Page 31 of Herding Cat

She winced. “C-section.”

“You had a child?”

She had to look away. “For a while. She...died.” Eva had gone to sleep one night in her crib...and simply slipped away. Then her husband had slipped away as well. In one fell swoop, the life she’d loved had crumbled like a sand castle in the pounding surf. That made the scar doubly painful.

She hated that he kissed it. “I am so sorry.”

“Don’t be. I would be a terrible mom.”

“You would be a wonderful mom.”

She frowned at him. “Where did you get that idea?”

“I saw the way you were with Lui.”

Something shifted in her belly. “The way I was?”

“You fell in love with her. I dare you to deny it.”

It was true. She had. But she could neither confirm nor deny. Her feelings were far too raw. So she yanked him back up, away from her pain, cuddled closer and just held him.

“Cat?” He leaned back and peered at her face. “Are you all right?”

She sighed. “I can’t stop thinking about those girls. I just can’t help thinking...”

“What?”

“I could do more. I should.”

“You could do more.”

“Like what? Adopt them?” Surely that thought had not been percolating in her mind. It was a crazy idea. A recipe for heartbreak. Because surely, she wouldn’t qualify for adoption. Not with the life she led.

He shrugged. “If you wanted to.”

“I couldn’t adopt them.”

“Two girls no one else seems to want? Why not?”

She blew out a breath. “I’m single.”

He shrugged. “If you really want them, you can make it happen.”

“I’m. Single.”

“You could marry some dude.” He snuggled closer.

“Some dude?”

“Some dude who is awesome and sexy and... What else did you call me?”

“Cocky?”

He couldn’t stop his grin. “There’s that.”

“I think we’ve already established that I’m not looking for a man—”

“Unless he has a foot fetish—”