Page 121 of Meowy & Bright

I should tell her not to take it, but I don’t. She seems almost overjoyed that her cat isn’t a total asshole. Besides, if it comes to it, I can wipe her phone and Eve’s before I leave town.

“Okay, I got it.” She sends it off to Eve, then puts the phone back in her purse. “She is going to lose her mind.”

“You look beautiful.” I can’t seem to help myself. I reach out and take her arm, pulling her to me.

Her breath catches in her throat. “I, um, I know last night I was a little forward, but–”

“I like it when you’re forward.” I move my hands to her waist, feeling how warm she is. I bet her skin is soft beneath these clothes, so soft that I could spend hours just running my fingertips along every inch of her.

“We just met. We should probably take it slow.”

“Why?”

She blinks a few times. “Well, because we just met.”

“Doesn’t sound like a good reason to me.” I lean closer to her, our breaths mingling.

Her phone rings, the sound set to the Carol of the Bells. “It’s my mom.” She glances at my mouth, her tongue darting to her lips. “I should be at City Hall by now. I always stop by before I go to the library. She’s probably worried about me.” Nervous, excited, maybe a little bit of both–she talks in rapid-fire bursts.

“Answer it.” I ghost my lips across hers, then reach for the door. “You can talk while I drive.”

She digs in her purse and follows me.

“Wait.” I grab a heavy coat from the hook beside the door.

“It’s not going to be that cold today. I could probably–Oh!”

I spin her around and help her get the coat on.

“It’s cold. Do you have gloves?” I look around.

“Mom?” She answers her phone, then digs in her pocket with her other hand and shows me her gloves. “Yeah. I’m just running a little late. I’m on my way.”

I pluck them from her, put one on her free hand, then have her swap the phone so I can do the other.

“Oh, yeah, that’s right. My car’s still there because Crane drove me home last night. Didn’t mean to make you worry.”

I walk her out to the car and open the door for her.

“Mom.” She cuts a look at me. “Mom, stop. Mom!” Her voice turns into a hiss. “He’s with me right now.Stop!” She sits then gasps. “No, I didn’t sleep at his place!”

I close her door and can’t stop my chuckle as I walk around to the driver’s side.

When I get in, her phone is in her purse, and her cheeks are a beautiful pink.

“Let’s just pretend you didn’t hear any of that.” She looks straight ahead as I pull onto the road.

“Any of what?”

“Good.” She flashes me a smile that melts another piece of my heart. She’s so fucking adorable, and she doesn’t even know it.

I love easy money. But Liza may be the one thing I’m starting to love more.

10

LIZA

“Oh, gosh.” I groan when Crane pulls up in front of City Hall, which is across the street and down a block from the library. Eve always has morning coffee ready to go, so it’s been a bit of a routine to swing by their office in the morning before I head over to the library. She and Mom both are hovering in the doorway, whispering between them.

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