Page 25 of No Promises Required (Love Required 4)

“Good vitals,” the co-worker pronounced after a few minutes, scuttling off and returning with eyedroppers of milk. “Up you go,” she said, nudging the black kitten and the first eyedropper in Jill’s direction.

When she tried to push the other one at Bryan, he backed up, hands in the air. “Sorry. I’m allergic.”

“You are not,” Jill accused. “You haven’t sneezed once.”

“It’s more of a…mental allergy.” The co-worker made a disgusted noise, and he flashed her his best smile, the one that typically got him in a woman’s panties in less time than it took him to break huddle. “I’m sure the kitten would be much better in your capable care.”

“Nice try, buckaroo.” The older lady shoved the cat in his hands. “You want the kitten to starve?” She looked at Jill. “What kind of heathen is he?”

Jill shrugged and cooed at the black kitten, who didn’t seem to want to take its milk. “He’s my best friend’s brother. You know.”

“Oh, one of those.” With another derisive glance, the co-worker bustled out of the room.

He shouldn’t be affronted. There were bigger issues, like the fact that the screeching orange kitten had its jaws open so wide that he half expected green bile to shoot out of its mouth. “Best friend’s brother? That’s the only thing you can call me?”

Jill gave him a cool look. Polar ice caps were warmer than her blue eyes. “That’s what you are.”

“I was in your bed the other night, in case you’ve forgotten.” Christ, he couldn’t believe what he was saying. He sounded like some chick. Some chick who kept trying to convince a screaming kitten to latch on to the damn eyedropper and be quiet for a blessed moment.

Ignoring him, Jill cuddled her now happily snacking kitten in her arms, making soothing sounds that only pissed him off more. “That’s a good girl. You’re a darling, aren’t you?” She smiled at his fussy kitten in a much friendlier manner than she’d bestowed on Bryan thus far. “Both of you. Such beautiful girls.”

“It’s a girl?” If he had to be cradling a cat like a chump, he’d expected at least to be given a boy.

“Sure is, champ.” She giggled when the kitten hissed at his latest attempt to aim the dropper at its mouth. “Aww, you having problems with your lady? Seems to be a recurring problem for you.”

Ignoring her mirth at his expense, he gentled his hold on his kitten and tried to plaster it against his chest like Jill had. Then he brought the eyedropper back to its mouth and tapped, expecting another hiss for his trouble. Instead the kitten opened up and lapped at the milk he squeezed out.

“Good job. I’m impressed. You’re not totally useless.”

When he would’ve shot back a retort, she grinned and pressed a kiss to the back of his hand. He stilled, stunned by the simple gesture. Casual affection wasn’t something he had much experience with. After his mom had left home, there had been none other than when he spent time with Vic and Melly. Only one other woman that he wasn’t related to had treated him that way outside of bed.

Jill’s mom.

He shifted toward Jill, wishing she’d turn her lips up to his. He wanted more where that playful kiss had come from. But she was stroking her kitten, her smile tender. She spared a glance for him and his orange ball of fur, her smile deepening until dimples dug into the corners of her mouth. How had he missed those before?

“You guys are doing great.”

Her approval washed over him, every bit as pleasant as her offhanded gesture. “Since tonight didn’t work out as intended, let’s try going out again Wednesday night.” As soon as the words were out, he shook his head. Not Wednesday. He’d be too busy reliving seeing his mom for the first time since he was a teenager and wouldn’t be able to focus on Jill. “No, let’s make it Thursday night.”

“Again?” Her lips curved, slyly now. “Technically, we haven’t gone out the first time.”

“So we will. Whatever you want to do.” He didn’t even mention the mandatory distance from home so no one would spot them and start gossiping. This wasn’t about fulfilling some honor contract. He wanted to spend some time with her, see if he could get those pretty dimples to appear again. She deserved a guy who could make her happy, even if only temporarily. “I’m game for anything.”

Part of him expected her to say no, to make up an excuse. Instead, she gave him another one of those smiles that turned him inside out. “I have class Thursday, but after that, you’re on, Townsend.”

Chapter Six

Getting closer to family, Bryan had discovered, was a multi-pronged process. The first step appeared to be opening up your private life and planting a welcome sign. At least when it came to his sisters. He could keep up a front with almost anyone, but when it came to Melly and Vic, they could see right through him.

“So how are you healing?” Vic asked.

&nb

sp; Bryan leaned back in his chair. They’d picked the Waterfront Eatery for a late lunch on Tuesday, though the cold forbidding view of the lake outside the wide windows hardly encouraged one to venture out into the elements. The gloomy day matched his mood perfectly.

He’d been tempted to ask Vic how Jill was, but he wasn’t supposed to know what was going on with Vic’s assistant. He definitely wasn’t supposed to be sleeping with her or plotting how to make it happen again. Jill had left the two screamers at the rescue facility, and since they’d swapped numbers, he’d been expecting a status report via text or phone call. Nada.

“I’m doing okay.”

---