Page 80 of Return of the Bad Girl (Rock Canyon, Idaho 4)

“I think someone is hungry again,” Caroline said, pulling formula, canned food, and bottles from the cupboard.

“I think they’re a couple of cock-blocking fuzz butts,” Gabe grumbled.

When Caroline laughed, his chest tightened and his stomach turned in knots. In the last twenty-four hours, he had teased and played and laughed more than he had since he was a kid. Since before the accident.

And it was all because of this woman.

Since you met Caroline, you’ve been spouting internal poetry. Remember, she said this wasn’t anything more than convenient.

But as she passed by him to feed the kittens, she kissed his cheek. And actually patted the front of his jeans. “Be patient, big boy. I’ll get to you in a minute.”

He knew she was teasing him, but damn, he hoped she wasn’t kidding.

Caroline bent over but before he could fully admire the view, she stood back up with two frantic kittens. “Here, take one.”

He grabbed Possum and one of the bottles, wincing as the sharp claw dug at his hand. “Chill out, buddy, it’s coming.”

Gabe followed Caroline over to the couch and sat next to her. She let Googlie knead her chest as he sucked down his bottle.

“When do these things stop nursing?” Gabe asked as he rubbed Possum’s tiny ears.

“Zoe said that the mother usually weans them at six to eight weeks. I’m supposed to start them on gruel this week.”

“I think they need another bath,” Gabe said, wrinkling his nose.

“I’ll give them one before I leave,” Caroline said.

“What time is your party?”

“Five,” she said. Then, almost as an afterthought, she asked, “Would you wanna come with me?”

He almost dropped the bottle, he was so surprised. “Family functions aren’t exactly my strong suit.”

“Understood. I just thought that since you helped me with the cake, you might want to reap some of the benefits.”

“Wouldn’t your family be upset if you brought me at the last minute?”

“No, there’s going to be a bunch of people there,” she said, pulling the empty bottle out of Googlie’s mouth.

Gabe watched her stand up, thinking about what the invitation meant. No woman had ever invited him home to meet her family.

Realizing that Possum was sucking nothing but air, he pulled the bottle away. “Sorry, bud, I was thinking.”

After taking the kitten into Caroline’s room and setting him in the litter box, he stood there for a minute. He’d decided last night that Caroline was what he wanted. Was this her way of showing him she’d changed her mind about this being “convenient” for her?

When he was done washing his hands in the bathroom, he walked out into the kitchen and found Caroline washing bottles in the sink.

Slipping his arms around her waist, he asked, “So, is this party casual, or do I have to wear a tie?”

“It’s casual,” she said, drying her hands before placing them over his.

“Hmm, so I should wear my T-shirt that says, ‘I am the party’?”

“Please tell me you’re joking,” she said, turning in his arms.

“Fine. I’ll pull out my shirt that looks like a tux.”

“Okay, maybe I’ve changed my mind,” she said, frowning up at him. “I rescind your party invite.”

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