Tiger Lily - May Dawson Page 0,51
car without thinking of me, pussy cat,” he reminded me.
Lord help me, a lot of things would always remind me of Blake.
If I ever left him.
His gaze met mine, and he frowned slightly, as if he saw me thinking and he worried what was going through my mind.
But I pressed my lips to his, distracting him, and he moaned into my mouth as his hand swept up my back, tangled in my hair.
Then everything was forgotten except for the beautiful now.
27
The next morning, I was in a great mood as I got dressed for the garage. I threw my hair up in a messy bun, ready for another day of crawling beneath cars. I sang—full volume, unrestrained—except for when I had to stick my toothbrush in my mouth.
I might as well be a Disney princess. I had three sexy men who adored me, a job that I loved. I’d thought that I lost everything, but I’d found everything I needed right back here in Silver Springs.
I headed out of the house into one of those perfect early summer mornings. The sun shone on my face, the air smelled sweet with new growth, birds were singing. Birds always made my heart do little flip-flops. That was definitely a cat thing, even though I didn’t chase them down. It was the kind of morning made for happiness.
I decided to stop off at Jewel’s Café on my walk. I was almost to the doors when a dog ran by outside the big windows, yapping frantically, and almost knocked over a pedestrian. A cat chased the dog, bounding along playfully. If cats could smile, that cat was.
It was such a strange sight that it made me smile as I pushed the doors open.
There was a couple walking behind me and one of them remarked to the other, “Usually you see that the other way around.”
“Yeah, but dogs don’t know what to do with a cat or a car when they catch one,” the other said with a laugh. “I bet that cat has a diabolical plan.”
“Cats are assholes,” the other agreed. “But they sure are cute.”
When I froze, my hand on the door, they almost walked into me.
Was that true? Did dogs just love the chase—and they were confused once they caught the cat they wanted?
Was that why Blake, Dylan and Archer had pursued me so doggedly?
“Are you going in?” The lady behind me asked patiently.
“Oh yeah, sorry,” I said, pushing the door open.
There was a short line inside. Julian and Amber were working at the counter. I raised my hand in a wave, flashing them a smile.
Brad turned around. He was second in the line, and he grinned when he saw me, my hand still raised in the air.
Shock rolled over me, and I froze with my hand raised in the air. Brad did not deserve my smile or my wave, and I wanted to snap that they weren’t for him, but that might make me appear a wee bit unhinged. So I just…stopped.
“It happened again,” one of the people behind me muttered. “Do you think she’s under some kind of freeze curse?”
“Lily, hi,” Brad said.
“What—what are you doing here?” I managed.
“I came to see you.” He sounded so confident, as if we hadn’t broken up. As if he hadn’t ripped my plants up in a mean-spirited tantrum.
I stood there, nodding, for a second. I didn’t want to see him. I didn’t even want to try to be polite.
I couldn’t do this. He took a step toward me, as if he were going to hug me, a broad smile across his face.
I turned and fled.
“Oh gosh, now she’s running.” The woman behind me gently pushed the guy out of my way.
“I could do without the commentary, sister!” I snapped at her, just before I shoved out the door.
I raced down the street and didn’t stop until I reached Hot Wheels.
I felt safe as soon as I dashed into the bay and the guys looked up at me.
“Lily, what’s wrong?” Blake barked.
He was at my side in a second, and Archer and Dylan were right behind, surrounding me.
“Brad is here in Silver Springs,” I blurted out. I didn’t want to tell them what I’d done, but I couldn’t lie to them. “He knows what I am.”
Blake’s gaze was worried as he reached for me, but I took a step back.
I blurted out, “He knows I’m a cat.”
28
“Okay, so he can see Silver Springs magic,” Dylan said slowly.
The guys had just glossed over my mistake