Smiling down at him, Juliana sat there scratching his chin until he drifted to sleep then rubbed and caressed the back of his big head. She tried to ignore the fact that she needed to pee as he slept peacefully in her lap.
Finally, after a half hour or so, he raised his head, meowed again, stood, and stretched. He bashed her in the cheeks a time or two then leapt gracefully to the railing, using her bladder as a convenient launching pad. He meowed once more and then was gone. Juliana sped into the house to pee before she wet her pants.
When she returned to wash the dishes, she realized she’d left the screen open when she heard the cat meow again. He greeted her as he leapt onto the kitchen counter, bashing his face against her shoulder as she watched him in amusement and scratched his chin.
“You’re a pushy guy, aren’t you?” she murmured, smiling when he purred in ecstasy and meowed in affirmation.
His ear was torn up on one edge, but otherwise, he looked to be in good health. She imagined he must make the rounds of the neighborhood and decided to ask about him when she visited the neighbors that morning.
Bill and Gladys Hawkins had owned the house next door for many years and moved there permanently after Mr. Hawkins had retired from his job in San Antonio. They’d watched Juliana and Allen and their various siblings grow into adulthood over the years. It had been much too long since her last visit. Allen had said he would let them know Juliana was on her way out, so they could look out for her since she was staying there alone.
After putting the cat outside, she closed the screen door. She started the shower and gave it a chance to run for a little while, thankful she’d remembered to turn the water heater on when she’d gotten there in the middle of the night. Once undressed, she stepped into the shower and was startled when she heard the cat in the house again.
“Dang it, how are you getting inside?”
“Meow!”
“You’d better not spray in this house, you hear me? My Aunt Vi will kill me if you do!”
The cat came in the bathroom and hopped up on the toilet seat and sat there watching her through the transparent shower curtain.
“Did you figure out how to get Happy’s doggy door open?”
“Meow.”
She washed her hair, keeping an eye on him, but he just sat there watching her and eventually curled up on the toilet seat. The nausea she’d experienced earlier had faded, but as her mind wandered back over the last day, the sadness she felt was suffocating. She was dressed and toweling her hair dry when her depressing thoughts were interrupted by a voice at the back door.
“Knock-knock!”
“Just a second!” The cat followed her to the kitchen as she went to the back door and greeted Mrs. Hawkins.
“Honey! It is so good to see you!” The older woman greeted her with a hug after Juliana opened the screen and welcomed her inside.
“It’s good to see you too, Gladys. Where’s Bill?”
“When Allen called us last night and told us you were coming, Bill decided that you might like to go for a ride like we used to. He’s getting the boat cleaned up and gassed right now. I came over to see if you’d like to do that. Are you okay, honey? You look tired. Uh-oh, I see that old toot has laid claim to you,” she said, squatting down to pet the cat’s head. He ran right to her.
“Is he yours?”
“No. He’s laid claim to the whole neighborhood. He roams at will. Bill is mad at me over him right now, actually, Old Charmer.” Gladys scratched his chin, and he purred loudly then twined himself around her ankles, nibbling on her toe lightly and making the older woman giggle.
“Why is Bill mad at you over a cat?”
“Bill found the bag of dry cat food I had stashed in the pantry. I’ve been feeding him, like several of the other neighbors who have cats. That’s why he’s so healthy looking. We’re all feeding him. I haven’t seen any pests since he’s been around, and I figure I might as well make him welcome if he’s performing a community service.
“Speaking of community service.” Gladys chuckled as she lifted his floppy, purring body into her arms then lifted his tail, “I’ve been thinking about having him neutered but…” She looked into his big, green eyes and let him bash her in the cheek with his head. “I haven’t had the heart. Being the man about town is part of his charm, you know? Plus, it won’t stop him from marking his territory. He’s too old. There is a whole new generation of big, charcoal-grey tomcats that are kittens right now. Many in the neighborhood would be happy to see him go, but I think he’s just so sweet, don’t you?”
