Page 18 of Noble Neighbor
A strangled sound took her gaze from the squirming garment to the man standing before her with his mouthhanging open, staring at her boobs like he was starving.
Just like he had at the waterhole.
Her eyes dropped to his hips. Sunny managed to school her features and hide her smugness. It had been years since a man responded with such blatant desire. She wasn’t sure if she was pleased or disturbed that Oliver reciprocated the budding attraction she felt for him.
A man never featured in her future.
“Eyes up, Oliver. Nothing you haven’t seen before.”
His gaze flew to meet hers. Red tinged his cheeks, and Oliver scrubbed a hand over his face. “Sorry.”
The abashed look endeared him to her just a little more.
“In my defense,” Oliver started, then swallowed. Hard. “That’s an … impressive rack you’ve got going there.”
His voice was all growly, and dammit, her body responded. She could feel her nipples tighten, straining for release, pressing against the thin cotton of her tank as a sprout of need unfurled within her core.
She cleared her throat, tamping down the inconvenient longing.“I’ve got more important things to worry about.” She shook her sweatshirt between them. “I need to return this devil incarnate to its siblings, and then” — she pointed to her mauled skin — “I need to disinfect this.”
Oliver’s eyeline dropped, and any red left in his cheeks drained out as he flinched at the inflamed scratches bisecting her stomach. “Ouch.”
Sunny snorted. “Ouch, indeed. Burns like crazy.” She sucked in a breath, needing him gone so she could regain her equilibrium. “Look, thank you very much for coming to my rescue. It was very gallant of you, and you were correct — it was a dumb move. Next time — and I fervently hope it never happens again — I will call 911. Guess we’re even now. I saved you from heatstroke, and you saved me from breaking my neck.”
“Where’s your first aid kit?”
“In my bathroom,” she replied, frowning.
He stayed silent for a moment, just looking at her with an inscrutable expression. “Lead the way, fair maiden.”
“Oliver, please … I …” Her hand fluttered to her neck.
“Let me finish my task of rescuing you, Sunny.”
6
Kittens and kisses
In silence, Oliver followed her into her home and up the stairs, his booted tread firm and heavy behind her. He tried to not look at her swaying backside, encased enticingly in short, black, yoga-type pants, but it was rightthere, in front of him, begging,demanding, his touch. He’d felt her earlier recoil — okay, so she wasn’t so much recoiling as trying to protect herself from further harm from the cat — but the effect had been the same.
Reaching the landing, she pointed left with the hand that still held her sweatshirt with its wriggling occupant.“Just need to deposit this demon back with his siblings.”
“Has no one claimed them yet?”
“Pshaw.” Disgust dripped from the sound. “This woman gets Tabitha as a gift for her kids, against her husband’s wishes. Then poor Tabby-girl gets herself knocked up, and the husband puts his foot down. Cat must go. But do they drop the heavily pregnant girl at a shelter? Or the clinic? Nope. Theydumpher on the side of the road.” Sunny’s voice had risen in volume, and the look she shot over her shoulder as she opened the door spelled dire results for the couple if Sunny ever got hold of them.
“Tabitha,” she called out, entering the room. “You need to keep control of your boy.”
Oliver watched Sunny march across the empty space. Well, empty except for a large brown box anda mammoth cat gym — scratching post just didn’t describethe multi-level contraption taking up an entire corner.
She kneeled beside the cardboard and held the sweatshirt up. It was swaying, and judging from theloud howling, the kitten was having a fit. “He’s a demon,Tabby-girl,” she informed the mama. “Satan’s spawn straight from hell.”
Sunny lowered her shirt to the ground and unzipped the pouch. A striped kitten rolled out, got to its feet, and speared her with a look of utter disgust before swishing his tail and pouncing on his nearest sibling.
Oliver tried to suppress his laugh but failed miserably.The kitten might’ve almost killed them, but he was rathercute.
“Typical males,” Sunny scoffed, “ganging up on us girls. But that’s okay, Tabs, 'cause in this house, girls outnumber the boys, but you an’ me, girl …”
She picked the mama up and hugged the cat to her chest.
