Courting The Cat Whisperer: A Nocturne Falls Universe story

by Wynter Daniels

  Using his key fob, he unlocked his truck and opened the passenger side door for Jordan. He offered her a hand up, which she took.

  Her phone chirped with a message. As soon as she sat in the cab, she took out her cell and smiled down at it. “We’re good. Mallory and her fiance would be happy to pick up my cat-sitting duties, and even help out with my other clients while we’re away. We can leave today, as long as that’s all right with you.”

  “You mean I have a choice in all of this?” He resisted a chuckle.

  A playful grin lifted one side of her sexy lips. “Of course you do, silly.” She pulled her door shut.

  As he circled the truck and climbed inside, his whole body tingled with anticipation. Tomorrow might very well be the day he found out who he was. He just prayed that he’d finally be able to look forward to a future without worrying about his past.

  Jordan checked the navigation app on her phone again. They’d left Nocturne Falls a few minutes after one in the afternoon, and so far they were making good time, even though Harry was driving her car slower than she would. She’d suggested he take the first shift, mostly because he seemed antsy, and she’d figured that driving would be better for him than merely staring out the car windows. Four hours into their trip, he seemed perfectly content to stay at the wheel.

  She glanced into the back seat where Kitty had curled up and gone to sleep a little while after they’d gotten on the road. “Your cat is a champion passenger. Mallory’s cat, Hazel, would be hanging by her claws from the headliner by now.”

  “Kitty’s used to riding with me. During our first month or two in Nocturne Falls, she went everywhere with me. I think she was afraid to let me out of her sight.” He passed a slow-moving truck. “What time does your app say we should reach our destination?”

  “About eight o’clock if the weather and traffic conditions hold up.”

  Kitty popped her head up a moment before a bolt of lightning lit up the horizon. Massive grey storm clouds came out of nowhere. The traffic slowed to a crawl as the heavens opened up and a monsoon moved in.

  “I guess I should have kept my mouth shut,” Jordan quipped.

  They crossed into Florida at a snail’s pace. Four hours later, the rain finally let up.

  “Look!” Jordan pointed to the sign announcing the town. “Welcome to Cat’s Paw Cove, established 1625.”

  “Hmph.” Harry slowed their speed.

  “What is it?” she asked him.

  “I was hoping for…I don’t know, a spark of familiarity.” His brow knitted. “Something.”

  Jordan patted his thigh. “Maybe when you see more of it. Give it time.”

  They drove along Whiskers Lane, past a bookstore called Tales, and other businesses with feline-themed names, like Cat’s Eye Jewelry Shop, and Claws-N-Coifs Salon. Loads of delicious-looking confections filled the display window of a closed bakery tempted Jordan. “This place is adorable,” she said. With a glance back at the bakery, she set her hand over her suddenly-growling belly.

  Harry turned left onto Sherwood Boulevard, where there were even more quaint shops.

  “It certainly appears to be charming.” Harry gestured toward a lighted sign on a high stone wall announcing Sherwood Manor. “I wonder what that is.”

  In the dark, Jordan couldn’t make out more than a lush garden path beyond the imposing wrought iron gates. “Whatever it is, it looks fancy.” She rolled down her window and breathed in the beach-scented breeze. Kitty jumped onto her lap and purred. Jordan petted the cat’s back.

  A small crowd milled around the sidewalk in front of a restaurant up ahead. The aromas of burgers and tummy fried foods reminded Jordan that she hadn’t eaten anything besides a cookie in the morning, and then a pack of cheese and crackers from a convenience store along the highway. “I’m starving.” She read the neon sign with the flashing cat on it. “Purry’s Burgers. I’m game.”

  “Why not.” Harry parked on the street then opened a backpack-style cat carrier, and Kitty hopped into it. Her adorable face filled the clear plastic bubble near the top.

  “That looks like fun,” Jordan said to the cat.

  It’s okay, Kitty told her. At least I can go places in it where people don’t usually let cats. People can be snobs!

  “I’d let you go anywhere it’s safe,” Jordan told the cat.

  “What?” Harry asked.

  Jordan shook her head. “Nothing. Kitty likes the backpack.”

