Change of Heart

by T. J. Kline

  Gage turned to face her slowly, his eyes so dark she could see herself in them. And she didn’t like the fear she saw reflected. A slow, almost seductive smile spread over his lips, and Leah felt her breath catch in her throat.

  “Are you telling me that you’re planning on diving into the crawl space under the house?”

  He was speaking but her brain was too focused on the movement of his full lips, the way they curved around each syllable, the sandpaper quality of his voice that stirred her. She couldn’t string the sounds together to form a coherent sentence. Blinking stupidly, Leah tried to clear her addled brain.

  “What?”

  “Those kittens are probably under your house. So, unless you want to go sliding under there with the spiders and possibly a snake or two—”

  “Snakes?”

  “Sometimes.” Gage easily read her trepidation and laughed, crossing his arms over his chest. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. I doubt the rattlesnakes would mind you at all.”

  “You’re lying. The mother cat wouldn’t have gone under there if there were snakes.” She sounded far more sure of her logic than she felt. A cat wouldn’t have kittens where there were snakes, would it?

  Gage shrugged a shoulder. “You could be right. Or they could have moved in after she had them. Either way, I’m sure you’ll do fine.” He brushed passed her, heading back to his cabin.

  She knew this was a test of wills, and he was simply forcing her to admit she needed his help. It was the last thing she wanted to do. No, the last thing she wanted to do was to crawl under the house to come eye to eye with a snake. She ground her teeth together and forced the words from between her lips. Knowing she needed to say them didn’t make them any easier to get out.

  “Please, help me get them.”

  Gage turned back toward her, his eyes glinting brightly and a wide smile curving his lips. It made her heart skip a beat, and she cursed herself for her girlish response, reminding herself that he was nothing more than a rich playboy flirting to gain the upper hand, although she couldn’t imagine what he hoped to gain.

  “See, that didn’t hurt, did it?”

  For a brief moment, Leah wished she had something to throw at him.

  Chapter Six

  GAGE TRIED TO ignore the pea gravel scraping the hell out of his back, even through his T-shirt, as he scooted out from under the house, clutching the quietly mewling ball of fluff to his chest.

  “Did you find them?” He could hear the concern in Leah’s voice, but he doubted it had anything do to with his welfare.

  Digging his heels into the mulch in the flower bed, he slid the rest of the way out until his head was clear from the house and he could sit up without risking injury. “Just this one little guy.”

  He held the kitten aloft, passing it into Leah’s hands as she gasped and hurried forward to scoop the animal from his grasp. She surprised him when she held out a hand to help him up. He took it, but not because he needed help standing. It was more because he didn’t want to reject the first friendly gesture she’d initiated.

  He wasn’t surprised by the heat that traveled up his arm when their hands connected. He’d been attracted to her from the start, but he hadn’t expected it to come on so intensely, as if this longing for her had been smoldering since he’d first seen her stranded on the side of the road, as if the mere touch of her hand was enough to ignite it into a wildfire. She sucked in a breath sharply, and he wondered if she didn’t feel it, too, which explained why she let go abruptly, nearly knocking him back into the side of the house.

  “Um . . . ”

  Gage could see her discomfort and decided to extend an olive branch. They’d finally come to a semblance of coexistence, and there was no sense in letting awkwardness shred that thread. He reached over and ran a hand over the dust-covered, cream fur. “So, what are you going to name him?”

  “Him?” She eyed the kitten as it stared up at her from cuddled between her breasts with innocent blue-gray eyes. “What makes you think it’s a him?”

  Gage looked down at the kitten, curled in her cleavage, as content as could be. Lucky cat.

  He arched an eyebrow. “Just a guess.” She shot him a scrutinizing look, but he didn’t want to pursue the train of thought. He reached forward and plucked a cobweb stuck between the tips of the kitten’s dark brown ears. “Why don’t we take him inside and clean him up?”

  “How do you clean up a cat?”

