4. Piper
PIPER
After fifteen minutes of the meow opera coming from the crate, Gideon pulled the car to the side of the road. “I can’t take it anymore.”
“I’m surprised we didn’t get pulled over for noise violations.
” I wrestled the yowling fluffball from the crate, and he nestled into my arms. Now, the only feline sound was the purr of the car’s engine as Gideon shifted gears.
The kitten was relaxed, but I wasn’t. I found myself checking his breathing every few minutes, the vet’s warning about him being underweight running through my head.
I was anxious to get him settled and eating.
Gideon parked the car and ran to the front door, pushing aside the frond of a large potted palm to open it.
The house was basically the same as the Lockelhursts’, but Gideon’s felt like a snowman had chosen all of the paint colors.
My employers had bright and ostentatious taste, bordering on tacky, but it was a lot more welcoming than this white-on-white color scheme.
I kicked off my sandals, the shock of the cool marble floor sending shivers up my bare legs as I followed him into the living room.
“What if we set him up next to the couch?” Gideon put the crate on the floor and folded a towel to place in the bottom.
“Are you planning on sleeping down here with him?” I asked, already picturing Gideon curled up on the pristine white sofa.
“No, I sleep upstairs, in a bed.” His right eyebrow arched.
“An actual bed? Not a block of ice? It looks like the Night King from Game of Thrones was your interior designer.”
The other eyebrow lifted. “Whoa there, design police. I just moved in, but now that you mention it, I need to call the ice bath people and have one installed in the backyard.”
My eyes flickered around his room, falling on the rattiest recliner I’d ever seen. “Do you live with your father and a Jack Russell terrier?” I wasn’t sure if he was old enough to get the Frasier reference, one of my mom’s favorite shows, but a smile spread across his face.
“Believe it or not, you’re not the first person to make that joke, but no. It’s just me here.”
The kitten yawned and blinked, then, remembering he had been kidnapped, or catnapped, tried to wriggle out of my arms. “He needs to be near you tonight. I thought you said you had cats growing up.” Anyone who had raised a puppy or kitten knew that the first few nights were almost as bad as having a newborn. Almost.
“Whoa.” Gideon held up his hands. “I did have cats growing up—barn cats, and they were tough as nails. When it got really cold, we would put heaters in the barn, but other than that, the cat population was controlled by the elements and predators.”
For someone who seemed smitten with the kitten, his response was uncharacteristically cold, like he was purposely trying not to get attached. “Let’s get him some food and set up everything he needs in your bedroom. Once he gets used to that space, you can let him explore more of the house.”
“This cat isn’t moving in here. This is only temporary.” The kitten squeaked as he yawned, and Gideon rubbed his ear. “That was kind of cute though.”
This was so not temporary. I could see it in the way he smiled at the cat. “Well, last I checked, you don’t have a barn next to your pool and future ice bin, and this little guy is going to need some TLC.”
“I’m sure whoever he belongs to will be able to give him that care.” Gideon walked into the kitchen and set the bags of kitten swag on the counter. What do you think, should he eat off a plate or out of a bowl?”
I tried to hide my smile as he took each option from the cupboard before settling on a side plate.
He recoiled as he opened the can of soft food.
“Oh. God. This stuff stinks.” Gideon held his breath as he mashed the food onto the plate with a fork, adding some water as the vet tech had suggested.
“I’ll feed him down here. There’s no way I’m letting this get on the floor in my bedroom. ”
“Have you got carpet in your bedroom too?”
“Yeah.” He shook his head. “Who the hell thought that was a good idea?”
The carpet in Mr. and Mrs. L’s room was pristine, but it was vacuumed every day. Mrs. L liked the vacuum lines to be visible, just like her husband liked perfect lines mown into their lawn. “Is yours pastel pink?”
He rolled his eyes. “Worse, it’s stark white.” He set the plate on the floor and filled up a bowl with the formula mixture. “I’ll probably install hardwood. Or…” He grinned. “Maybe after a few more months in Florida, I’ll be into pink flooring and tropical drapery.”
