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The cat-shaped wind chimes above the door jingled, signaling her first customer of the day. With a smile, she turned…and almost toppled off the stepstool in shock.
“Whoa.” Hunter bolted around the counter at light-speed as she teetered precariously. He grabbed her. “Careful.”
Aria clutched the edge of the chalkboard to steady herself. Her heart raced. Sudden warmth bloomed through her veins, hot and hard.
He hadn’t just grabbed her…he washolding her. One of his big hands was pressed to her hip, and the other was gripping her waist. And his strong arm was tucked right up against her rear end, which she didn’t find disturbing in the least.
He also appeared to be in no hurry to let go.
Swallowing hard, Aria found her voice. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” He released her and stepped back.
Did he just slide his hand over her hip? Like he waslingering?
Aria put the chalk back into the tray and climbed down the ladder. A combination of excitement and wariness bubbled up inside her. She didn’t quite know how to feel about the fact that Hunter was standing in her café. She’d thrown herself at him last night because she’d thought they’d never see each other again.
Okay, she’d also wanted desperately to kiss him properly, but still… She wasn’t a spontaneous, leap-and-plant-one-on-an-almost-stranger kind of girl.
What was he doing here? Had he looked her up?
“Welcome to Meow and Then.” Forcing her business persona back into place, she grabbed a dishcloth and wiped her hands before turning to face him.
Oh, mercy.
Last night at the inn, he’d first been a grumpy and strikingly gorgeous specimen of disheveled masculinity. Then, with his sculpted torso and bulging biceps on full display, he’d been a walking advertisement for any product or sport that needed to feature a seriously hot half-naked man.
And now? In a navy Armani suit, clearly tailored just for him, and a perfectly knotted silk tie, with his dark hair brushed back from his forehead and his clean-shaven face emphasizing his strong features, he was…
Wow.
“Hi.” She rubbed her throat, unaccountably warm. “Again.”
“Hi again.” A smile tugged at his mouth. He picked up a briefcase and clipboard that he’d dropped and set them on the counter. “How’s Porkchop?”
“Sleeping. I think he wore himself out last night. Though he’s known for enjoying his bed quite a bit anyway.”
“Hmm.” His forehead furrowed. “I can relate.”
“Me too.”
A current of heat sizzled between them. Her breathing grew shallow.Could Destiny have been right? About the cat spirits and no coincidences and all that?
She ran her hands self-consciously over her apron. In the light of day, everything about Hunter—from his tailored designer suit to his expensive leather briefcase—clashed with her rolled-up, holey skinny jeans and loose tank-top. Even his dark hair was impeccably combed with not a strand out of place, while her messy mane was barely holding on to a bun.
“So you work here.” He indicated the array of cat items and the little Japanese luck cat on the counter. “Looks like you can’t get away from cats.”
“I wouldn’t want to.” Aria pulled in a breath and tried to calm her jumping heartrate. “What are you doing here?”
“I stopped by to talk to the owner.”
She blinked. “You are.”
He went still. His attention sharpened and his shoulders tensed. “What?”
“You already are.”
“I already am what?”