  Gage frowned, realizing they were probably in the same boat when it came to taking care of animals. He’d never had any, and while Dylan had learned to care for dogs since marrying Julia, that wasn’t going to help them.

  Bailey.

  He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his contacts, pulling up the number at Justin’s vet clinic where she worked most days, ignoring the suspicion in Leah’s eyes as he followed her into the house.

  “Hey, Alyssa, is Bailey or Justin around?” He waited while she put the call through.

  “Gage,” Justin’s voice came over the line. “Alyssa said you needed help. What the hell kind of trouble did you get yourself into now?”

  “Not that it matters, since you owe me after that rodeo,” Gage teased, reminding him of the Cowboy Poker event Justin had convinced him to do recently. The same one that had nearly gotten him put into the hospital the way Chase had been. “I’ve got a kitten over at Jessie’s place and I don’t see a mother nearby. I think he’s stranded, and I’m not sure what to do with him.”

  “Just leave him, maybe set out some water. If the mom is around, she’ll come back.”

  Gage eyed the kitten, purring loudly in Leah’s arms. “Yeah, it’s a little late for that.”

  “Any idea how old?”

  “I have no clue,” Gage admitted. “He was crying under Leah’s place, so I got him out, but he’s pretty dirty and, I’m guessing, hungry.”

  “Eyes open?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Color?”

  “He’s very light brown with dark brown on his ears, nose and feet.”

  “I meant the color of his eyes.” Gage could hear the smile in Justin’s tone.

  “Oh, bluish gray. He didn’t try to run away or anything. He’s friendly and came right up to me under the house.”

  “Okay, then he’s walking around? Not dragging his body or crawling. Does he fit in one hand or two?”

  “Two, but mostly because he’s a big ball of fluff and I didn’t want him to squirm too much.”

  “I’m guessing he’s at least five weeks if he’s moving around that well. Jessie feeds all of the feral cats around the barn kitten food, so just ask her for some and moisten it with warm water. No milk. I’ll close up in a few hours and be out.”

  Gage disconnected the called and shifted his gaze toward Leah. “Well, there’s good news and bad.”

  She dipped her chin and cocked her head to one side. “What?”

  “Justin’s guessing he’s about five weeks, which means he can eat solid food if it’s moistened but . . . ” She glared at him when he paused. “You’re going to need to go ask Jessie for some food.”

  He saw the relief flood her face, and her lips actually quirked into a genuine smile as she passed the kitten off to him. “Jerk. I already asked Jessie for food to try to coax him out earlier.”

  She reached for a plastic lunch bag in the cupboard and poured some of the food into a bowl.

  “Justin said to use warm water.”

  She dribbled enough water into the bowl to make the food slightly soupy. “You think that’s enough?”

  “I have no clue.” He shrugged with a quiet chuckle. “I’m as lost as you are.”

  She brought the food back, setting the bowl on the floor as he put the kitten in front of it. The poor thing must have been starving because he immediately hurried over, lapping at the water, halfway climbing into the bowl, attacking the food with relish.

  “Look at that,” he teased, leaning his hip against the kitchen counter. “You s
aved him.”

  Leah smiled broadly, her eyes lighting up with pleasure. She leaned over the small island, crossing her arms on the counter, and watched the kitten. Her ponytail flipped over her shoulder and as a few long strands fell forward into her face, she blew them back. For the first time since he’d met her on the side of the road, she looked happy and relaxed.

  “I guess I did . . . well, we did.” Her gaze lifted slowly to meet his. “Thanks for helping me.”

  It was the first concession she’d offered him, and he wanted to believe it was genuine, that maybe they could leave the territory of coexistence and arrive at a place of friendship.

  “Wow, twice in one week. Careful, you might make it a habit.” He gave her a quick wink.

  She straightened and he could see the battle within her. At first she seemed confused, but he recognized the moment she realized she’d let her guard down. And she wasn’t sure whether or not to put it back up. He liked this Leah, the woman beneath the smoke screen. Gage looked back at the kitten, not wanting her to feel pressured into putting her walls back up, and saw him move away from the half-empty bowl of food.

