I smiled, looking down at my feet as I felt my cheeks heat. Yeah, if I let myself admit it, we were pretty fucking good together. “I should probably talk to him, right?”
“Yep, you probably should.”
Talk of the devil.
The front door opened as if we’d summoned him, and Jasper popped his head around it, smiling brightly. “Hey, all right to come in?”
Cole rolled his eyes. “Of course. Since when do you have to ask?”
Jasper shrugged. “Thought I’d better get used to it if you’re going to be havingguestssoon.”
“Fuck off,” Cole grumbled good-naturedly and I laughed.
Jasper’s gaze swung to me and he gave me a wink that went straight to my groin. Pretty much the effect he always had on me. “Your mum said dinner’ll be ready in a sec and I should round you both up.” He came and stood next to me, shoulder brushing mine, and something inside me relaxed like it always did. As though it’d been waiting for him.
“Thank god.” Cole rubbed his stomach. “I’m starving.”
He led the way back to my mum and dad’s, making a show of locking his door. It made me smile. I was happy he had his own space and that my mum got to keep him close by for another couple of years. He was her baby, and I knew she wasn’t quite ready to let him go just yet.
“Oh, Jasper, honey,” my mum said as soon as we got inside and kicked our shoes off. “Can you go get Jerry for me? He’s annoying the boys in the utility.”
Jasper grinned and immediately marched after her, through to the kitchen to carry out her orders, while I glanced at Cole. “Jerry?” Who the fuck was Jerry?
Cole’s pointed look told me everything I needed to know. “Really? Another one?”
“Yep.” His lips quirked up into a grin. “Bets have already been placed.”
“You can all fuck off with that.” No way was I having another cat.
One was plenty.
I followed Cole into the kitchen, fully expecting to see Jasper wrangling an old moggy into submission. I was so not prepared to see him gently cradling a kitten.
A tiny ginger kitten that was purring loudly, kneading on Jasper’s jumper, and looking at him like he hung the moon.
I was fucked.
So very, very, fucked.
I ignored Cole’s laughter and walked up to Jasper, trying to mask the riot of feelings going on inside me. “That thing was terrorising Lucifer and Satan?”
My mum tsked at my names for them while Jasper grinned and gave the kitten,Jerry, a gentle tickle under the chin. “Believe it or not, this little guy can more than hold his own. I think they’re frightened of hurting him.”
I snorted. If only they felt that way about the rest of us.
“Just pop him in that basket while we eat dinner.” My mum pointed to the cat basket in the corner, complete with a blue, fluffy blanket.
Jasper did as he was told and peeled Jerry off him. After setting him in the basket and closing the door, Jerry proceeded to let out the most mournful wail, tiny paws clinging to the bars of the basket.
We all froze, staring at his pitiful face. Jasper made a move to get him, then stopped, glancing at my mum. “Um... can I?”
“Oh, for god’s sake, get him out of that thing.” I stalked over to the basket, opened it, and fetched a delighted kitten out, clutching him to my chest. He immediately thrust upward and rubbed my chin with his head, purrs far too loud for such a small body.
Nope.
Not happening.
I took him over to Jasper and deposited him in Jasper’s waiting arms. “You wanted him out, you can deal with him.”
