Page 18 of Cat’s Guide To Romance

“Okay.”

His eyebrows shoot up. “Okay?”

I place the flour in the cart. “No means no, darlin’. I’m trying to woo you. Making you uncomfortable would rather defeat the purpose.”

His ears slowly rise. “So you’re giving up?”

I grin.

His eyes narrow. “Why are you smiling like that?”

“You didn’t ask me to give up.”

“Lucien.”

“You said you don’t have time for a date. I respect that.”

“But?”

“No buts.”

I compare two jars that look almost identical before holding one up. Sparkle points to the other, so I switch them.

“Lucien.”

“Sparkle.”

His tail flicks.

I laugh. “If you tell me you don’t want me around, I’ll leave you alone. Completely. I promise.”

Sparkle’s mouth opens, but no words come out. He doesn’t say it. Interesting.

“I’m not going to pressure you into a date. When you have room for me, you know where to find me.”

His phone rings, and he sighs. “Hey, Mama.”

I continue down the aisle while he talks, grabbing the next couple of things when he points them out.

“Yes, I got the strawberries. Two containers.” He pauses and rubs between his brows. “No, I didn’t forget. I have the pasta too. I know. I’ll get it.” His shoulders tense. “I can do that before I pick up Ferris. Yeah. Love you too.”

He hangs up and shoves his phone into his pocket.

“What was added to the list?”

“Nothing.”

I raise an eyebrow.

Sparkle sighs. “I need to stop by the apothecary and pick up an order. Then I need to drop something off at the Hawthorn Coven before I get Ferris.”

“And then?”

“Home. Help get dinner started. Help the kittens with their homework. Take a nap. Then I work tonight.”

My chest aches. No wonder the cat doesn’t have time for a date. He barely has time to breathe.

“I can help.”