  “Looks like he’s done.” The kitten opened his mouth in a wide yawn and stretched. “And needs a nap.”

  He chuckled and scooped him up from the floor, walking with him to her couch and settling himself into the corner.

  “Won’t you make yourself at home?” She crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him pointedly, her aggravation plain.

  He shot her a sheepish, albeit slightly cocky, grin. “Don’t mind if I do.” As the kitten curled under his chin, against his chest, he reached a hand out and pat the couch beside him. Leah arched a dubious brow his direction and tipped her chin, scowling at him. He smiled broadly.

  “I’m not going to bite, Leah. You’re too purrfect. Get it? See what I did there? Ah?”

  The irritation in her eyes was immediately replaced by amusement, even though she tried to hide it. The corners of her pursed lips twitched as she tried to keep from smiling. “That was terrible.”

  Gage laughed and saw her shoulders relax. “I have a million of them, each one better than the last.”

  She held up a hand. “Please, spare me. Bad puns are my downfall.”

  “I hope you know CPR, because you’re taking my breath away.” She groaned and he laughed again. “I think I’ll keep going until you take a seat.”

  “Fine, just please stop.” She dropped onto the couch but made sure there was an entire cushion between them. “You’re quite the player, aren’t you?”

  Gage stuck out his lower lip, rubbing two fingers over the kitten kneading his shoulder. “Not really. I just like to have fun.”

  “And pickup lines are fun? Toying with women’s emotions is fun?”

  He was treading dangerous territory with her. He could see it in those whiskey-colored eyes and the way they seemed to be lit from an unseen flame within. She thought she had him pegged but she was wrong.

  “I don’t toy with people, ever. I’m not into teasing women, one-night stands, or meaningless relationships, but I do like to talk to people. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with making a woman feel good about herself and pickup lines are funny. If I can give someone a compliment, even if it’s cheesy, why not?”

  Leah leaned back in the couch, tipping her chin up and looking down her nose at him. It wasn’t difficult to see she didn’t believe him. “You’re a pretty cynical person, Leah. Let’s pretend we’re at a bar. You’re having your drink, and I walk up and say, ‘Excuse me, are you a photographer? Because every time I look at you, I can’t help but smile.’ Is that really going to make you tear your clothes off and jump into bed with me, fighting off visions of marriage?”

  She pinched her lips together, trying not to smile. “No, probably not.”

  “What if I said, ‘Honey, I think they’re going to ask you to leave soon. You’re making all the other women look bad’?”

  Leah snorted, then blushed. “Those are so bad.”

  He shrugged, dislodging the kitten and earning a soft mew of protest. A rumbling purr broke out against his neck as the kitten cuddled closer and closed his eyes. “It’s all in the delivery.”

  “You put him to sleep.” She reached across the couch and rubbed the soft fur on the kitten’s head, her fingers brushing against Gage’s jaw.

  Even over the scent of dust coating the kitten curled at his neck, he could detect the clean scent of soap coupled with the slight muskiness of Leah’s skin, and he felt a slow heat building in him, spiraling outward.

  “I think he likes you.” Her voice was slightly breathless, but sweet.

  Hopefully he’s not the only one.

  “That just proves I’m a good guy.”

  “Does it, now?” One corner of her mouth lifted again. He’d seen her smile more this morning than over the past several days. “It could just mean he doesn’t know the difference between good and not good. He is just a kitten.”

  “Nope,” Gage assured her. “Animals know. Ask Julia or Jessie. They’ll tell you that animals can sense things, better than people can.”

  As soon as the words slipped past his lips, he regretted them. The smile died on her lips and her eyes flared again as she pulled her hand back. “Then maybe you should take him. The two of you can be a couple of good guys together.”

  He wasn’t sure exactly why she was angry but he knew it had everything to do with what he’d said. Somehow, he’d managed to insult her. The woman could change moods like a light switch. Instead of annoying him, he found her intriguing.

