Chapter 8 #2
Stifling a laugh, Knox took a seat on the floor near Laylee’s feet and stroked Maybelline. “Good girl.”
The cat wiggled free of Laylee’s hold and went first to Tank. When the feisty little dog barked, the cat gave him a disgruntled swat on the head.
Tank yelped as if mortally wounded, then dropped back to the floor, tail tucked, and ran to Maybelline’s side.
Maybelline’s eyes shifted again; then her ears twitched as the cat came toward her. Jiggling all over, the big dog could barely contain herself.
Marcus and Lucy sat on Maybelline’s other side, and Lucy picked up Tank to console him. He loved the attention, soaking up her gentle sympathy.
To everyone’s amazement, the cat rubbed himself all over Maybelline’s face and didn’t even seem to mind when Maybelline gave him a slobbery lick. He just jumped down to Marcus and rubbed against him, too.
Marcus said, “You sure are a friendly fellow.”
Curious about his new surroundings, the cat went off to the kitchen to explore, and the dogs cautiously followed.
Laylee started to worry, but Knox reassured her. “Maybelline won’t let anything happen to him.”
As Marcus stood, he asked, “Have you named him yet?”
Lucy accepted her husband’s hand and was tugged to her feet.
“We considered Unicorn,” Laylee said. “But we settled on River instead, since I found him in a creek that’s actually a branch of the river. I know it might sound like a morbid reminder, but to me he’s a gift. I’m going to love him so much.”
Knox bent to kiss her cheek. “Of course we are.”
We. Oh, how she loved that he kept saying that. Was it his reminder to her that she wasn’t alone? Or was he staking his claim to the cat? With Knox, it could be either—or maybe both.
She smiled up at him and corrected, “We’re going to love him. And protect him. He deserves that much after what he’s gone through.”
With a nod, Knox went to the door. “In case River decides he needs to use the bathroom, I’m going to bring in his box and litter.”
“His dishes and food too, please,” Laylee said.
“I’ll lend a hand.” As Marcus headed to the door to join Knox, he looked back at Laylee and teased, “Cute outfit.”
Laylee looked down at herself and laughed. “I’m a mess.”
“Oh, please.” Lucy smiled as she helped Laylee unwrap the picnic table cover. “You always look great, no matter what—even when you’ve been doused in a creek and you’re wearing a tablecloth. Seriously, it’s almost unfair, and if I didn’t already like you so much, I’d dislike you just on principle.”
“You’re so talented in the kitchen, I could say the same about you.” They both laughed. “I love how you all pull together. You’re the nicest group of people I’ve ever known.”
Lucy tipped her head. “You’re part of the group. You know that, right?”
Was she? The idea made her smile. “You mean because my sister married Ford, I get to be an honorary member? Sweet. Thanks.”
Snorting, Lucy said, “No. Well, maybe. We all liked you right off. But I meant since you and Knox are together now.”
Without thinking it through, Laylee asked, “What if that doesn’t last?”
Lucy’s brows shot up. “You aren’t serious about him?”
“I am!” She looked behind her when the door opened, then caught Lucy’s arm and said, “I need to change. Mind coming with me?”
“Sure.” Lucy trailed along, sounding and looking amused. “I never used to do the girl thing, you know? I was all about the guys, and goofy as they can be, Marcus, Knox, Ford, and Bray never invited me along when they were changing clothes.”
Laylee got Lucy in the bedroom and closed the door before saying, “I bet it was fun being one of the guys.”
“Definitely. Still is.” Curious, Lucy looked around. “This is nice.”
Seeing it through a friend’s eyes, Laylee took in the décor and all the clutter. “Thanks. This is the room I moved into when I was staying with Skye—before I bought the house from her, I mean. The colors and style are all her choices, and my sis is really good at this homemaker stuff.”
“Agreed, but I see your touch everywhere, too.”
“The messy clothes? Jewelry everywhere?” Laylee grinned. “Skye had already dubbed this room Laylee’s Lair, so when I officially moved in, I saw no reason to change things. The room Skye used is a little bigger, but this room is … me.”
Lucy sat on the side of the bed while Laylee looked through her closet. “You sure have a lot of clothes and shoes.”
“I know, right? Sometimes I think it’s ridiculous, but what can I say? I love fashion and color.”
