“That’s good news. So let's go get him.”
“What? No, I can't do that.”
“Why not?”
“As much as I'd love to, my dad would never go for it. He doesn't allow pets in his rentals. You know that.”
“So? Who's going to tell him?”
“I'm trying to do this right, Kent, and that means following his rules, especially the ones he has set for his properties. I really don't want to mess this up.”
Kent smiles, taking a small step toward me and running his thumb across my bottom lip. “Rules are meant to be broken, Perri. I think we've proven that already.” He nods, and pulls his keys from his pocket, tossing them up in the air and catching them. “Let's go. Point me in the right direction.”
I stand quietly, trying to decide what side of this dangerous line I want to land on. I can do what I want. It’s my choice if I want to break the rules and ignore the fences my father's placed around me. I can choose to risk everything I've been working for. Everything that I’d been hoping for.
Or I can be his good soldier. Follow the orders and hope eventually he’ll reward me with a little respect and some responsibility.
“You coming?” he asks as he pulls open my door for me.
“Yeah,” I say, dropping into the seat.
Kent climbs in next to me and starts the car. He sits quietly as we drive out of the parking lot. I'm looking out the window, trying to understand what Kent's doing, what I'm feeling, and where the hell this is going.
“So are you going to give me the address? Your kitten is waiting for you.” he says.
I'm torn, and I feel like I’m being shred to pieces inside. The feelings this man drives into my body are incredible, it's like nothing I've ever felt before. But the fear of ruining this opportunity with my father is fighting back. I know right from wrong, I know the expectations placed at my feet. How can I just abandon my plans? Abandon my strategy for finally getting a foothold in my dad’s company and earning his trust.
But I also know what I want, and it's sitting right beside me. It’s light and easy. It makes me feel good. Sitting beside Kent, I don’t feel like I have anything to prove.
The weight of his hand falls on mine, and he braids our fingers together. Flicking my eyes in his direction, he squeezes my hand again, and smiles as he keeps staring out the windshield. I give him the address to the vet’s office.
“So,” he says, “what do you think about Poseidon?”
“Poseidon?”
“Yeah, for the cat. It’s the perfect name for a cat you found by the sea.”
What is going on here? This is so confusing!
“Kent, look, I'm not sure what you're trying to do, but it needs to stop.”
“What I'm trying to do?” he repeats it as a question and half laughs as he says it. “I'm trying to help you, that's what I'm doing.”
“I think you're trying to get me fired. I think you’re trying to screw up my chance to work for my dad.”
He chuckles as he releases my hand and turns the wheel. “We're here.”
Looking out the window, we're at the veterinary clinic. “No, Kent, I can't—”
Cutting me off, he says, “If he finds out, I'll tell him the cat is mine.” His eyes connect with mine and he opens his lids wide. “It won't fall back on you at all, I won't let it. You have nothing to lose.”
“You would do that?”
“Why not? What's going to happen? He makes me move out? Come on, Perri, there are worse things in life than your father getting pissed.”
He isn't worried at all about any repercussions. I admire that about him. His fearlessness is hot as hell. There's something about a man who isn't afraid to take control, a man who does what feels good in the moment.
Kent climbs out, and I reluctantly follow his lead. I'm hesitant, but also really excited. This kitten stole my heart the second I found him, I'm not sure how I'm going to leave without him when I lay eyes on his sweet face again.
He waits for me at the front of the car and reaches for my hand. I take his without a second thought. I love the way my hand feels in his. It sends a rush of electricity zipping up my arm and through my chest.
He flicks his eyes down the second our hands touch, and I think he feels it too. There's a moment, a single second where his eyes are boring into mine, and I just know the same shock hit his system.
Kent's lips thin, and I watch him inhale a slow, deep breath. Lifting my hand to his mouth, he kisses the back of my palm and starts to walk.
We go into the building, and the vet tech brings out the kitten. Instantly I smile as he places him in my arms. The tiny little fur ball looks up and meows at me. His voice is so soft and high pitched it fills my heart.
“Aw,” I say, drawing out the word as I scratch him on the head.
“He is really cute,” Kent says, reaching over and scratching him too.
“He really is, isn't he?”
“We'll take him,” he says to the vet tech.
“Kent, wait, we really should—”
“Take him home,” he says, cutting me off. Winking, he pulls out his wallet. “How much is the total bill?” He walks up to the desk and pays before I have a minute to protest.
“You didn’t have to do that,” I say. “They already had my card on file, and I’m not even sure this is a good idea.”
“Do you want the cat?”
“Yeah, I want the cat, but—”
“Are you happy?”
“Yes, I'm happy, I'm very happy, but I—”
“That's all I want. I want to see you happy.” He tucks his wallet back in his pocket and kisses me on the forehead. “Seeing you happy means the world to me. So please consider this a gift.”
As I settle in the front seat with the warm little kitten in my lap, I feel it. Total happiness. “Thank you, Kent,” I say as he gets behind the wheel. “I love him.”
We drive back to the house talking about the kitten, and marveling over his tiny little paws and sweet orange coat. The closer we get to the house the cloudier the sky becomes, and as we pull into the driveway, the sky is super dark over the water. I hear low rumbles of thunder in the distance.
“We're really supposed to get hit hard with this storm,” I say, heading to look out the glass doors as we get inside. “I hope we don't have to evacuate.”
I can see from here that the waves are huge, building into white caps as they topple over and spill onto the beach. The wind is beginning to whip the palm trees back and forth as the thick and heavy clouds roll in.
Kent comes up behind me and lowers a glass of wine down in front of my face. “I guess we'll have to find something to do if we lose power.” He winks and stands next to me. “How's Poseidon?”
“No, that's not his name. That reminds of a grumpy, old God, not a cute little kitten.”
“All right, what are you thinking?” he asks, sipping from his glass.
“Blaze.”
“Blaze?” he asks, talking into his glass.
“Yeah, he looks like a Blaze, with his orange fur and dark red stripes, it fits him perfectly.” Moving to the couch, I lay him down on the pillow. He curls into a half ball, then stretches his arms up over his head as he falls asleep.
“Blaze it is.” He tips his glass, saluting the small kitten. His phone rings, and my heart sinks. Kent pulls it out and looks at the screen. “Sorry, I’ve got to take this.” He gives me an awkward half grin and steps out on the back patio.
Sliding the glass doors closed behind him, I watch him as he walks further away and peeks back at me over his shoulder.
I don't like this. I don't like these secret conversations. There's no reason for it, unless he. . .
Has another girlfriend. . . No, he’s not cheating.
We've spent every day together since he moved in, it's not another woman.
So what is it?
Tapping my finger against the glass, my brain struggles to come up with a solid reason.