AllFreeNovel
Share Us
2
Chapter Two
While Jake Andrews waited for his driver to unload his suitcases at the port in Fort Lauderdale, he noticed a stray ebony-colored kitten that had appeared on the dock.
The sneakiness of this animal caught his attention, weaving in and out of the action of so many people unloading and organizing their gear took cunning. Suddenly the baby cat hesitated and looked straight at him. As their eyes locked, he had to smile. The pure amber glow that filled the kitten’s face drilled him before the small furry head angled questioningly to the right.
Next thing he knew, the tiny feline made a beeline for his leg so he could wind his way around Jake’s ankles while he complained bitterly with continuous meows. Bending over, Jake petted the soft black fuzz with small white markings around the eyes and whispered his empathy. “Poor baby. You look like you’ve had a rough time of it lately, my friend.”
“Sir, I’ve loaded the bags on the luggage cart. Do you want me to add your briefcase?”
Sarcasm in the tilt of his head, Jake answered, letting Leo know he was on to him, “No, that’s fine slave. I’ll take it on board with me.” Jake noticed the zipper had been left undone on his garment bag and bent down to make sure it was totally closed. When he stood up, he looked around for his small furry companion who was nowhere in sight. Guessing the kitten didn’t like being ignored, he forgot about him.
Shrugging, he ignored Leo while he organized his luggage with a porter, and his gaze landed on something he saw all too often. A middle-aged woman, a hundred feet away, slouched on the ground by a chain link fence, holding a cardboard sign.
I’m homeless, hungry and have no job. Any amount will help.
Scooping out a wallet full of bills from his pocket, he rolled up five twenties and headed in her direction. Leaning over so he could read her eyes, see her expression and know for himself if she could be one of his flock, he took his time.
At first, she kept her gaze lowered until she noticed the denomination on the first bill. Shocked and thrilled, her disbelieving gaze flew to his. Brown eyes watered and her hand trembled. “My goodness, sir. You’re an angel.”
“No. I’m just a man who cares about your hard times and wants to help.” He grasped her hand and held on. “Things have been tough, haven’t they, dear?”
Flustered, she answered, “I’m keeping my head above water with generous folks like you to help. Others have it far worse. I thank you sir, for acknowledging me as a person you could talk to. It’s a pleasure for me, and I say that from the bottom of this old heart.”
Because of her hard times, Jake could see the woman looked older than her years. He’d place her in her fifties. The fact that she spoke about being noticed resonated with him. One day, many years earlier, he’d been in her place, and Leo, his friend and partner, had stopped to help. He knew what she was going through. He understood. And he wasn’t finished.
“You look after yourself, and if someone happens to enter your life and offer you a new future, you take it, you hear me?”
Discombobulated, but seemingly charmed, she bobbed her head in acknowledgement. “That would be a dream come true. So, you can bet your sweet heart, I will.”
He smiled, moved back to where Leo waited and angled his head to the side. “The bag-lady with her face wreathed in smiles after seeing my donation, she’s the next one we’ll be taking care of.”
“Right. I’ll follow her and get back to you.”
“Thanks, Leo. You take care of yourself, bro. And stay in touch.”
Knowing that his bodyguard/business partner/driver/housekeeper and best friend had seen to his possessions, he gave him a man-hug and then lifted his hand as his final goodbye.
Glancing once more at the street lady, a pretty little handful caught his attention. Her beautiful posture, high-heeled sexy way of walking made him stop. But it was when her big blue gazers scanned the surrounding area, panned over him as if he didn’t register on her who-gives-a-fuck meter, that she really caught his attention.
What she did next, kept him riveted. She sauntered over to the now ecstatic woman on the ground, crouched down and passed over a twenty. They conversed until movement from the sack on the street lady’s lap had both women fussing. A bevy of kittens, no doubt one of them his little friend from earlier, popped their heads out, looking for attention. The princess lifted one and held it close to her flawless cheek, nuzzling it lovingly, making him wish he had paws and licked his backside.
The playful kitten lunged, catching her claws in the auburn hair lovingly piled high in a way that had curls built up in the back and leaving wispy ringlets to frame her gorgeous cheekbones. Approving of the gentle way his beauty freed herself, the giggles and the nuzzling afterward, they locked eyes and her smile deepened as if to share her delight.
Charmed, nodding in acknowledgement, then chuckling, he headed inside the terminal. He’d watch for Beauty on the boat. Maybe a shipboard romance would help him relax and pass the time. Considering his doctor and Leo had forced him on this cruise to do just that, finish his ongoing work in peaceful surroundings, slow down and de-stress, it didn’t seem as deadly boring an adventure now as he’d first thought.
He made his way to the large front desk area where there were a number of people organizing the hundreds of embarking passengers. Pleased to learn that he would be allowed to go on board immediately, and that his high-class suite was ready for him, he smiled his relief and headed to the hallway where the gangplank had just been lowered in preparation for boarding.