“I wasn’t criticizing. Actually, I’m impressed.
I wouldn’t know what to do with all those choices.
That’s part of why I’m like one of the guys.
Give me some jeans, T-shirts, and sweatshirts, maybe a few pairs of shorts, and I’m good to go.
Working in a custom print shop means I don’t ever need to dress up. ”
“You dressed up for Skye’s wedding.”
“Karen helped me out.” She grinned. “I just followed her lead.”
Laylee chose jeans and an oversized T-shirt. “So now I’ll follow yours. Jeans and T-shirt it is.”
“So … Knox? You aren’t in it for the long haul? Because if not, you really need to tell him that.”
This had to be a novel experience. A female friend warning her not to use Knox? Didn’t that usually go the other way around? Except … Laylee knew her own rep and the impression she often gave.
She stepped out of her ruined romper, then decided to change her panties too since everything had been soaked in the creek. She’d really like a shower, but didn’t want the others to have to wait for her.
After tossing her rumpled clothes in a corner, she stepped into her underwear. “Before Knox, I never wanted anything serious.”
“And now?”
“Now, with Knox, I’d really like it if it never ended. You can’t tell him I said that, though. Promise me. I don’t want him pressured into anything.”
“I won’t say a word, but I’m relieved. He’s a family-oriented guy. Marcus says Knox has always been looking for the real deal.”
“That was all of them, right? From what I understand, Marcus had to chase you down.”
Lucy’s smile went crooked. “Not that I fought him that hard.”
“And Bray was hung up on Karen for a while before she gave in.”
“True. She was dealing with a lot and was worried about dragging anyone else into her problems.”
“And I know my sister started an arrangement with Ford, but it wasn’t supposed to be a romance. Just convenient. Like neighbors helping neighbors.”
“All true. They really are a super-great group of guys.” Lucy grinned and said, “Welcome to the club.”
She knew Lucy was teasing, but it was still an awesome feeling to be accepted. “Let’s hope Knox feels the same.” Aware of Lucy’s avid attention, she finished changing and held out her arms. “What do you think? Casual enough for the group?”
“Casual, sure, but you still look like a supermodel. I bet it drives Knox wild.”
Laylee burst out laughing—until Knox tapped at the door.
“Food’s on the table and the animals are cuddling if you two want to join us.”
“Food,” Laylee said dramatically. “I’m starving.” She opened the door, got caught up against Knox’s chest, and was treated to a warm kiss.
“How are you feeling? Better?”
“I wasn’t feeling bad, but yes, it’s nice to get changed. I need a shower, but I’m too hungry to wait.”
Lucy followed them out. “I’m sorry, I didn’t make anything new. I kept your chicken and biscuits warm, and I’d just reheated the potatoes when we saw Knox’s truck pull in.”
“It’ll be perfect,” Laylee promised her. Right now, a bowl of cold cereal would have thrilled her.
Both women came to an abrupt halt when they reached the kitchen. Maybelline was sprawled out on her massive doggy bed near the patio doors, with Tank curled up near her chin as usual. The big surprise was that River had crawled right up on top of her and was busy kneading her scruff with his claws.
“Aww,” Lucy breathed.
Speaking just as quietly, Laylee said, “Maybelline seems to like it.”
Marcus pulled out a chair for his wife. “You don’t need to whisper. None of them are budging. I think they’re settled in for a while.”
Knox explained that while Marcus had taken out the dogs, he’d put the cat box in the utility room and made sure River knew where to find it.
“Maybelline acted like we were torturing her by not letting River out in the yard too, and as soon they did their business, they ran back to each other—Tank included—and got into that pile.”
“Huh.” Laylee smiled at him. “Guess I—or rather we—have a forever cat. I wonder how he’ll be when Maybelline and Tank go next door.”
“My guess is that Ford and Skye need to get a cat box.”
They were all amused by the inside joke.
Initially, Skye had adopted Tank and Ford had adopted Maybelline, but the dogs were inseparable, so they took turns, always together, first at one house and then at the other.
Each house had accommodations for the animals—beds, food, treats.
Skye and Ford had even fenced their yards together to make it easier.
The couple had already been falling for each other, but caring for the two dogs had made them an inseparable family.
Lucy wondered if River could do the same for her and Knox. With the wild twists and turns of her life lately, anything seemed possible.