I nod, frowning at him. “Why do you ask?”
“You’re extra quiet.” He curls his fingers around mine.
“And you were extra ferocious.”
“In a bad way?”
I roll over so I can wrap my body around his, absorbing his strength, his warmth. “Never in a bad way.”
“Good.” He wraps his arm around my shoulders, tucking me close. “I’m tired.”
We’re both quiet for a moment, and I can feel his body slowly relaxing. He’s falling asleep, and I blurt out the one thing I keep thinking about off and on lately.
“I want a cat.”
His arm tightens around my shoulder. “A cat?”
His voice is deep and rumbly. A little sleepy sounding. I love these moments when it’s just the two of us in bed, naked and wrapped up in each other.
“Yes. A cat,” I admit.
“What kind? Do you have a special breed in mind?”
“I think a certain kind of cat, yes. Very specific.” I’m being vague on purpose because I know what I’m asking for is…silly.
But I want it. Her.
“Well, we know money is no object.” Spencer kisses my forehead. “Why don’t you go ahead and get the cat you want?”
“She’s, um…a little wild.”
He takes a while to respond. I’m sure he’s absorbing what I just said. “What cat are you talking about exactly?”
“Squirrel.”
“You want a squirrel? That’s just a glorified rat, Syl. No one wants a pet squirrel.”
“No, no. I don’t want asquirrel. I want the cat I called Squirrel. She was so cute. Totally wild. Followed me everywhere I went.” I glance up at him. “The gray cat that hung around the house in Big Sur. I want her.”
“You want to take her out of the only home she’s ever known and bring her here to the city?” He’s frowning, and it’s adorable. “She’s not a city cat. She wants to be wild and free. On the coast of California.”
“I think I can convince her to be happy here. I’m kind of wild, and so is she. I think we’re kindred spirits, Squirrel and me.” I press my face against his chest, a little embarrassed. I sound silly. I’m sure he’ll say yes, just to humor me, and I’m grateful for that. I am.
But I also want to prove to him that this cat will be good for me, and I’ll be good for her.
“I say get what you want. If you want to bring Squirrel here, bring her.” His voice turns stern. “If she fucks with my furniture, I’m kicking her out.”
“You are not.” I poke his side with my index finger, making him grunt. “You’ll love her. She’ll sit in your lap and purr for your attention.”
“Like you do?” He rolls me over, so I’m on sprawled on top of his naked body, my face in his. “I know how to make you purr.”
I roll my eyes. “You do not.”
He grins, his hand sliding over my butt cheek. “Oh, but I do.”
“Stop trying to distract me.” I bite at his bottom lip, so hard he yelps. “I’m calling Roland in the morning and asking him to catch her for me. I’ll make all the arrangements and fly her here.”
“Will he want to send the cat here?”