4. Chapter Four #2
“They’re all to be worried about at this size. How did he wind up with them?”
“I think he said someone left them in front of the store. Anyway, they need regular feeding, and he can’t handle that and managing the store.” I shrugged.
“Which is why I’m grateful you invited me to stay.” Sam rounded the corner and came into the great room. He caught Noah’s gaze. “I’m so far out of my element.”
The trainer smiled. “I’m here to help. I’ll watch while you feed them, and we can talk about how to integrate Tibby into this little group. That’s why I’m here, right?” His gaze shot between Sam and me.
I nodded.
Sam sat in his spot on the couch. He put a pile of tissues in the box and gently lifted Carlos.
Peaches, suddenly awakened, started squawking.
Noah eyed her. “Do you have any issues if I pick her up?”
Sam shook his head as he slanted Carlos at the best angle to feed him. “Of course not. They need to be handled so they’re comfortable with humans. It’s not like there’s a mother to scare away. Yes, that’s a good boy. Keep drinking.”
After Noah scooped up the vociferous Peaches, I gently removed Jack. Who cuddled against me and kept sleeping.
When Sam finished feeding Carlos, he handed the bottle to Noah. “I assume you know what you’re doing?”
Noah grinned. “Oh yeah.” And, clearly like a pro, he began the process of ensuring the little gal had enough food.
“You’ll be next.” Sam gestured to Jack. “You okay with that?”
“Absolutely. I need to be corrected now. If you take the ten o’clock feeding and head to bed, then I can do one and four.”
He shook his head. “That’s too much to ask.”
I shook my head right back. “I’ll sleep from four to ten. If you do seven before you go to work, then we’re good. And I can nap between feedings. And maybe get a bit of work done. I emailed Lolita and put her in charge for a few days.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “Really?”
I shrugged. “Look, I’ve been wanting to take a real vacation for a few years.
The problem is we just keep growing. Lolita needs to be tested—to see if she’s up for the task of leading.
Better for me to do this when I’m next to the computer rather than when I’m in some foreign country and unreachable. ”
“Foreign country, eh?” Noah grinned. “And which country would you go to, precisely?”
“How much time do you have?” I grinned. “I did a bit of traveling in my twenties. Before my marriage. Since I’ve been on my own, though, I’ve been busier than hell. Keeps me out of trouble, but doesn’t give me the opportunity to scratch the itch.”
“Itch?” Sam finished wiping Carlos, pressed a kiss to the kitten’s head, and tucked him back under the blanket.
Does he realize what he just did? It’s so adorable.
I cleared my throat. “The desire to immerse myself in other cultures. To see far-flung lands. I haven’t gotten away enough.
” I gestured around my cabin. “Don’t get me wrong—this is the most beautiful place on earth.
But seeing the Swiss Alps, or the Serengeti, or the outback? All on my list.”
“That’s quite a list.” Noah handed the bottle to Sam. “She was hungry.”
“Oh. Did she have enough?”
“I think so.” Noah began rubbing her belly—while holding the tissue close.
Sam rose and headed back to the kitchen.
I continued to stroke Jack’s head. “Soon, buddy. You’ll get your food soon.” For my trouble, he continued to snooze.
Noah gestured to where Sam had disappeared and then cocked his head.
I shrugged.
He rolled his eyes. Then arched an eyebrow.
Again, I shrugged.
“You’re going to have to resolve this.”
I winced. He was talking about Christmas. Whether everyone in town knew that something had happened at Christian and Noah’s Christmas party, I couldn’t be certain. Certainly those two and Miss Esmeralda were aware. “Eventually. Right now, these guys are the priority.” I held Jack closer.
“Bottle’s ready.” Sam entered the room, and a heaviness descended. He looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his weary shoulders.
“You need a bed. Badly.”
His eyes went wide. Then he shook his head. “I’m fine. I should have some coffee or something.”
Noah rose, grabbed the bottle, and propelled Sam to sit back down on the couch.
He handed me the bottle and then he sat back down.
As I settled into feeding Jack—which was easier than I expected—Noah gestured to the box of kittens.
