“Sounds fine to me,” Gabe said while petting Blaze, one of the orange tabby cats. He had more enthusiasm about saying hi to the cats than decorating for the holidays. “Tell me what you need me to do so we can get this over with.” He sighed.
“We’re supposed to be havingfunwhile completing the list,” I reminded him, even though I didn’t disagree with his desire to get this over with as quickly as possible. I unlatched the lid andopened the bin, revealing the string lights, decorations, and tiny paper Santa hats I’d made.
“I’m not big into decorating for the holidays.” Gabe reached for the Santa hats—which were red construction paper with white cotton balls as pom-poms—and held them up. The corner of his mouth twitched, as if he was fighting a smile. “What are these?”
“Those”—I tried to snatch the hats out of his grasp, but he lifted his arm so I couldn’t reach—“are Santa hats to put on the pictures of the cats.” On the wall near the door, I had photos of each of the cats who were in the room and ready for adoption, along with their names.
“When in the world did you have time to make these?” Gabe asked, brows shooting up to his forehead. I couldn’t tell if he was impressed or dismissive. I settled on the latter, because there wasno wayGabe thought I was impressive, and certainly not for making Santa hats.
“I made time, because if we’re going to decorate this room, it’s going to be perfect,” I replied, letting out another huff. “Now, will you give them back to me?”
Gabe took another look at the hats and handed me the stack. He shifted his attention to the string lights. “I’ll start untangling these.” As soon as Gabe picked up the tangled lights, the cats ran over, pawing and jumping at the strand dangling from his hands. Maybe Gabe wasn’t a fan of decorating for the holidays, but it was clear that being around the cats calmed him for one reason or another, because the smile that came across his face was…devastating.
“I must be dreaming, because I didn’t realize you knew how to smile,” I commented, a light-hearted teasing in my tone. When he let out a low chuckle, I added, “Or laugh.”
“What? So now you’ve been dreaming about me, Sunshine?”
My cheeks heated, and I quickly shook my head with a scoff, turning my back to him to gather my composure. I hadn’t been dreaming about Gabe—I really hadn’t!—but it was the way he’d said it. His voice low, suggestive, whether he meant to say it that way or not. “No, of course not. If you were in my dream—which for the record, you’re not—it would be more of a nightmare.”
When I looked at Gabe over my shoulder, his smile had widened to a grin. I ignored the way my knees buckled and how I liked the sight more than I wanted to admit.
It didn’t take us long to get the cat room festive for the holidays. I hung the Santa hats and placed the decorations. Gabe untangled the lights and assembled the cardboard gingerbread houses.
The most tedious part was hanging the lights, but even that didn’t take us long once we found what worked for us. I was on the step ladder securing the lights with push pins while Gabe helped hold them in place. Two of the cats remained close, circling his feet and giving him tail hugs while we worked.
Our conversation was minimal, but I didn’t mind the silence. It was comfortable, and I was surprised by how well we worked together.
“Hey, you two,” Tiffany said as she entered. “My husband stopped by with the kids to pick me up, and Maddie is asking if she could pop in to say hi to the cats. Is that okay?” she asked hesitantly. “I don’t want her to be a bother if you’re still working in here.”
“It’s not a problem at all!” I assured as I secured the end of the Christmas lights and carefully climbed down the step ladder.I swore I saw Gabe’s hand move, as if he was going to help me down…but I had to have been imagining things. I wanted Tiffany to be comfortable at work, and I wanted her to feel okay bringing her kids around, because I knew how important family was to her. I also loved seeing her adorable kids. “We just finished up.”
“Oh, that’s great! Okay, I’ll let her know. The kids dropped off their letters to Santa in the mailbox.” Within moments, Tiffany returned with her daughter, who burst into the room, and her son, who was more timid and stayed behind his mom.
“Lily, look!” Maddie said as she spun around, showing off her brown hair that was pulled into a French braid. “Mommy made my hair like yours.”
“I love it! You look absolutely fabulous.”
Her eyes widened at my compliment, and her smile turned bashful. “Thanks,” she said sweetly. Maddie then turned toward her mom to ask, “Can I go say hi to the cats now?”
Tiffany laughed gently. “Go ahead, Maddie. Remember to be gentle and that we’re leaving in fifteen minutes.”
“Hi, Jack.” I greeted Tiffany’s son gently, knowing he was much more shy than his twin sister but just as sweet. “Your mom said you dropped off your list, huh? What did you ask Santa for?”
Jack nodded with a smile, staying close to Tiffany but stepping so he was next to her rather behind her. It didn’t take him long after that to start to tell me about the various books and games he wished for.
After about five minutes, Maddie ran up to us with a pout. “The kitties keep running away from me! I just want to give them love!”
Gabe chimed in this time. “Here, why don’t you try using this toy to get their attention.” He reached down to pull a wand toy with a feather and a bell out of the basket and looked at Tiffany first. When she smiled with a nod, Gabe handed the toy over toMaddie. “It also helps if you sit down on the ground and let them come to you. Want to sit over here on the rug?”
Maddie listened intently and ultimately agreed, following Gabe. “I’m Maddie. Who are you? You know Lily and my mom?” Maddie got comfortable next to him and paid close attention as Gabe introduced himself and helped her move the wand toy to entice the cats. Sure enough, within moments, two cats trotted over.
I continued my conversation with Tiffany and Jack, but I couldn’t help but glance at Gabe and Maddie. Gabe explained to her how to greet the cats before petting them and then how to pet them so they wouldn’t get startled.
“It worked!” Maddie exclaimed, looking at us over her shoulder. “Mommy, look!” Two of the cats were eagerly watching the toy while another came over to Maddie and brushed up against her side. Now that the cats were out, Jack seemed intrigued, too. He walked over to Maddie and Gabe before sitting down. Gabe gave Jack the same advice he’d given Maddie moments earlier, being patient with the kids and not bothered by having to repeat himself or overexplain things.
“Gabe’s the best!” Maddie exclaimed then looked toward me. “Don’t you think, Lily?” she asked sweetly, her eyes wide and bright.
I had to agree with Maddie—Ihadto. If I said anything else, I’d be breaking her heart, and potentially, upsetting my new employee and her daughter. I didn’t have a choice and was backed into a corner. Gabe likely knew it, too, because he had a smug, amused look on his face.
