his eyes. “Thank you, for everything,” he said, sounding embarrassed. “I can’t believe I showed up at your house like that.”
He sounded disgusted with himself and everything in me wanted to interrupt whatever was happening inside that head. This wasn’t the guy I’d gotten to know over the last couple of months. This guy sounded like he didn’t think he deserved to have people look out for him. I hated it.
I walked up to him, getting close. Closer than we’d been since the night of the cookout at his place. “It’s fine. I don’t mind. And as much as I love my family, there are a lot of us. My place is roomy for one person, but it’s certainly tight quarters for five people.” I gestured toward the Dallas streets, where I assumed my mother and grandmother were wreaking havoc. “Besides, it’s better to give my mom and my grandmother some space when they’re doing the meal preparation. I just get in the way.”
He looked surprised at that and tipped his head to the side like he had no idea how that could be possible. “You get in the way in a kitchen? But, you’re an awesome cook.”
Oh no, that thing happening was not butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“Thanks. I’m okay, but not as good as they are, and things can get a little heated in there when all of us are together.”
He nodded, as if he understood, but the tension in his shoulders, made me think his idea of “heated” was not the same as mine.
“I mean, they tease and get loud and joke around, and it’s a little tiring. It’s fun, but I find I need breaks from it.”
He seemed to relax with my explanation and it occurred to me that I had not asked much more about his family since that night his sister called. I glanced up at him and smiled, hoping he could see how much I liked being with him now. That this moment and his company was not an imposition or a nuisance, it had been...a nice surprise.
I grabbed his hand, the one that wasn’t holding tightly to the crate, and led him to the store.
“Come on, let’s get this little pest some stuff.”
His lips turned up into a conspiratorial smile, like he was about to tell me he knew I’d find it as delightful as he did, and man it was getting harder to remember why getting mixed with Rocco was ten kinds of wrong. “Can we get a second bed in case Pulga wants to sleep over at yours?”
I balked and started backing away with my arms crossed in front of my face. “Never. That fluff ball is officially uninvited to my house for overnight or any other kinds of visits.”
I wasn’t sure why me shutting him down was making him laugh hysterically, but if I had to guess it was probably the fact that I was smiling like a loon when I said it.
* * *
We got in the car with a much-improved Pulga now sitting in a brand-new bright red carrier. Rocco was a few hundred dollars poorer, but you would not have thought it from how happy he looked when he got behind the wheel.
I settled in and looked at him with a grin on my face. “You’re really happy you found this little cat, aren’t you?”
He powered up the car and looked at me for a moment. “I’m just glad she’s okay. I was scared I wouldn’t be able to help her.”
“Well, yeah, that is good, but even if you hadn’t been able to save her, you tried. Hard.” No, that warmth in my chest was not feelings. It was hunger and his heated leather seats.
He nodded solemnly and turned back to look at where Pulga’s carrier was secured with a seat belt. “I’m glad we were able to help her though, and I couldn’t have done it without you.”
That “we” made something a lot like joy course through my body, and before I knew it, I was breaking all the rules I’d self-imposed for Rocco Quinn.
“Do you want to have dinner with my family tonight?” He turned his head to look at me and before he answered I knew what he’d say.
“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not imposing. We’ll have tons of food.” His smile lost a bit of its shine when I said that, but he still seemed pleased.
“I’d be honored to.”
I dipped my head, feeling weirdly shy, and I wanted to