Brayden #3
“Brendon.” He held his hand out to shake, and I introduced myself. “You look great on that line with Hux and Gauthier. Hoping for good things this season.”
“Me too. I want the ring.”
“You already have a ring,” Spencer said from behind me as he slipped his arms around my waist.
“Spencer, this is Brendon, Zach, and Jagger the pup. Brendan, my husband, Spencer.” They shook hands, and we chatted for a minute until Zach was tearing through the crowd of people in the pen hot on Jagger’s tail.
“Zach, slow down,” he called, then shot us an apologetic look. “Better go sort these two out before they destroy something.”
“Whatcha doin’?” I asked, turning in Spencer's arms and wrapping mine around his shoulders. I pressed a kiss to his jaw, and he flicked his eyes toward the cat section.
“Patting a kitty.”
“Oh yeah?” I asked and wiggled my brows. “Was she tall and gorgeous?”
He smirked and squeezed my hips before leaning in and pressing another kiss to my jaw. “Black and feisty,” he murmured against my skin.
I hummed, then added, “Show me.”
“Nah, it’s okay.”
“Show me, Spencer. I want to meet her. You wouldn’t have mentioned her if you weren’t already in love.”
He nodded and we walked over there hand in hand, stopping every few feet to sign something or take a selfie.
I didn’t mind this kind of thing in small doses, and most of the time I got away with being relatively anonymous.
But Spencer couldn’t do that anymore. We needed a bit more space and a lot more privacy.
It was time to get our own place. The hotel wasn’t cutting it anymore.
I watched as Spencer went straight up to one of the volunteers looking after the kittens, spoke with them for a moment, then reached into one of the cages.
The bundle of fur he pulled out was jet black. She popped her head up and looked around with big yellow-green eyes, and I was enchanted. The way she purred when he stroked her fur was adorable.
“I don’t think they’re going to be able to rehome her,” Spencer said miserably.
“Why?”
He held her out for me to take. Her fur stood on end and she hissed. I hesitated, my hand hovering just out of her reach.
“How about I just pet her?” He nodded, and I turned my attention to the kitten.
“You’re a beautiful girl, aren’t you?” I touched her head and ran my fingers gently down her back.
Her fur glowed in the light, and it was soft as silk.
Her eyes were cautious—wide and judgmental as she took me in.
I went to run my fingers down her fur again, and she hissed, barely tolerating me.
I backed off, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.
“She’s not liking the crowds so much. She bit a lady who picked her up, as well as one of the volunteers.”
“I don’t think she likes me either.”
“We’re the only people she’s let touch her since she was pulled out of her cage this arvo.”
“So, what, she’s just been sitting in the carry cage alone this whole time?”
“Yeah, except when I was here.” He scratched under her chin, and the kitten nuzzled Spencer’s chest and purred loudly. His smile was indulgent, full of affection as he looked down at her while her eyes drooped closed and she fell asleep right there in his arms.
“She has the cutest little toe beans,” he murmured quietly.
She really was beautiful—exactly like her new daddy, because there was no way in hell she wasn’t coming home with us.
“What's her name?” I asked, and Spencer huffed out a laugh. His eyes shone, and he bit down on his lip as he looked at me through those long eyelashes of his. My breath caught, and I fell in love with him all over again.
“Midnight.”
I smiled. It was serendipitous. “Get her.”
“We can’t. We’re not settled yet.”
“Cowboy, it's meant to be. Finding a cat who won’t let anyone except you touch her is one thing. Her having such a similar name as your breakout hit is quite another. You should get her.” I wrapped my arm around his waist and leaned our temples together, then scratched between her ears.
“Anyway, a kitten will keep you company while I’m away, and she obviously loves you. ”
“She's tiny, but she’s been here for five months.”
“We'll take her,” I said to the volunteer who was watching us.
I filled out the paperwork while Spencer was holding her, and once it was done, I looked around to see where he’d disappeared to.
I almost stumbled when I found him. He was standing with Keeley, and Hannah was petting the kitten.
Midnight’s big eyes were focused on Hannah, and I heard her meow when Hannah giggled and kicked her legs.
Gone was the hissing cat I’d seen only a few minutes ago.
God, the four of them made for one hell of a picture. I’d wanted Keeley the moment I’d met her. But seeing them together made me realize just how much I’d underestimated that want. It wasn’t just the desire to get her naked. I wanted more. So much more.
When her eyes found mine, she smiled and I knew I was screwed.
If it was only the Seals HR policy holding her back, they’d need to change it quick. Spencer and I weren’t going to accept no for an answer.