It was an accurate description of the Lockelhursts’ bedroom. Only their silk curtains featured flamingos, not greenery. My carriage house apartment had a tropical theme, too, but in much more practical materials like raffia. “Look, he was hungry.”
The dish clattered as the kitten nudged it across the floor. “I’ll wait to give him some more. I don’t want him to eat himself into a coma,” Gideon said.
“That’s a good idea. Where do you want to install the cat tree?” I tried to hold in my smile.
“That tree is going home with his owner when he shows up.”
The kitten sniffed along the floor and then rushed back to us, curling up on Gideon’s feet.
“Let’s get him set up next to your ice block,” I said.
He reached down and picked up the kitten. “You mean my bed?”
“No.” I shook my head, and his brow furrowed. “I mean the cat’s bed.”
“Alright.” He let out an exaggerated groan. “Come on.”
I followed him past the entryway and up the curved staircase. Just like the house next door, he had two double doors leading to his bedroom. I opened them and headed straight to the en suite bathroom. “I think that you should put Calico Cat in here.”
He stood in the doorway, the kitten’s face buried in the crook of his elbow. “You know your way around pretty good.”
“It’s the same layout next door. I could navigate your entire top floor with my eyes closed.”
“But you have pink carpet.”
You.
I didn’t have pink carpet. I was paid to clean that carpet.
Why didn’t I correct him? I guess I wasn’t ready for the adventure to be over.
“What are these?” I ignored the carpet comment and strode around the king-sized bed to pick up one of the books on his nightstand. “Are you a Caroline Chapman fan?”
His cheeks flushed. Caroline Chapman wrote cheesy mysteries that were lighthearted and always had a happy ending. They were a fun read but not what I would’ve expected to find on an NHL player’s nightstand. “Someone gave that one to me,” he grumbled and took the book from my hand.
“This one too?” I picked up the next novel in the stack and flipped it over to read the description on the back. “Is this an Agatha Christie retelling? The one with the people on the island?”
Gideon shrugged. “I don’t know, I haven’t gotten to it yet. I’m still on Chapman’s Loreena Lamb series.”
I’d never in a million years have pictured a guy like Gideon curling up with Loreena Lamb. “I’ve read a few of those. The last one was Tango Bay.”
He held up his hand. “Wait. Don’t tell me what happens—it’s next in the series.”
“I thought someone just gave you that book. Do you actually like Caroline Chapman’s books?” I threw in a teasing tone.
He took the book from me. “Alright. I don’t like Chaman’s books.” A hint of pink flushed his tanned cheeks as he shrugged. “I love them.”
The man had turned from cocky jock to adorable book nerd, and holy shit, I was turned on. And not just a little. Heat thrummed between my legs as I watched him straighten the stack of books next to his bed.
“What do you like about them?” I’d read a few Chapman books over the years, but as a single mom, I didn’t have enough hours in the day to keep up with the Loreena Lamb series.
Gideon sat on the edge of the bed, the cat still in his arms. “They feel like apple crisp. I know that sounds stupid, but that was my favorite dessert growing up. When I read the books, it reminds of the feeling I got when I ate it. They’re lighthearted, not too serious, and I usually can’t figure out who did it until at least halfway through. ”
I sat next to him, close enough that I could hear the cat’s muffled purrs. Describing a book as a food was a new one for me, but it totally made sense. “What in the world do you need to escape from?” He was a rich NHL hockey player. He had won at life.
He paused. I had definitely overstepped. Clearing his throat, he ran his hand through his dark, wavy hair. “What do you read?”
Thankful for the out, I thought back to the last book I’d read. “I like those books that are set in Nantucket. I can’t think of the author, but her covers are always blue.”
“Hilderbrand.” He smiled as he stroked the cat’s head. “And what do you like about them?” He lobbed my question back to me.