  Inside, Earth Angel played on the old-fashioned jukebox. A rotating glass display case on the long counter showcased gigantic slices of coconut cake, lemon meringue pie, and huge chocolate brownies.

  A dark-haired waitress wearing an iconic red and white checkered uniform with a white apron approached them holding a couple of menus. She narrowed her eyes at the cat carrier then just smiled. “Counter or booth?”

  Harry took Jordan’s hand. “Booth, please.”

  The middle-aged woman’s shoes squeaked on the black and white tile floor as she led them to a booth upholstered with sparkly red vinyl. “We’ve got the Sherwood Burger on special tonight, and buy one, get one free tuxedo milkshakes.” She set down the menus on the table as Harry set the backpack on the seat before sliding into the booth.

  “Tuxedo milkshake?” Jordan asked.

  “Black and white,” she replied. “Chocolate and vanilla. And we make ‘em the old fashioned way, a million times better than those ready-made ones that come straight out of a machine. I’ll give y’all a minute. My name’s Charlene.” She melted into a passing group of high school-aged boys all dressed in light blue football uniforms.

  “I love this place!” Jordan flipped open her menu. “It’s like we’ve stepped back in time.”

  When Harry winced, she realized her comment had probably hit a nerve.

  “Sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean—”

  He shook his head. “I know. It’s fine. I just wish all of this felt familiar.”

  A lump lodged in her throat. She scanned the menu, and when Charlene returned, Jordan and Harry ordered the daily specials.

  Their waitress brought the tuxedo milkshakes and a saucer of water for Kitty.

  Harry thanked the woman. He unzipped the backpack and lifted Kitty out with her leash and harness on then set her on the seat so she could get to her drink.

  Jordan slipped a straw into her milkshake, which was brown on one side and white on the other. “I wonder how they do that.” She sucked in a taste and moaned with pleasure. “OMG. That’s the best. Try it.”

  Harry took a sip, rolling his eyes heavenward as he did. “Sure is.”

  Charlene returned with two giant cheeseburgers complete with giant servings of fries and coleslaw.

  They barely spoke as they devoured their dinner as if they hadn’t eaten in days. Finally, Jordan gave up and pushed her plate to the edge of the table. “I really want the rest of those fries, but I think I’ll explode if I have another one.”

  “They’re too good to waste.” Harry scooped up her leftovers.

  Jordan wiped up the condensation her drink had left. “What’s the plan now?”

  He shrugged. “Since we’ve arrived later than I’d planned, and most of the town is closed for the night, we’ll have to start in the morning. I think we should see what local records are available. We passed a town hall on Sherwood Boulevard.”

  Jordan swiped one last French fry and bit off the end. “Sound good. And maybe we can check out some of the shops.” When he balked at that, she explained. “Perhaps someone will recognize you.”

  Laughing, he piled his empty plate on top of hers. “I’m sure that’s your motive. That must explain your oohs and ahs when we passed by those stores, right?”

  Her face heated. “Sure, that was it.”

  The waitress came to collect their dishes. “Did y’all save room for a slice of Purry’s pecan pie or catnip coconut cake?”

  Jordan sank lower in the seat. “I wish.”

  As soon as she s
et down their bill, Harry grabbed it. “Can you recommend a motel around here?”

  Her lips bunched to one side. “Your best bet is the Catnap Motel. It’s clean and reasonable, but most places are gonna be booked up this weekend.”

  “Why?” Jordan asked.

  Charlene looked at her as if Jordan had a spider in the middle of her forehead. “Tomorrow’s the hundredth anniversary of Coquina Castle.”

  “I read about that place,” Harry said. “An eccentric millionaire built it for his bride, but she left him only days after their wedding. To this day, no one knows how he created the rock gardens all by himself.”

  Charlene nodded her agreement. “It’s a magical place. They just finished a big restoration, too, which is why so many people are in town for the anniversary celebration.”

  Harry handed the waitress cash then loaded his cat into the carrier. “We’d better get over there soon then.”

  “Good luck,” Charlene said. “Take a left on Sherwood. The motel will be on the left just before A1A, right across the road from Surf’s Up Café.”