The cat looked over at Juliana and meowed softly as if to say, “Who loves you, baby?” and rubbed her hand when she scratched under his chin again.
“He likes you, Juliana! So tell me how you’re doing. It’s been ages since we saw you.”
Juliana fixed her a cup of coffee and sat down for a talk with Gladys, skimming over more recent developments and generally convincing Gladys that she was fine and merely in need of some rest and relaxation. Bill came and collected his wife a while later, greeting her happily.
Juliana agreed to a boat ride later that day, after she’d had a chance to get settled, agreeing to come over when she was ready. After the Hawkinses departed, she unpacked and then lay down on the bed, hoping to relax a bit. Juliana loved the Hawkinses, but she needed a little more time to unwind before she had to pretend to be okay for them. She closed her eyes, facing the feelings she’d had to stuff down earlier.
What was she going to do?
She had gotten to a point in her life where she was ready for a change. She’d felt brave, and that had been due to her time spent with Ash. He’d made her feel good about taking chances, where before she’d just wanted the status quo. Status quo was how she’d managed to bob along with old what’s-his-face for as long as she had. She didn’t want that any longer.
But now, taking chances might have to be left behind in favor of maintaining a little stability. It crushed her heart to think of having a baby at this point in her life. She’d hoped to leave the job behind before she had kids because she knew if she continued working in her current position that she’d hardly ever see her baby.
Her savings were substantial, but she’d have to keep working to put a roof over their heads. The thought of a daycare worker being the one to see her child’s first step and to hear his or her first word was the thought that put her over the edge as the dam burst on her tears.
The betrayal she felt was like an anvil on her heart as she remembered watching him be drawn onto the dance floor and the proprietary way in which one of them had removed his hat and put it on her own head. The tears flowed and sobs broke from her as she remembered the cold way he’d pulled back from her and used her name instead of any of the familiar endearments she’d become so comfortable with.
Juliana woke later when her stomach rumbled. Judging by how the light had changed, she must have slept a few hours. When she glanced up at the clock, she was surprised to see that the cat had hopped up on the bed and curled himself into a little ball, sleeping up against her. She made a mental note to figure out how he was getting in the house. He woke when she patted him and came to her, loving on her cheeks and her hands some more.
“You know, you remind me of someone I know. Or thought I knew. Turns out he was a tomcat, too. Maybe I should call you Ashes since you’re such a pretty, dark grey color. Would you like that?”
“Meow.” Bash on the cheek.
“Ashes it is, then.”
“Meow.” Bash on the chin.
“I’m hungry. Let’s make some lunch.”
It was after one o’clock when she put the washed dishes in the drainer, put on her shoes, and locked up the house. She went around to the Hawkinses’ back door, and Ashes was hot on her heels until he saw Bill. The cat beat a hasty retreat, stopping to look back at Juliana, seeming to wink at her before he disappeared through the hedge, purring.
“I think you’ve found a lifelong friend there, Juliana
,” Bill said. “Any chance you’d take him with you when you go back home?”
“Oh, I don’t know, Bill. I’m not home much. It would be cruel to have a pet like him cooped up in the house all day long. I couldn’t give him the care and attention with the kinds of hours I have to work.” She grinned at him and added, “Nice try, though.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“I guess he’s claimed me.”
“Do us all a favor and claim him right back?”
“Bill, will you stop!” Gladys said, trying to hide her laughter behind an admonishing tone. “The poor girl just got here.”
The Hawkinses were thoughtful and seemed to sense her quiet mood and so didn’t press her too much during the boat ride, letting her enjoy the cool, quiet afternoon. They fished for a little while, but nothing was biting, so they rode over to a restaurant that had a boat dock and had supper together.
The water was peaceful in the canal as Bill motored down to his boat dock and lift. He helped the girls from the boat, and then they helped him get it secured and winched back out of the water.