“Now, I love Tibby. She’s done amazing in training and is one of the youngest pet-therapy dogs I’ve ever graduated. ”
I might’ve puffed my chest in pride.
“She’s also just a sixteen-month-old puppy. Her obedience skills are excellent, but she’s still got plenty of play in her.”
“Well, yeah.” Absolutely true. If she was in her vest, then her attention was laser focused on me. The rest of the time, she was still a bit of a goofball. I hoped she’d always have that joie de vivre. “What are you trying to say?”
“Well, she’s great with Snowy and Jasmine.”
Noah’s middle-aged cats.
“That’s true.” I checked to make certain Jack was still drinking.
“The cats have the maturity—and the good sense—to stay out of the way of a loopy lab. Every interaction is on their terms. And I’d never force them to spend time with the dogs if they didn’t want to. They sort of get a kick out of putting puppies in their place.”
“Teaching the dogs to treat cats with respect. I was incredibly grateful to them.” A weird thing to say, but the two had been wonderful with Tibby.
“But two-week-old kittens aren’t steady on their feet. They can’t escape if the dog becomes too much for them.”
“Oh.” Disappointment settled. “But the videos—”
Noah held up his hand. “Not a good idea to learn about kitten rearing from videos. The circumstances might be different. Dogs also have different temperaments. Now, Tibby’s very gentle. She might also have a predator instinct in her. Kittens might trigger her, and she might think they’re prey.”
Sam pressed a hand to his chest.
“It’s okay.” Noah reached across the box to rest his hand on Sam’s forearm. “We just have to ensure Tibby can’t get to them until they’re old enough.”
“When might that be?” Again, I checked on Jack—who kept drinking.
“Five weeks at the earliest. Now, that’s for actual introductions when they can be in the same space without a barrier.
Until then, the kittens are going to need to be crated.
Unless Tibby is. She can’t be able to get to the little ones.
” Noah gestured to the crate Sam had brought them in.
“That’s a good, safe place for them. When they’re a bit more mobile, you’ll want to get them something bigger.
” He pointed to Tibby’s massive crate. “That would be perfect.”
I burst out laughing. “Oh, that’ll confuse her to no end.” Then I sobered. “So she’s not meeting them tonight.”
Noah shook his head. “But I’m down for her sniffing their blanket.
She needs to be aware her space is about to be invaded.
Hopefully she’ll simply be curious. Since that’s her nature, I’m pretty confident everything will be fine.
In three weeks, I’m happy to come back to facilitate formal introductions. ”
At that moment, Jack peed on me.
I groaned.
“Oh man.” Sam leapt up, grabbed some tissues, and headed over to me.
Sam tried to wipe my shirt—rather ineffectually—and Noah came over and took Jack. He wiped the kitten and put him in the box.
Still Sam tried to pat my shirt. Right at my abs. Vigorously.
My cock perked up and took notice of the attention.
For fuck’s sake. You’re covered in cat pee and you’re interested in sex right now?
My libido answered by kicking up a gear.
I eased Sam away from me. “It’s all good.
” I rose. “I’m going to wash myself off and get changed.
Noah, can you help Sam organize the kittens in the crate so they’re comfortable and safe?
We can let Tibby sniff the blanket, and then Sam needs to go to bed. I can do the next three feedings.”
“But—” Sam rubbed his forehead.
“No buts.” Noah laid a hand on his biceps.
“Soren’s right. You’re clearly exhausted and you might make a mistake.
Or fall asleep behind the wheel. Or have an accident at the store tomorrow.
If he can take the feedings, then let him.
You’re still taking care of the little ones.
You brought them here—where they’ll be safe. ”
Sam blinked repeatedly. “I just—” He swallowed.
“I know.” Noah continued to press his hand to Sam. “I really do get it. I’ve had so many pets in my life, and it’s always scary. You’re responsible for a creature who will never be able to take care of themselves. At least kids grow up—eventually. Or so I’m told.” He chuckled.
Slowly, tension left Sam’s body. He met my gaze. “I’m good.”
“Perfect. I’ll return with Tibby in about twenty minutes. If you need more time—”
“Nope.” Noah waved me off. “That’s perfect. We’ll see you then.”
On that note, I headed to my bedroom.