Page 43 of Branded

I blink a couple times, trying to find my bearings, when I feel eyes on me. I tilt my gaze to the back of the sofa to find a very large, black and gray cat sitting there, staring down at me like I am public enemy number one.

“Umm, hi,” I say, and I swear this cat’s eyes get even smaller in a pure “I’m watching you, pal” gaze.

Sawyer inhales deeply and moves just a bit before I hear her quite voice, “What’s wrong?”

I whisper, “I think your cat is going to murder me.”

She sits up on her elbow and stares the cat down, “Oh my God, Herbert, get out of here.”

She waves him away and he just meows in response, still standing his ground.

“Herbert?”

“This is my cat, Herbert. He’s a bit of an asshole. He was hiding last night, apparently.”

“Herbert,” I say again, reaching up to pet him, but he dodges my touch and meows again.

“He isn’t exactly a people person, and he’s probably hungry.” She laughs as she pushes to sit up completely. “He’s been this way since day one. I got him from a rescue a few years ago, and he’s always after food.”

“Ah. He thinks I’m halting the progress of his breakfast.” I shift a bit, bringing my arm under my head to rest back against it.

“And as a fellow food motivated individual, I can understand the annoyance he has,” she giggles.

“What are your plans today?” I ask her, sliding my hand up and down her back.

“I’m supposed to be having dinner with Olivia tonight. She wants to do one of those wine and painting things and grab Chinese food before.”

“If she gets you for dinner, can I take you to breakfast?”

“I think I’d like that a lot.”

I cup the side of her face and press a gentle kiss to her lips, which is quickly halted by Herbert’s very loud and overly aggressive meow.

Sawyer pulls away with a huff, “Good God, Herb, I’m going, I’m going.”

She climbs from the couch and stretches, giving me quite the view of the curves of her body. She is goddamned perfect, all curves and softness, and beautiful skin. There isn’t a stitch of makeup on her face and her hair is a bit messy, but she could put any other woman to shame just as she is right now.

She catches me staring and a pink blush washes up her chest to her cheeks.

“What?” she asks.

“Just staring,” I say proudly. “And I’m wondering if you have plans two weekends from now?”

Chapter 11

Sawyer

“Wait,soyou’regoingaway with him for a weekend?” Olivia asks with forkful of salad paused halfway to her mouth.

We are sitting in the teacher’s lounge together during the lunch period, thankful for a bit of reprieve on this chaotic Monday.

“I am.” I take my own bite. “Is it a bad thing?”

She shakes her head. “No, I’m just surprised is all. You know I’ve been pushing you to put yourself out there since we first met.”

“If it were just going to be him and me, alone, on this trip, I would probably have a different opinion of it, but it’s for his friend’s wedding. He needs a date, so I was happy to say yes.”

If I’m being honest with myself, I would probably still go even if it was just him and me, but I’d have to really think first. I just like being with him. It’s easy and there is no expectation or drama.

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