser, and handsome, and gentle, and kind.” She started brushing her hair, then realized she was talking to a cat.
Mr. Jameson paraded through the house like he owned the place. Which he did, of course. Then he raced to the kitchen doing a slide and stop on his backside to where his food dish would normally be, sat and waited. Good thing there was still some cat food in the pantry. Beth opened a can and placed some on a saucer. He ate that then wanted more, and more, until he’d devoured the entire can of food. Then, he took a drink from the bowl of water she placed down for him, rubbed against her leg in thanks then made his way to her bed, where he parked his royal rear end in the center of the pillows.
“Seriously? The middle? Where am supposed to sleep?”
The cat can’t hear her but he opens one eye and she knows that he knows. Maybe he reads lips?
“Poor little guy. You probably ran away because you were scared and sad that your mommy died. Where have you been sleeping? And eating? You’re no outside cat. You’re a spoiled house cat.” He opened both eyes. Yeah, he knows all right. Beth let her hair down and undressed, talking to her new roommate all the while. “I’m kind of like you. My grandma died and I ran away scared and sad. I’m still scared and sad. I’m sleeping in a place that isn’t my home—it might as well be a big dark dangerous forest like you’ve probably been in. Super. I’m kindred spirits with a cat. A cat that is deaf but I’m talking to anyway like he can read lips.” She looked at his handsome face with blue eyes. Even the Irish cats had those sparkling blue eyes.
“Listen I’ll take care of you, if you share the bed with me.” She patted her hand on the other side of bed. Mr. Jameson yawned, went to her hand, and curled up, purring as she stroked his head.
After changing into her pajamas, she called Lauren.
“Hey, Klutzy! How was the wedding?” In other words, Lauren wanted to know how the wedding went being stuck between two men that clearly had a thing going for Beth. Lauren did a little excited dance while sitting on the sofa.
“It was good. It was beautiful too. You should have seen that hotel! You can’t understand a thing anyone says there but it was so pretty, who cares? And the food was so delicious, and the?—”
“I want to hear about Aidan and Roan!”
Beth knew that. She just felt like teasing her. “Roan is a gentleman, not a poor dancer, and a really nice kisser.”
Lauren squealed. “He kissed you? When?”
“Just now, on the doorstep.”
“Did you swoon? That sounds swoon-worthy.”
“I think I might have done a little swooning but it sort of felt like a pity kiss. Maybe not, I don’t know. I was upset. There’s more.”
“More? What more?”
“Roan asked me to stay here in Ireland a while.”
“He did? Lauren restrained herself from screeching. “Are you going to?”
“Wait, there’s more. Aidan asked me to stay too.”
Now Lauren sat up straight. “He did? What did you say?”
“I didn’t say anything …”
“Did you spend more time with Aidan at the wedding?”
“We danced, I met his sister, who at first was a real …”
Lauren filled in the word for her. “Bitch?”
“Yeah. But turns out she’s pretty nice, I met his parents, nice people. His mom asked me to dance with Aidan so he wouldn’t have to dance with the maid of honor who was pretty handsy.”
“So do you think he’s interested in you?” Lauren thought Aidan was interested. Very interested. Purring came through the line. “Beth, what’s that sound?”
“That is Mr. Jameson, the cat that ran away. He was there on the doorstep when I got home tonight.”
