To Love Someone (Baytown Boys #14) - Maryann Jordan Page 0,67

over Frodo as he caught the scent of what was in the carrier. Hushing her dog while calling him back, she made it to Joseph, peering first into his face before peeking into the carrier to see the two little kittens’ wide eyes staring back at her. Sticking her finger through the hole, she laughed as they batted at her.

Turning her attention back to him, she asked, “What on earth is going on?”

“I wanted to see you but didn’t want to leave them alone.”

“Oh,” she said, jerking her chin back slightly, surprised and yet inwardly thrilled. Her brow scrunched as she looked past the carrier in his hand over to the vehicle that managed to dwarf her old truck. “Whose SUV is that?”

“Mine.”

His simple, one-word answer caused her to swing her head back around toward him, her brows now raised. He chuckled, and as always, the sound reverberated through her. She wanted to ask more questions, but Frodo let out a deep bay, his nose planted against the carrier, and she knew the kittens would be frightened. “Um… do you want to come in? I’m just fixing grilled cheese and tomato soup. It’s not fancy, but I have enough for two.”

“Yeah, I’d like that.”

Patting her palm against her thigh again, she called Frodo to her and led the way. At the door, she twisted her head around and hesitated. “Oh, I’d better put him in his pen so the kittens won’t be frightened.”

“Nah, he’ll be okay. They need to start getting used to each other anyway.”

Sucking in her lips, she continued to hesitate until he inclined his head toward the door, indicating they should go in. Jerking out of her trance, she threw open the door, ordered Frodo up to his bed, then led the new entourage inside. She was filled with questions, but after six days, eight hours, and forty-six minutes, she didn’t want to jinx his surprise appearance by showing her curiosity.

Popping open another can of tomato soup, she poured it into her pan and lit her stovetop again. Buttering the bottom of her cast-iron skillet, she soon had three grilled cheese sandwiches and two bowls of soup prepared.

While fixing the simple meal, she’d continually glanced to the side and watched as Joseph had placed the carrier on the table, keeping the door latched while poking his fingers through the holes. She could not help but smile as he cooed and talked to the kittens. “I hate to interrupt the three of you.”

He set the carrier on the floor as she walked over with their bowls of soup. Offering him a plate with two sandwiches, pickles, and chips, she grabbed her dinner and slid into the opposite seat. Frodo lifted his head from his cushioned perch and offered sad eyes toward the couple sitting at the table before looking down at the carrier on the floor. Finally, assured that all was copacetic in his world, Frodo flopped over with a groan, going back to sleep.

Finishing her soup, she began pulling apart her sandwich into smaller bites, curiosity building with every moment. Finally, she shifted in her seat, propped her elbows on the table, rested her chin in her hands, and huffed. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

His gaze darted to hers and a light tinge of pink hit his cheeks. Clearing his throat, he said, “I’m making some changes.”

Brows lifted, she waited. He swallowed his last bite, took a drink of beer, and held her gaze. For the first time, she noticed a specter of nervousness move through his eyes. She reached over and placed her hand on his arm, hoping whatever strength he needed would be passed between them.

“I’m keeping the kittens.”

“O… kay.” It was a strange beginning, but she could see there was much more on his mind. She kept her hand on his arm, gently rubbing the corded muscles.

“The SUV out there is mine.”

Her fingers flexed involuntarily, and her gaze jumped to the window at the side of her camper where the big, new, shiny, black SUV was parked. She remembered her words to him about not being able to carry the kittens on his bike. “O… kay,” she repeated, then brought her gaze back to him. “You bought an SUV so you’d have a way to carry the kittens?” He chuckled again, but this time, instead of a deep caress, the sound was more like a sand burr stuck in her foot. Glaring, she said, “Joseph, I want you to feel