When I hold open the door for her, letting her walk in first, I watch to see her reaction, but all I detect is barely-concealed curiosity.
“So, there’s only one bedroom. And before you even try to say anything about that, let me tell you, I’ve slept on my couch many times and it’s perfectly comfortable.” I walk past her, heading toward the bedroom to grab a pillow for myself. “The sheets are clean as of this morning, my housekeeper was here.”
“If the couch is so comfortable, then it’ll be fine for me.” Sadie arches a brow at me. But I’m not doing this shit again. And there’s no goddamn chance I’m gonna be able to sleep inmy bedwith her. And her defiance is ruined when she can’t completely hide her yawn.
“Go to bed, Sadie. You’re falling asleep on your fucking feet. We can discuss sleeping arrangements tomorrow.”
The standoff is broken by the sound of Cat chirping and meowing as he prowls out from the bedroom.
“Well, who is this?” Sadie asks, her voice sounding happy for the first time all evening as she drops down into a crouch to pet the damn animal. “What a gorgeous kitty. Hello there, what’s your name?”
Cat just purrs, arching into her touch.
“That’s Cat. He used to hang out in the bushes out front, then one day snuck in with me. I can’t get rid of him,” I say gruffly.
The beaming smile Sadie turns on me almost makes me stumble back. It’s such a sudden change from the emotionally spent woman who walked in here a few minutes ago.
“Are you serious? Are you a secret softie when it comes to animals?” She turns back to the goddamn cat and starts cooing at him. “I think he is, don’t you? Big bad Maverick King is actually a total marshmallow. Can’t help but rescue damsels in distress.” She giggles, and the sound is pure fucking sunshine. “Well, I guess you’re not a damsel, are you? No, you’re not, you big handsome boy.”
She stands up, scooping Cat into her arms. He drapes himself over her shoulder and I can hear the purring from here. Looking over at me, Sadie blushes, I’m guessing because she realizes what she just said about me rescuing her. Little does she know, my chest fucking puffed with pride when she said that, making me almost blush right along with her.
I clear my throat and look away. “Right. So. Bathroom is there.” I gesture down the hall. “Help yourself to anything inthe kitchen. I’ll just grab some stuff from my room, then it’s all yours.”
Moving swiftly to put some distance between me and the far-too-fucking-tempting redhead cuddling my damn cat, I reach my bedroom. Placing my hands on the dresser, I let my head hang forward and take in a few deep breaths. What the fuck am I doing?
No one has been in my apartment except for Colin, my housekeeper, Ralph, and Eli on a couple of occasions.
I don’t have guests over. I sure as fuck don’t have women over.
Yet standing in my living room is a woman who has managed to get under my skin and made her way into a part of me I didn’t think existed.
I care about Sadie LeDuc.
And I don’t usually let myself get close enough toanyoneto care about them.
Fucking hell, I’m in trouble.
As if to drive home that point, my phone vibrates. I pull it out of my pocket and immediately wish I hadn’t as guilt mixed with anger washes over me.
ELI: Bro. Where you at? I msgd you like weeks ago. I need cash, man. Hit me back.
I lock my phone and slide it back into my pocket without answering. But the damage is done. I’ve been reminded that my feelings for Sadie aren’t exactly the onlytroublein my life right now.
Chapter seventeen
Maverick
The sound of someone in my kitchen pulls me from asleep to awake. My groggy brain assumes it’s Colin; he’s the only one with a key other than my housekeeper, and she was just here. Then a distinctly feminine voice starts murmuring something to Cat, and reality slams into me.
Sadie.
Sitting up, I push off the blanket draped over my legs and look over the back of the couch toward the kitchen. She’s got Cat in her arms again and is slowly swaying back and forth with that fucking animal snuggled right in against her neck.
Great, now I’m jealous of a goddamn cat. And my dick is taking notice of the way she looks all adorably rumpled in a set of pajama shorts and a T-shirt that is falling off her shoulder, showing way too much of that pale smooth skin. Fucking hell.
A frustrated noise slips out and Sadie’s head darts up, her gaze meeting mine.
“Morning, I hope I didn’t wake you.” She gives me a hesitant smile, no longer swaying but still holding my cat in her arms.
