AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She smooths out her expression and shakes her head.
I roll my eyes and open the door an inch. When nothing comes flying at the door, I crack it open another inch.
“What are you doing?” she whispers.
“I’m being cautious.”
“You’re a scaredy-cat.” She snorts again and busts up laughing. Clearly, she needs more sleep. “Sorry, no pun intended.”
I give her a look rivaling the devil cat in my room. “I’m not scared. I’ve faced down a bear before.” I have too. Bearwood didn’t get its name because of the mass amount of wooden carved bears in the yards and pretty wildlife calendars.
Brie grins. “Oh, I’ve heard your bear story five hundred times, but I’ve never seen you like this.”
To prove her wrong, I throw the door open. “See? Not scared.” I turn and the cat is standing right there in the doorway. I jump and grab Brie’s arm. Peals of laughter pour out of her mouth.
“He surprised me.”
She tries to hold it in, but she isn’t doing a very good job. She hunches down and stretches out her hand.
“What are you doing?” I step in front of her to protect her.
“Rocky, it’s fine.”
There’s my nickname again, but I can’t get distracted right now. “He’s very angry. He could possibly have rabies.”
“I know this cat.”
“What?”
“He used to live here but got lost before Melinda moved.” She notices my confused look. “Melinda was the last resident here. Samson has been gone for at least six months, and I can’t believe he’s still alive. Having him back is going to make Melinda’s Christmas.”
“Ironic name. Especially with his hair issues.”
“He does look a little crazy. I’m guessing he got in some cat fights, and he appears a lot thinner too.”
“He inhaled the fish yesterday.” I step aside, trusting Brie knows what she’s doing.
“Come here, Samson.” She rubs her fingers together, and surprisingly enough, the cat responds. Soon Brie is rubbing the cat around the ears. She scoops him into her arms, and I stick out my hand to stop her.
“Careful.”
“Look, he’s harmless.” She’s not talking to me though; she’s talking to the cat.
“Wait a second, I didn’t do anything to him.” An image of me flinging him across the room in panic comes to mind, but I shove it aside. He was suffocating me, and that was self-defense.
“He’s scared of you.” She stands, cooing at the cat, and slowly makes her way back to the front door. “I’ll keep Samson for the night and call Melinda in the morning.”
“Are you sure?” I follow her to the door. “He jumped on my face and almost smothered me. I don’t want anything happening to you.”
She grins, her makeup-free face looking a few years younger and more like the high school Brie I used to know. “It’s sweet you’re concerned. I’ll keep him in my laundry room and shut the door if it makes you feel better.”
“It does.”
She stops at the door and leans her shoulder against it. “Goodnight, scaredy-cat.” She tilts her head in a flirty way that she’s completely unaware of. The dim lighting doesn’t help.
I grit my teeth, but not to keep from arguing. It’s to keep from leaning over and kissing her. It’s not the high school Brie I see now but a mature woman with the appeal to go with her. She is reeling me in like a fish completely hooked. I set my hand on the door beside her head. All our memory sharing tonight has unlocked feelings I thought I had a padlock on.
I want to touch her, but I hold strong. This is as close as I will get. That and Samson is still giving me the stink eye. I force myself to say something. Anything to explain why I’m drawn to her. “I guess this makes you my hero.”
