Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 34938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 34938 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 175(@200wpm)___ 140(@250wpm)___ 116(@300wpm)
“Kent, look, I'm not sure what you're trying to do, but it needs to stop.”
“What I'm trying to do?” he repeats it as a question and half laughs as he says it. “I'm trying to help you, that's what I'm doing.”
“I think you're trying to get me fired. I think you’re trying to screw up my chance to work for my dad.”
He chuckles as he releases my hand and turns the wheel. “We're here.”
Looking out the window, we're at the veterinary clinic. “No, Kent, I can't—”
Cutting me off, he says, “If he finds out, I'll tell him the cat is mine.” His eyes connect with mine and he opens his lids wide. “It won't fall back on you at all, I won't let it. You have nothing to lose.”
“You would do that?”
“Why not? What's going to happen? He makes me move out? Come on, Perri, there are worse things in life than your father getting pissed.”
He isn't worried at all about any repercussions. I admire that about him. His fearlessness is hot as hell. There's something about a man who isn't afraid to take control, a man who does what feels good in the moment.
Kent climbs out, and I reluctantly follow his lead. I'm hesitant, but also really excited. This kitten stole my heart the second I found him, I'm not sure how I'm going to leave without him when I lay eyes on his sweet face again.
He waits for me at the front of the car and reaches for my hand. I take his without a second thought. I love the way my hand feels in his. It sends a rush of electricity zipping up my arm and through my chest.
He flicks his eyes down the second our hands touch, and I think he feels it too. There's a moment, a single second where his eyes are boring into mine, and I just know the same shock hit his system.
Kent's lips thin, and I watch him inhale a slow, deep breath. Lifting my hand to his mouth, he kisses the back of my palm and starts to walk.
We go into the building, and the vet tech brings out the kitten. Instantly I smile as he places him in my arms. The tiny little fur ball looks up and meows at me. His voice is so soft and high pitched it fills my heart.
“Aw,” I say, drawing out the word as I scratch him on the head.
“He is really cute,” Kent says, reaching over and scratching him too.
“He really is, isn't he?”
“We'll take him,” he says to the vet tech.
“Kent, wait, we really should—”
“Take him home,” he says, cutting me off. Winking, he pulls out his wallet. “How much is the total bill?” He walks up to the desk and pays before I have a minute to protest.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say. “They already had my card on file, and I’m not even sure this is a good idea.”
“Do you want the cat?”
“Yeah, I want the cat, but—”
“Are you happy?”
“Yes, I'm happy, I'm very happy, but I—”
“That's all I want. I want to see you happy.” He tucks his wallet back in his pocket and kisses me on the forehead. “Seeing you happy means the world to me. So please consider this a gift.”
As I settle in the front seat with the warm little kitten in my lap, I feel it. Total happiness. “Thank you, Kent,” I say as he gets behind the wheel. “I love him.”
We drive back to the house talking about the kitten, and marveling over his tiny little paws and sweet orange coat. The closer we get to the house the cloudier the sky becomes, and as we pull into the driveway, the sky is super dark over the water. I hear low rumbles of thunder in the distance.
“We're really supposed to get hit hard with this storm,” I say, heading to look out the glass doors as we get inside. “I hope we don't have to evacuate.”
I can see from here that the waves are huge, building into white caps as they topple over and spill onto the beach. The wind is beginning to whip the palm trees back and forth as the thick and heavy clouds roll in.
Kent comes up behind me and lowers a glass of wine down in front of my face. “I guess we'll have to find something to do if we lose power.” He winks and stands next to me. “How's Poseidon?”
“No, that's not his name. That reminds of a grumpy, old God, not a cute little kitten.”
“All right, what are you thinking?” he asks, sipping from his glass.
“Blaze.”
“Blaze?” he asks, talking into his glass.
“Yeah, he looks like a Blaze, with his orange fur and dark red stripes, it fits him perfectly.” Moving to the couch, I lay him down on the pillow. He curls into a half ball, then stretches his arms up over his head as he falls asleep.