  After they left Purry’s, Harry took Kitty out of her carrier and attached a leash to her harness. “I’m sure we can find a sandy patch over there.” He gestured toward a small park across the street.

  “Mind if I check out the shopping landscape?” Jordan asked. “It’s much safer for me to do that while the stores are closed.”

  Harry chuckled then reeled her in for a quick kiss. “I’ll meet you back at the car in fifteen minutes. Be aware of your surroundings.”

  She saluted him. “Yes, sir!”

  “I’m serious.”

  “I know. And I promise I’ll be careful.” Heading away from Purry’s, Jordan stopped to ogle the baubles in the display window of Cat’s Eye Jewelry. She continued on, passing an antique shop and a beachy clothing store. Peering around a corner, she noticed a small courtyard with a fountain and wrought iron tables and chairs. A bent cat’s paw dangling from the streetlamp post pointed into the alley. A ship-shaped sign marked the charming section as Calico Court.

  Jordan glanced around. Plenty of people strolled the streets. She felt perfectly safe to check out the charming alcove. Pots spilled over with colorful flowers, and several strings of fairy lights strung in a star shape overhead gave the place a warm, welcoming feel. One doorway opened into an upscale restaurant called Medici, but the three other businesses were closed—The Zen Den yoga and meditation studio, Eye of Newt, which appeared to be a metaphysical store, and the Cove Cat Café.

  Sitting on the edge of the fountain, she took in the soothing sound of the water, and the sweet scent of the Confederate jasmine vines.

  I could totally live here.

  Movement in the window of the café caught her eye. Was that a cat? It was. There were at least half a dozen felines inside. Jordan went closer to investigate and cupped her hands over the glass to see inside. The café was split into two parts—one was a room with every imaginable type of cat furniture and toy. The other half of the business appeared to be a small coffee house.

  She crouched by the window to speak to the cats that had gathered on the other side of the glass. “What is this place?”

  People come here to adopt us, a Scottish fold told her.

  And to play with us, a white kitten said.

  “That’s the coolest thing ever!”

  A torbie—a mix of tortoiseshell and tabby—put his front paws against the glass. We like it.

  The loud chime of a clock reminded her that it was time to return to the car to meet Harry. “I have to go now,” she told the cats, feeling a little like Cinderella leaving the ball. Except she was heading to meet her Prince Charming, not running from him “But I’ll come back tomorrow to visit.” When she got to her car, Harry was just opening the back door for Kitty.

  He smiled at Jordan, giving her that champagne bubble feeling in her belly. “Hey,” he said. “Find anything interesting?” He handed her the car keys.

  She sat behind the wheel as Harry slid into the passenger seat. “Lots of awesome stores.” But this wasn’t a vacation. They were on the hunt for information. She’d tell him all about the cat café later. “I’ll check online and find out what time the town hall opens tomorrow.”

  “Good, thanks.”

  Jordan drove straight to the Catnap Motel, which reminded her of any other roadside motel, except for the sign in the shape of a curled-up cat.

  Inside the small, seventies-era lobby, a grey-haired man sitting behind the counter looked over his wire-rimmed glasses at them. “Evening, folks.”

  Harry approached him. “Good evening. We’d like two rooms, please.”

  The clerk frowned. “I’m full up, just like every other hotel and bed and breakfast in the area.”

  Jordan exchanged a worried glance with Harry.

  “Your best bet is St. Augustine,” the man advised.

  “That’s at least an hour away, isn’t it?” Jordan asked.

  “Yup.” The man typed on his keyboard. “Oh, wait. We just had a cancellation, but it’s a single.”

  “We’ll take it,” Harry said.

  Jordan froze. Sharing a room might be awkward. She wasn’t ready to take their new relationship to the next level yet.

  “Do you have a roll-away?” Harry handed the clerk his credit card.

  “I’ll bring it over,” he said. “You’ll be in sixteen, around the back.”

  After Jordan parked in front of the room, Harry brought Kitty inside and set up bowls of food and water for the cat. Jordan carried in her laptop and overnight bag, along with Harry’s.

