by Terry Towers
She emerged from the back room, strolled around to the front of the counter and went over to Mr. Tall, Dark and Handsome.
“I can take it from here Tonya,” she said over her shoulder to her co-worker before settling her bright blue eyes on the man before her.
“Hi, I’m Gabriella and you are?” she extended her hand to him, the golden bangles on her wrists clinking with the movement.
Slightly thrown off by the bad cop, good cop routine that seemed to be taking place, he took a moment to adjust his attitude and took her hand. “I’m Colin.” His larger hand closed around her dainty one, giving it a firm shake.
She smiled up at him, giving him her best seduction smile as she kept her hand in his several moments longer than necessary. As they looked at each other, his dark, nearly black eyes searching hers, she felt an intense sexual attraction flowing between them. On many occasions she had to force the flirting but in Colin’s case there was no forcing involved.
She released his hand, reached out and fingered the lapel of his black suit jacket. By the feel of the fabric and look of the cut she could tell it was an expensive suit. He was a lawyer; that was her guess anyhow. No one could argue with such gusto and look so “GQ” and not be a lawyer, or something of the sort.
“So are you single, Colin?” She chewed at her lower lip and was pleased to see his dark eyes lowering and pausing at her lips, then taking a moment to admire her cleavage before rising back up to catch her gaze.
He straightened up, squaring his shoulders. Oh, she had him right where she wanted him. He was interested. No doubt in her mind.
“Ummm. Yeah. I’m single.”
“Live alone?” She turned to the kittens and removed one from the carrier. It was a tiny long-haired female calico, perhaps ten weeks old. She held the kitten to her bosom and stroked its long, soft fur.
“As a matter of fact, I do.”
“House or apartment?”
He thrust his hands into his pockets and continued to eye her, a smile spreading across his lips. Damn it, even his teeth were perfect. Her pulse accelerated and her body became warm under his gaze.
Keep to the task at hand Gabby, she coached herself, as she continued to stroke the kitten’s soft fur. She had one goal, having those kittens go back home with him so he could take care of them. Emotions and her attraction to him couldn’t get in the way of that.
“House, just outside the city.”
She flashed him the most seductive smile she could muster as she placed the kitten back in the carrier. “In that case, they’ll be perfect pets for you.” She grabbed the handle of the carrier and pulled them down from the counter. “They’ll hunt for you and keep mice and other rodents away. They’ll cuddle with you at night. And you’d be amazed at how good having a pet is for your health. It’s a known fact that people with pets are less stressed.”
His smile faded as he clued into her little seduction plot. He took a step backward, waving his hands in front of him. “No. No. They’re not coming back home with me.”
“But…”
She was interrupted by one of the dog-walking volunteers entering the shelter with Oscar, a four-year-old English bulldog on a leash.
“Hey Gabby. Oscar had a good walk today.” He started to make his way around the counter to take the dog out back when Colin stopped him.
Colin’s eyes focused on the dog. “I have an idea.” He pointed toward Oscar. “I’ll trade you. I mean, look at him.”
The dog, sensing he was being talked about, sat back on his haunches and eyed Colin.
“That dog is what … say, fifty pounds, right?”
Gabriella shrugged. “Yeah, I guess something like that.”
Colin pointed to the kittens peeping out from behind the metal door trapping them in the carrier. “And they're tiny. No more than five or six pounds for the set, right? So less space, less hassle, less mess. I think you guys are getting the best deal here.”
Gabriella had to bite her lower lip to keep from laughing; she knew exactly where he was going with this and there was no way that was going to happen. She raised a cynical brow at him.
“So… you take the kittens. I take the dog.” He crouched down and gave Oscar a pat on the head. “See, he likes me. So what do you say? Kittens for the dog. Right?” He looked from Gabriella, to the volunteer and back to Gabriella.
“I’d be happy to see Oscar go to a great home, if you’re interested.”
Colin stood, a self-satisfied smile on his face. “Great, it’s a deal.” He extended his hand to her.
Grimacing, Gabriella shook her head. “It doesn’t work like that. You can have Oscar,” she raised a finger at him, silencing him before he could respond. “But we don’t do swaps here. You still need to take your kittens home with you.”
Colin thrust a hand in his hard, short-cut dark hair in frustration. “Listen, I’ll be straight with you.”
Placing the cat carrier in her hand on the floor and crossing her arms over her chest, Gabriella leaned back against the counter and waited for his next suggestion. She had to admit, his idea of a pet swap was inspired. Problem was that it was much easier to find homes for purebred dogs like Oscar than it was for four kittens.
“All right.”
“I’ve never owned a pet. My mother was allergic and my father felt they were a waste of money and a pain in the ass. I went out on my own and never bothered with getting a pet.” He shrugged. “I don’t even know what they eat.”
Gabriella lifted a brow at him. “Cat food.”
“Okay, well, all right I suppose I knew that much. But do you get what I’m trying to say?”