“Hmmm.” I tapped my lips with my finger.
That wasn’t a question I’d ever been asked before.
“I’m not sure. It’s a window into the world of the kind of people who take the summer off to live in Nantucket.
” Had I just given myself away? Before he could delve any deeper, I stood.
“We should get the litter box set up before mister kitty pees all over you.”
His eyes widened. “I’m surprised he hasn’t yet.
” Gideon went to stand, but I rested my hand on his shoulder, gently urging him down.
“Don’t disrupt the little guy. He’s had a rough day.
Let me do it for you.” Before he could protest, I went into the bathroom and poured the litter into the box.
I put the crate with the blanket next to Gideon’s bed.
The alarm went off on my watch. “Shit.” I silenced it. I’d completely lost track of time. “I’ve got to go.” I brushed my hands together and pointed to his bed, a California king with crisp white sheets and a smooth white duvet. “One hundred bucks says that cat sleeps in your bed tonight.”
“Never.” He went into the bathroom and set the cat on the floor. The smart little feline immediately went to the litter box and used it. “Thank God. I was not looking forward to potty training this cat.” The kitten did a couple of cute hops and then started exploring the bathroom.
“I have the feeling that cat is going to be just fine.” At home here , I thought but didn’t say it.
“Thank you, Piper.”
“For what? I basically forced you to adopt a cat.”
“For helping me. I couldn’t have done this without you.” His gaze met mine.
The sentiment was nice, but he totally could have done it without me.
The sweet compliment, however, had woken a part of me that had been dormant for years.
I’d forgotten what it was like to be appreciated and to have a libido.
The unfamiliar urge between my legs reminded me of how long it had been.
The whole afternoon, we’d stood just a little too close to each other.
Now, we were standing a little too close to each other—in his bedroom.
His breath mingled with mine, and we shifted, our bodies facing one another.
One step was all it would’ve taken to bridge the gap between us.
Twelve inches were all that separated his body from mine.
It was tense as hell. “You could’ve done this on your own.
” My voice cracked, and I broke free from his gaze to stare at the white carpet.
“I could have.” His voice was a whisper too. “But I didn’t want to…” His hand, hesitant at first, slipped beneath my arm, his fingers splayed against the curve of my waist. A jolt shot through me, and I looked up, getting lost in his dark brown eyes.
The pulsing between my legs, not my brain, was running the show. My body wanted to touch his body. I relaxed and stepped a little closer. Our faces were inches apart, the heat from his chest searing into mine. I gulped. His hand, which had been resting solidly on my waist, squeezed my side.
An involuntary moan of desire slipped from my lips. He squeezed again but this time pulled my body to his. That was all it took.
I melted into him.
Our lips finally met, and the kiss was soft and tender, but his grip on my body was hard. Hard enough that it would leave bruises, and I liked it.
My legs trembled as I pressed myself against his erection. All I wanted was Gideon inside me.
The alarm on my watch chimed, and I jumped back like he was on fire.
“I can’t. I have to go. I’ll leave you a note if someone messages about the cat.
” For a moment, I’d forgotten that I wasn’t a rich socialite about to have an afternoon delight with her sexy neighbor.
I was a single mom whose daughter was waiting to get picked up at day care.
“Piper.” He followed me to the landing. “What’s going on?”
My bare feet slapped as I ran down the marble staircase away from him. “I have an appointment.” I rammed my feet into my sandals.
“What kind of an appointment?”
It was a personal question, but then again, his lips had just been on mine, so I supposed it was a valid one. “An important appointment.” I opened the door. “But Gideon.”
“Yeah?” He ambled down the stairs.
“You need to think of a better name than Cat.”
The slow smile transformed his entire face.
I blinked, committing the moment to memory.
I needed to forget all about him because this memory was going to be dangerous.
For the first time in a long time, I wanted something more from a man, and the hot hockey player next door was never going to be able to give it to me.