  Her mouth grew dry as she sat on the bed. Sure, Harry had spent two nights at the Tuckers’ house with her, but they’d been in separate rooms, on different floors. This was a whole new ballgame.

  When the clerk knocked on the door, Harry opened it and relieved the man of the roll-away bed. “Good night.”

  Seeing how small and rickety the portable bed appeared, Jordan stood up. “I can sleep on that. It doesn’t look big enough for you.”

  “I wouldn’t dream of subjecting you to this.” He wheeled it to the window then opened it up and started putting on the sheets.

  She swallowed past the lump in her throat. “At least let me help.” Making hospital corners at the foot of the cot, she noticed a wrinkle in the center of Harry’s forehead, just above his nose. “Sure you’re okay? I really don’t mind taking the roll-away.”

  Again, he waved off her offer. “No, it isn’t that.” He folded his tall frame into the only chair in the room.

  “What then?”

  He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “If I used to live here, someone should recognize me. No one we’ve seen tonight has.”

  Jordan crouched down in front of him and patted his thigh. “We just got here, and only a few people have seen you tonight. Besides, more than eight thousand people live in this town. And this is Florida. A huge percentage of the population is transient in this state. Maybe the waitress at Purry’s has only lived here a short time.”

  Smiling, he cupped her face in his hand. “You’re right.”

  She pushed herself up and went to take out her laptop. “I’ve got a feeling that tomorrow will be the day. We can check out that festival the waitress told us about. I’d lay odds that lots of locals will be there, and if you used to live here, someone will recognize you.”

  Chapter Nine

  Harry rolled onto his left side, and the cot springs squeaked loudly. There was no getting comfortable on the thin, lumpy mattress. And the threadbare curtains were useless against the fluorescent lamp outside the door. Didn’t matter that he was exhausted. A few feet away, Jordan softly sighed. Maybe having her so close, but not being able to touch her was contributing to his sleeplessness. Or his disappointment that no one they’d met in Cat’s Paw Cove had recognized him. If only he could turn off his mind for a little while.

  He closed his eyes again and attempted to clear all thoughts and distractions. Seco
nds ticked past at a snail’s pace. Until he conjured an image of Jordan—her silky blond locks, slender figure, and those captivating blue eyes. Drawing a deep breath, he caught a whiff of her coconut scent. In his mind’s eye, he saw those plump, pink lips, and he couldn’t resist kissing them.

  Great, now he needed a cold shower. He punched his pillow and shifted onto his back.

  “Harry?” Jordan whispered.

  “Yeah?”

  “You can’t sleep, can you?” She sat up and switched on the bedside lamp.

  He swiped a hand over his chin and yawned. “I guess I have too much on my mind. I hope all my tossing and turning didn’t wake you.”

  Shaking her head, she gestured at the roll-away. “I had a feeling that you wouldn’t be able to sleep on that thing. Come on.” She patted the mattress.

  Tempting as her offer was, he wouldn’t risk her heart by taking the next step with her. If they made love and then discovered that he had a checkered past, he’d have to walk away. And Jordan wouldn’t be the only one left with a broken heart.

  What if Cat’s Paw Cave was a dead end? Just because Kitty said that Harry was taken from the town didn’t necessarily mean that was where he’d lived. His odyssey might not lead them to his past.

  He liked Jordan so much. She deserved more than a big question mark.

  He sat up. “You ought to be with a guy who takes you on real dates, not fact-finding missions.”

  “Oh, please.” She rolled her eyes and grinned. “All I’m offering here is a comfier bed.”

  Despite his resolve to keep her at arms’ length for the time being, he desperately needed sleep. Besides, exhausted as he was, he had no energy for anything else. “You’re sure you don’t mind?”

  “I don’t make this offer to many men.” She threw him a wink. Come on.”

  He tamped down his reservations and peeled back the covers. “Thank you.” As he slipped into bed next to her, he felt her warmth.

  “Night,” she murmured as she rolled onto her side.

  “Good night.” He shut his eyes, but his pulse was racing. So much for the more comfortable bed. As long as Jordan was next to him—close enough to touch, all he could think about was the feel of her silky hair and the taste of her tongue.