  He kicked off his shoes and settled deeper into the corner of her couch, determined to make her realize that he wasn’t a threat. “Nope, he picked your place and that’s where he belongs.”

  “He likes you better.”

  Gage tipped his chin to one side, the kitten’s fur tickling his cheek, and smiled at her confidently as an idea dawned on him. “Then I guess we’ll be coparenting the little guy. You’re going to just have to get used to having me around more often.”

  LEAH WOKE TO a paw tapping gently against her nose. She opened one eye and stared into the sweet face of the Siamese kitten she’d begun calling Puma after he spent most of the night trying to attack her feet.

  “You are a pain in the butt,” she informed him. He simply cocked his head to one side and put a paw over her mouth, effectively curtailing her playful insult.

  His nap on Gage yesterday had only served to give him a burst of energy when Justin arrived last night and pronounced him a completely healthy seven-week-old kitten before giving him his first set of shots and a bath. At least now he smelled better. As if reading her mind, he head-butted her on the chin and let out a pitiful yowl of protest.

  “Okay,” she said, pulling him from her face. “Let’s get you some breakfast before you starve.”

  As if he could understand her, Puma bounded from her bed and leapt to the floor, scuttling out the door ahead of her. He bounced over her feet as she walked down the hall to the kitchen and attacked her bare toes as she pulled the bag of food Justin had left for him from the cupboard.

  “Will you stop, you little pill?” She reached down and picked him up, rubbing her nose against his as a rumbling purr sounded from his throat. She tucked him into the crook of her arm and reached for his bowl when a knock sounded at her door. “That better not be who I think it is because there is no reason for him to be here this early.”

  Setting Puma and his bowl on the floor in the entry, Leah opened the door. She rolled her eyes when she saw Gage standing on her porch, holding out a cup of steaming coffee and a smile. “Good morning, Sunshine.”

  “I think I might have to kill you.”

  “You hear that, little man?” Gage didn’t wait for an invitation and walked into her entry, scooping the kitten from the floor and pressing the mug of coffee into her hand. “Your mom is threatening me again.”

  “I’m only letting you live because you brought me
this.” She took a long sip of the brew. “I need it after last night.”

  Gage eyed her, his gaze sliding over the loose T-shirt and yoga pants she’d slept in. “Long night with Junior?”

  “Every time I fell asleep, he’d pounce on my feet. For such a sweet kitten, he’s got some sharp claws.”

  Gage chuckled quietly. “Well, I’m sorry to come over so early but Dave called. He said the part came in yesterday and he’ll have the car ready for you today. If you want, I can drive you into town so you can pick it up. I thought while we were there, we could pick up a few things for this little guy, too.”

  Anxiety burrowed deep into her chest, and she tried to hide it by taking another sip of coffee. She didn’t have the money to pay for her car repairs yet, let alone to buy anything for Puma. Her solitary credit card had been maxed out before she arrived, and she only had a few hundred dollars to her name, which the auto shop would wipe out easily. Maybe she should ask Jessie for an advance. Not a lot but enough to pay for the car repairs. She cringed at the thought of approaching her boss of a mere few days and asking for money.

  That will make you look like a real winner.

  Gage eyed her speculatively. “Go, get ready. I’ll take this little guy out to use the bathroom, and then I’ll buy you breakfast.”

  “I don’t think—”

  “Not asking you to think about it,” he interrupted, reaching for her shoulder to turn her around and press her toward the hallway. “Now, go before I change my mind and just take this little guy to breakfast instead.”

  “Puma,” she said as she made her way back down the hall to her bedroom.

  “Puma? They’re sleek, and he’s nothing but a cotton ball.”

  “Yeah, well, let him attack your feet all night and see if you don’t change your tune.”

  Leah heard the front door shut as Gage took the kitten outside and grabbed a towel before turning on the shower, trying to figure out the best way to sneak off to find Jessie without Gage realizing what she was doing. She could only imagine what he already thought of her. He already thought she was bitchy; she didn’t want to tell him she was broke, too.