Serves Me Wright (Wright #9) - K.A. Linde Page 0,37
my head. “That would be amazing actually.”
“Not a problem.” He grinned. “Might even be able to convince my cousins to help. You know, Jensen also has a giant pickup. Good ole boys.”
“Wright Construction would now be Wright Movers.”
“Hey, we do business where it’s necessary.”
“I’d really appreciate it.”
“I just have one question,” he said, crossing his arms over his amazing pectorals.
“Uh-huh.” I tried not to be distracted by the gesture. The last time I’d seen him in this little clothing, we’d been having sex.
“What are you going to do about the cats?”
“Oh fuck,” I whispered.
What was I going to do about Avocado and Bacon?
17
Jennifer
I never thought I’d be a cat person.
I was definitely not a cat person.
And yet the thought of leaving the two babies behind that I’d named and been feeding for over a year was heart-wrenching. It was impossible. There was no way I was doing that. Just because they weren’t indoor cats didn’t mean they weren’t my cats.
So, I’d stayed up all week after I finished packing and editing to research what the hell I was supposed to do in this situation. Cats didn’t like to be introduced to new environments, even when they belonged to you. Stray cats that I’d been feeding and such were definitely not going to be happy.
Poor Avocado and Bacon. This was not going to be fun.
At least Julian had agreed to come and help.
Which was why he was now setting up a spring-loaded cat trap. I hadn’t wanted to use them at all. They seemed so scary, and I didn’t want to traumatize the cats that I’d just decided belonged to me.
So, I’d gone out and gotten pet carriers along with fancy, smelly cat food to entice them to get inside. I’d rather get them into a regular carrier than trap them and have them freak out. With my luck, they’d never forgive me.
“Okay, all set,” Julian said, coming back to my side.
I bit my lip and nodded. “Me too. Hopefully, they don’t hate me.”
“You’re going to keep feeding them. They’ll get over it.”
“You’ve never had cats, have you?”
He laughed. “Admittedly, no. You?”
“My mom had one, growing up. Total bitch. Thing hated everyone. Even my mom.”
“Eesh. Well, I think Avocado and Bacon will be different.”
I crossed both of my fingers and held them up. “Let’s hope.”
With the enticing smell of fish too potent to resist, Avocado stuck her head out of the bushes. Her orange tail swished back and forth as she scented the air. She walked over to me first, running her body against my legs.
“Wish I could pick her up here,” I said. “Would be a lot easier.”
“I could,” he said, bending at the waist and touching Cado’s back.
“Wait…”
But it was too late.
Avocado was the more finicky of the two cats. Bacon didn’t mind being pet by strangers as long as they were near me, but Cado was still getting used to it all. Especially men. She really hated men. I never wanted to know the trauma she had gone through at the hands of some asshole. I never wanted to see her full rage either.
She whipped around so fast that Julian never saw it coming. Avocado raked her claws along his arm.
Julian yelped and reared back. “Fuck!”
Three long red welts rose on his forearm. He clapped his hand over the scratch, and blood welled underneath.
“Oh God, are you okay?”
“Fine,” he said through gritted teeth.
“She really got you. God, let me get you something for that.”
“No, look,” he said, pointing toward the crate I’d set up.
Avocado had her tail in the air as she followed the bread crumb trail toward the opening.
“She’s so close,” I whispered. “But someone is going to need to close the door.”
“Hence the spring-loaded box,” he reminded me.
“I know, but it’s so mean.”
He shrugged. “So are the cats.”
I laughed. “You poor, poor thing.”
He flashed me a grin. “I didn’t know she was going to scratch the shit out of me.”
“She’s a stray!” I gestured to the cat who was almost inside the carrier. “What did you expect?”
“Well, you pet her just fine.”
“I’m her owner,” I argued.
He put a finger to his mouth. “She’s going inside.”
“Did you guys figure it out?” Annie asked, bounding out of the house.
“Shh!” we both said at the same time.
Annie’s eyes widened, and she put her hands up. “Sorry,” she whispered. Her eyes landed on Julian. “Oh my God, are you bleeding?”
“Shh,” he hissed.
Then Avocado walked into the pet carrier.
“Jennifer, go!” he said, all but shoving me off the front steps.