Page 91 of Desperately Seeking Kitty

Why, yes, I was.

Evidently I needed more sleep, but that wasn’t going to happen until after tonight’s short shift. But bacon and hot coffee in the meantime would get me through.

Then my head snapped back. “Wait, Theo?Theodore?”

My father nodded somberly. “I had concerns, I’ll admit. But he’s shown a lot of initiative lately. He’s taken interest in many town events, he’s dating a nice, stable local girl—”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I didn’t put up my fists but it was a close thing.

If he was taking a sly dig at Kitty…

“I just mean he’s settling down and he’s happy in his hometown. It even seems like he might want to start a family soon.”

“Good for him. He hasn’t called me.”

“Have you called him?”

“No. I’ve been busy.” Hearing myself, I shut my eyes. “I will. I’ll check in with everybody. Also, just so you know, there are all kinds of family. Some people don’t get married or have kids. Some people’s picture looks different. And that’s okay. Not everyone has to fall in line and do the same thing and live the same way.”

In the back of my head, a little voice was arguing with me.

But you do want a family. Firmly slotted in the someday column but you know you want a wife and kids. That was always the problem with the women you dated. Forever didn’t make sense.

Now just maybe it was starting to.

“I understand that. Your mother and I considered the possibility that you might still be single because you preferred a kind of relationship other than the average.” He braced the tips of his fingers together. “Which would be fine, by the way. Love is love. You know we believe that.”

If my brows had climbed any higher, they would’ve flown off my head. “I’m glad to hear it, but as you saw from my girlfriend, I prefer women. I just don’t preferanywoman. I prefer her. I prefer every damn thing about her, just as she is. She’s not local to Clintondale and she’s not average, which to me is a code word for ordinary. And why the hell would Ieverwant that?”

“Clint.”

Kitty stood in the doorway, her features soft, her voluminous hair down and flowing every which way, her beloved hands holding a platter full of steaming hot, perfectly crisped bacon. My mouth watered, and I honestly wasn’t sure if it was from the bacon or from her.

Probably both. And my father really needed to leave because every part of me was waking up, especially the one below my waist.

“I told you I loved you the first night we slept together. You were asleep.”

While I was processing that tidbit, her gaze veered to my father. “Sorry. Not appropriate timing. I do that a lot, just open my mouth and blurt out inappropriate stuff. But I think it’s important to tell the truth.” She bit her lip. “It was kind of killing me, keeping this inside. I know I should. My father always told me you don’t get guys to stick around if you seem too needy or desperate. But I never loved anyone before you.”

She took a deep breath and turned to go. “I’ll go make more bacon. Magnus is on thirds already.”

“Wait.” I pushed myself to my feet and picked up Charise, who was trying unsuccessfully to climb over her pillow blockade.

I tucked her against my chest and moved toward Kitty, letting out a laugh when Charise moved faster than I’d ever seen her to thrust her neck toward the bacon. Kitty offered her a tiny piece and the kitten nipped it from her fingers as I leaned down to take a sample of my own—just of Kitty’s warm, lush mouth instead.

She tasted of maple syrup and bacon and coffee and my forever happiness, all wrapped up in one delicious bundle.

“Turns out this guy wants very much to stick around for as long as you’ll have him.” My heart was beating way too fast as our gazes connected. The hope in her dark, depthless eyes nearly stole my breath. “Since he just happens to love you too.”

TWENTY-ONE

If I’d been editingthis marvelously romantic story that had somehow become my life, I would assume the next chapter would include at least four rounds of sex—some doggy style, some missionary for variety, then dealer’s choice on the rest—and possibly erotic acts using bacon as garnish.

That did not occur.

What did occur was Clint and I got to celebrate our loving each other exceedingly fast but still somehow very much by opening his door again and again to members of his enormous family.

A few more showed up while Clint had gone to retrieve our cats from my apartment, not realizing that many members of the Hausers had agreed to meet at his place.

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