Gabriella picked up the cat carrier and motioned for him to follow her as she opened the front door and stepped into the parking lot. She spotted a black Mercedes and immediately knew it was his.
“I’ve never owned one animal; four is too much. I go away a lot for work. What then?”
“Have a friend drop by and feed them.”
“I’m new to the area. I don’t know a soul here.”
Grinning, Gabriella walked around to the passenger side of the two-door car, opened the door and set the carrier on the passenger seat. She spun around to find Colin was standing less than two feet from her. She could faintly smell his aftershave and the scent was intoxicating, inviting her to get closer. She fought the urge.
“You still haven’t answered what I do when I go away. I assume it’s not recommended to leave animals alone for days on end. And I’m serious when I say I have no idea what to buy them, or…”
Suspecting he’d have a pen tucked away in his inner pocket, Gabriella slipped her hand under his jacket and reached in. Colin didn’t move away, but his body stiffened as her hand grazed his chest before she pulled the pen from his pocket. Turning back toward the car she quickly wrote her name and phone number on the top of the cat carrier.
When she straightened back up she didn’t have to turn back around to know he’d closed the distance between them. The smell of his aftershave was stronger, more enticing. How would he react if she did what her body was demanding she do, pressed herself tight against him, and allowed her fingers to explore the hard muscle of his chest and abdominals that she knew would be under the overpriced dark blue shirt he was wearing?
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath in and slowly released it, gathering her strength to resist him before spinning around to face him. She was right. He’d taken another step and was so close that she didn’t even have to reach out to place the pen back into his inner jacket pocket.
“My number is on the top of the carrier. We can go get supplies tonight after I get off work, if you like.”
Colin placed a hand on the roof of the car at either side of her head, boxing her in.
“So is this an offer you extend to all the people who adopt pets from the shelter or am I getting preferential treatment?” He smiled down at her, his expression displaying a hint of arrogance.
Handsome and cocky, she mus
ed as their eyes met. It both turned her on and made her want to prove to him that he didn’t have the effect on her that he was thinking he had. Regardless of whether it was true or not.
She smirked up at him and shrugged. “You’d be the first.”
His smile widened.
Smug little bugger.
“But then again, people who come here normally know how to take care of a cat. So as my co-worker already stated, man up and take care of your kittens.”
Without waiting for his response, she ducked under his arm and walked away. Feeling his eyes on her, she put a little extra sway in her hips, for his benefit. Look all you want mister, but that’s all you’ll be doing. Even as she thought it, she knew that with a man as sexy as him that might be easier said than done.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Colin chuckled to himself as he watched Gabriella walk away from him and toward the shelter. Her hips swayed seductively as she walked and her faded blue jeans hugged her firm, round ass. Everything about her appealed to him, but what really appealed was her determination and quick wit.
He looked down at the cat carrier and four sets of bright blue eyes peered out at him, and they began meowing softly.
“What in the hell am I going to do with you guys?” he asked them, not expecting an answer. The little calico cat that Gabriella had been holding stuck its paw out from a hole in the grate, attempting to gain his attention.
With a sigh, he took a step back from the car and closed the car door. He supposed he could find another shelter and offer them enough money to take the kittens that they’d be insane to refuse, or he could place a classified ad and hope someone answered. They were cute. People should want them… right? Well, that is if you liked kittens and cats.
But then again, he knew if he did that he might as well kiss any chance with Gabriella goodbye. He suspected that she and the kittens were a package deal. Walking around to the other side of the car, he opened the door and slid in. His attention was once more diverted to the kittens, who had turned around inside the carrier and were attempting to see him through the small slits in the plastic back.
What the hell, it’s only four kittens. He shrugged and started the car. How much trouble could they really be anyhow?
Chapter 2
“That was a disgusting display, Gabby.” Tonya shook her head as she tsked at Gabriella.
Doing up the two buttons she’d undone for Colin’s benefit, Gabriella grinned. “A means to an end, my friend. A means to an end.”
“Uh-huh.” Tonya turned and made her way into the section where the dogs were being held.
“And I have a sort of date with him tonight.”
Tonya laughed and gave her head a shake. “So he took the kittens home in the hopes of taking you home?”
Gabriella shrugged. “Hey, they’re going to a good home. That’s all that matters. And if I recall correctly, I singlehandedly find forever homes for almost as many pets as the rest of you combined.” The shelter had four employees who processed adoption applications and dealt with potential pet owners. For the past several months, once Gabby realized she could use a little flirting to up her chances of sending an animal home – with the men at least – she’d been able to singlehandedly find forever homes for forty-five percent of the adoptions in the shelter.
“That’s 'cause they’re hoping to get a piece of ass.”
Gabriella huffed, ignoring her last remark. “In fact, Oscar is also going to a new home tonight.”
Tonya stopped in front of Oscar’s cage and turned, eyeing her suspiciously. “Who’s taking Oscar?”
Gabriella grinned. “Colin.”