Juliana felt better for having been in the company of good friends, and being out on the water always helped her to feel loose and relaxed. She was pleasantly surprised that the motion of the boat over the water had not bothered her stomach at all, especially after eating, and for that she was especially grateful.
After thanking them for dinner and hugging them both good night, Juliana walked back to the house. She unlocked the back door and reached inside to flip on the light.
* * * *
Exhausted, dirty, and utterly spent, Ash finally pulled next to the curb in front of the house Allen had given him directions to. Seeing her white Camaro parked in the drive filled him with a mix of jubilation and humility. He had some explaining to do.
Getting out, he went to the front door and knocked. No one answered. He knocked a couple more times. Maybe she’d gone out with friends for supper. He climbed in his truck and rode back into Rockport. He picked up supper and brought it back to eat so he could be there when she got home. It was nearly twilight, and she still wasn’t there when he returned, so he lowered the windows and ate his take-out supper.
After he’d eaten his sandwich, he put his seat back and pulled his hat down to cover his eyes. He nodded off for a while, keeping an ear open for sounds of her return. He awoke to the strangest sensation tickling his fingers. He reached up to tilt his hat back on his head and looked into the eyes of the biggest damn tomcat he’d ever seen.
“Well, hello, big fella. Who might you be?” he murmured, allowing the cat to continue licking his fingers. He must have smelled Ash’s food and jumped in the truck to investigate. “You’re a big old boy, aren’t you?”
“Meow.” The cat climbed in his lap and rubbed his face against Ash’s fingers then bumped his chest with the side of his head.
“You marking your territory? You’re doing a better job than I’ve done.”
“Meow.” The cat rubbed the side of his head against Ash’s jaw and turned to be petted.
“You know any pretty, redheaded city girls staying around here?” Ash asked, making conversation with the tom as he rubbed against his chest over and over again. He placed his paws on Ash’s shoulder and rubbed his face against Ash’s cheek, and Ash detected a faint trace of Juliana’s perfume.
“Ah-hah. You’ve been making time with my woman, haven’t you?”
“Meow.” The cat bashed his cheek again. Yes, that was Juliana’s scent. He noticed a light come on inside her house. Relief raced through him, chased by trepidation. He knew from checking in with Teresa that Juliana had not called in and had left her phone turned off, as she said she would. She had no idea what had transpired in the last twenty-four hours. When she set eyes on him, she’d probably be ready to tell him off but good.
From the back of the house, a voice he loved called out, “Ashes!”
The cat leapt gracefully across him and out of the truck window, streaking across the lawn around to the back of the house.
“Looks like she’s got you properly trained. Maybe I should take a few lessons, cat.”
He paused as he reached for the door handle. She called the cat Ashes?
* * * *
The cat streaked in through the screen door, meowing and fussing like he hadn’t seen her in a week. He rubbed against her legs and stretched up to make biscuits against her butt like she’d brought him supper.
She chuckled. “You big brownnoser, what makes you think I have food for you?”
“Meeeow!” he yowled as she opened the bag that contained dry cat food Gladys had given her, to get Bill off of her back. Juliana put the bowl of food on the floor by the back door, and Ashes ran to it and got busy. She frowned when the doorbell rang, knowing the Hawkinses would both come to the back door as was their custom. She went to the door thinking it must be another neighbor coming by to check on her.
Turning on more lights as she walked through the house, she was unprepared to open the door and see Ash Peterson, hat in hand, standing on the porch. She was speechless. He chewed on his lip, either searching for the right words to say, or waiting for her to say something. She wasn’t sure which.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Ash figured it might be best to let her say whatever she needed to say right from the beginning. Not allowing her to say her piece was what got him into trouble yesterday, so he would allow her to say or do whatever she needed.
Juliana looked beautiful, dressed in a white, long-sleeved top that hugged all her pretty curves just right, revealing a hint of her luscious cleavage. He couldn’t stop it when his cock tingled. He took a calming breath because he thought she might not take too kindly to seeing him with a hard-on when he still had explaining to do.
