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“Don’t you think that’s dangerous, Miss Santillan? They’d go out and come back the next day and say they’d called you.”
“Fine. Just say I’m not accepting gifts period.” She pressed the elevator button and rode up to her floor. “Come on, little darlings, there has to be someone who wants kittens.” It took her three trips down the hall to carry everything inside. She didn’t think it was a good idea to allow Romeo and Juliet to run free, but she didn’t want to shut them in the bathroom, or her home dance studio either.
She sat down on the floor and unlatched the carrier door. The kittens bounded out and climbed into her lap. “Affection won’t work. This is your home for a few days, not forever.”
Romeo jumped off her knee and ran under the couch, but Juliet curled up and began to lick herself clean. “I should have showed you two the cat box first.” She scratched Juliet’s ears and wondered if Alejandro would like a pair of cats.
She’d left him in an exhausted dream and wouldn’t disturb him now, but it was nice to think he’d welcome her call.
Libby had sent her number, and there was another good reason to call her. “Hi, this is Ana Santillan. Someone just gave me two really cute kittens, and I need to find them a home. Do you like cats?”
“I love them, but you know Santos’s housekeeper, Mrs. Lopez. She’d toss them out in the sand and let them fend for themselves.”
Ana tickled Juliet’s rounded belly, and the kitten licked her fingers. “I’d forgotten about her. How about Maggie? Does she like cats?”
“Do you want her number?”
Ana bit her lip. “Will you please ask her?” She gave Libby her number. “While I have you on the phone, would you please give me the name of the detective you mentioned?”
“Javier Cazares. Let me get his number.”
She came back with it quickly, and Ana wrote it down and said good-bye. “I really do need more friends, Juliet.”
She’d call the detective tomorrow. Now she had to deal with the kittens. While she remained seated on the rug, Juliet stayed close. In a few minutes, Romeo came out from under the sofa to join them. She made a grab for him and put him back with his sister in the carrier while she made a home for them in the guest bathroom with their cat box, food and water dishes.
A bubble bath in her own bathroom followed, and she stayed in until her fingers wrinkled. She wrapped herself in a towel, stretched out on her bed and played over possible phone conversations with Alejandro until she was certain she could manage it.
She pressed in his number. Her number was blocked, so maybe he wouldn’t answer, but he did on the second ring. He had a marvelous deep sexy voice, and she spoke softly. “Hi, this is Ana.”
“Where did you go? I hadn’t had nearly enough of you. You forgot your bra, so you’ll have to come back.”
She made her voice soft and low. “I didn’t forget. I left it as a memento. You could bring it to El Gato next Sunday if it’s cluttering up your place.”
“It’s not. I’ll use it to create a shrine. I miss you already. I can’t wait until next Sunday to see you. Let me take you to dinner tonight.”
“Don’t you study on Sunday nights?”
“I told you I’m taking the day off. We’re both too thin. It’s no fun to eat alone. Do you want me to come get you, or would you rather meet somewhere?”
She’d washed off his scent but could still feel his warmth deep inside. She’d already blown whatever good intentions she’d had, but a casual dinner wouldn’t get her in any deeper. She coughed to clear her throat and named a place not too far from her condo. “I’ll meet you there.” She ended the call cradling Juliet on her shoulder. She’d completely forgotten to ask if he liked cats.
After she’d disappeared, Alejandro had been afraid he’d never hear from her again. He hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but she’d given him the best orgasm of his life and he’d been lucky he hadn’t passed out on the floor in front of her. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d met a woman he’d wanted to see again and had to call his father to brag.
“Mark today on your calendar. I’ve met a girl I like, and you didn’t have anything to do with it.”
“I’ll make a note of it right now. What’s her name?”
“Ana.”
“Ana what?”
“Do you plan to sic your detectives on her?”
“It’s always wise to be careful.”
“You’ve blamed me for being too careful, and now I’m not careful enough?”
“Do whatever you like. Does she know who you