Tonya’s face went blank a moment before she exploded in a fit of laughter. “Girl, there is no way in hell you’re going to convince that man to take chunky, fart-factory Oscar.”
Upon hearing his name, Oscar rose to his feet and clumsily made his way to the front of the cage he was housed in, eyeing both women.
Gabriella planted her hands on her hips and grinned. “Wanna bet?”
Tonya looked down at Oscar and then back up at her. “You were lucky to get him to take those kittens back home with him.” She waved her hand at Gabriella. “Girl, you may be hot and you may be able to talk men into just about anything when you get your pretty little mind made up, but there is no way that man is taking…” She pointed to Oscar. “That dog.”
Oscar whimpered and bowed his head.
“Then take the bet. Say your terms.”
“Hmmm.” Tonya turned to face Oscar fully, her expression one of deep consideration.
“Well?”
“Tell you what. You get him to take that dog I’ll clean the cat boxes and cages for two weeks. If you don’t you have two weeks of kitty duty.”
“All right. Fair enough.” Gabriella thrust her hand out for Tonya to shake to cement the deal.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Oh, hell no! You hearing me?”
“He’ll be a great guard dog and great company,” Gabriella protested, brushing past Colin and into his quaint, two-story home. In fact, his house was perfect for Oscar and the kittens. He was a little out of town, with no neighbours within barking distance.
She removed the lead from his black leather studded collar and passed it to Colin. Oscar immediately went into exploration mode, sniffing and snorting as he examined the living room. “Your house is perfect for Oscar. Lots of room to run around. Lots of space outside and no neighbours to disturb when he barks.”
Colin looked down at the leash in his hand and then back up at her, his mouth slightly agape.
“This will be good.” Knowing she was going to have to pile on a little charm to make this happen she reached out and touched his upper arm and ran her fingers up and under the arm of his t-shirt and back down again. The muscle flexed as if on reflex at her touch. “I promise.”
His jaw clenched as he looked down at her, over at the dog and back down at her. “You don’t understand. I can’t. As I said at the shelter, I go away on business a lot and could be gone for days, even a week or so. This is no place for a dog. It’s no place for cats, but you refused to take no for an answer.”
Gabriella looked over at Oscar, who’d jumped up onto the leather armchair and was in the process of falling asleep. There was no way Oscar was going back; this house was perfect for him.
“What if I offered to care for him when you go away?”
“I, ummmm.”
“No. No. Hear me out. Oscar needs a good stable home, and I don’t live too far from here. I’d be more than happy to come over a couple times a day to check in on him when you go away.”
Colin frowned, indecision filling his dark eyes. “Gabriella. It’s not that I don’t want to…”
She planted a hand on her hip and cocked a brow up at him.
“Well, you’re right, I don’t want him. But it’s more than that.”
She continued to eye him, scepticism in her gaze.
He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “I just can’t.”
Time to adjust my strategy. She sniffed and blinked a couple of times, thinking about all the animals that were being put down weekly. Tears dammit, I need tears! She covered her eyes with her palms and sniffed a second time; finally the tears began to gather and she lowered her hands.
“I wasn’t…” She sniffed again as the first tear rolled down her cheek. “They’re going to put him down, Colin, you have to take him!” She stepped into him and wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face into the nook between his shoulder and neck.
“Pleeeeease, Colin.”
His body stiffened against her for a moment, but quickly relaxed and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. The scent of his cologne drifted to her nose, a deep scent of woods and musk. As her arms wrapped around him, she could feel the lean muscle under his suit. Very nice.
“Gabriella. Oh fuck. Don’t… Please… I don’t deal well with women crying…”
Her mind took a sligh
t detour, wondering what he would look like naked and how nice it would be to run her fingers along his bare skin, tracing the curves of muscle. A heat began to form between her legs and she shuddered as a wave of desire raced through her.
Mistaking her shudder as one of upset, rather than what it truly was, Colin held her a bit tighter, stroking her silken locks. “It’s okay. I’ll take him. And keep the kittens. If you’ll stop crying I’ll take care of them.”
“O… Oh… Okay.” Fake sniff. She kept her gaze cast downward as she reluctantly pulled away from him. Taking the palms of her hands, she wiped at her eyes, pretending to wipe away the tears. She felt slightly remorseful for her deceit, but as she peered back at Oscar and the nice new home he now had, the guilt faded quickly away.
“So you’re fine? Right?”
Gabriella nodded, giving him a bright smile. “I’m great. Thank you for this.”
Colin frowned, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at her. He was on to her, but too bad. Too late now.
“Come on out to my car, we can run into town and get some cat and dog toys and food and I can get you to sign the adoption forms for Oscar.”
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
He’d been had. He had no doubt about it. Colin looked over Gabriella’s shoulder to see Oscar making himself at home on his leather armchair. The dog snorted and shook his head, a string of slobber dripping from his mouth and whipping back and forth until the line of slobber broke, dripping onto the floor.
Oh dear God! He groaned inwardly, his stomach turning ever so slightly.
“Is he supposed to be doing that?”