She opened the screen door and stepped out, allowing it to swing closed behind her. She crossed her arms, unknowingly pressing her breasts up, then he noticed the snug, super-faded blue jeans she had on and her bare feet.
Damn, but she was the most gorgeous thing he’d ever seen. His dick would’ve barked and howled if it had been capable. He was such a horn-dog for her. She gave him the once-over and glared at him venomously when she noticed the pronounced bulge at his groin. That seemed to jump-start her mouth because her lips popped open, and she sputtered for at least ten seconds before she finally got some traction.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve showing up here, Ash Peterson. Everything I needed to know I heard and saw yesterday and last night. You were right. There’s no commitment between us, and maybe I don’t know you as well as I thought I did. You got over the disappointment of my news pretty quickly, judging by how fast you were able to get up to The Dancing Pony last night, to avail yourself of no less than four obviously willing women.” She poked him in the chest with a fingertip.
“I don’t know why you’re here. You said everything you needed to say when you cut me to the bone yesterday at the ranch.” She pushed him backward off the porch, and he didn’t offer her any resistance. He felt like he owed her. She batted against his chest with her balled-up little fist. If she wanted to get a few licks in, as well, the good Lord knew he deserved those, too.
He let her pummel him, staying close enough that, if she lost her balance lashing out, he could catch her. “I can’t imagine what more you might have to say that would make it worth it to you to make the long drive out here. You are cruel, unfaithful, irresponsible, pushy, and just plain mean! What the hell is that smell? And why are you so filthy?”
Backing away and leaving wasn’t an option. This was his one chance. “I broke down last night on my way here. Between Ashburn and Wilton. I had to walk back to Ashburn for a mechanic, in the rain. I had to walk through some low-water crossings. The water must have been full of that stuff they spread on the fields out here. I know I stink to high heaven. I must look like a drowned rat. I’ve been trying to call you since I got back on the road this afternoon. It took that long to get my truck’s
generator replaced.”
A light came on next door, and the front door opened. A man poked his head out and called to her, “You okay, honey?”
She turned to the neighbor and waved in a friendly fashion. “I’m fine, Bill. This is someone from Divine. Thanks again for supper.”
The man nodded and frowned at Ash before going back inside. Another light came on, on the other side. He was grateful that she had people looking out for her.
She beckoned to him as she waved at that neighbor, too. “Come on inside before someone thinks I’m being accosted by a transient. But leave your damn boots on the porch. Don’t say a word. I’m not ready to listen. Your clothes are as bad as your boots. Come with me.”
He followed her through the house to a bathroom down the hall. Ashes meowed to him in friendly fashion as he passed the kitchen.
“There are towels in the linen closet. Put all your clothes on the floor in the hallway here. I’ll wash them for you because that cannot possibly be healthy to be wearing something that smells that bad. You’re about the same size as my uncle, Charlie. I’ll put a change of clothes on the counter for you. Take a shower and then we’ll talk.”
Her eyes flashed blue fire at him as she glowered and poked his chest again. “And don’t for one second think you are even close to being off the hook, you sorry bastard. Just because I’m willing to wash your clothes doesn’t mean I give a damn what you have to say, only that I’ll let you say it, and then you can drive your ass right back to Divine.”
He nodded and watched her shut the door, before unbuttoning his shirt. He allowed the smile to form on his lips once she was gone. Damn, but he loved her fiery spirit. His granite-hard cock agreed, judging by its long attention span. She was willing to hear him out. He’d explain, and Juliana would realize the misunderstanding. Then he’d throw himself upon her mercy.
He placed the clothes in a semi-damp pile on the floor in the hallway and groaned gratefully as he stepped into the steaming hot shower, leaving the bathroom door open for her.
Box Set: The Divine Creek Ranch Collection, Volume 2 [Book 4 - Rosemary's Double Delight (MFM), Book 5 - Spurs and Heels (MF)] (Siren Publishing Romance Collection) Page 39