Page 4 of Purrfectly Adorable

She smirks cheekily. “I can’t help it. I like the power play dynamic. Especially in reverse. Gimme a guy who’s willing to be an idiot over his girl any day of the week.”

Groans come from all around us and I can’t help laughing and high-fiving her. “You go girl. To each their own. Personally, I have always had a thing for the enemies to lovers vibe. That’s why I had such a hard time with this book. I mean,comeon. I felt like there was no high or low point in this book at all.”

Alanis nods seriously. “I agree. It was very one-dimensional.”

We continue with out discussion and then after another hour the group breaks up and I groan, glaring out a window when I see the rain slashing down outside. “Ugh. I should have checked the weather report before I decided to walk into work today.” It was so beautiful this morning though. The sky was already blue and clear as a bell first thing. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky. I thought I was safe.

Stupid me.

“Do you need a ride home? I can stay. Drake would be alright with coming later and picking us both up and taking you home.”

Shaking my head, I sigh. “No. It’s alright. I’m sure it will quit soon. I’ve got some orders to place and books to reshelve. It’s no big deal.”

Cocking her head, she glares at me, her blond curls adorably mussed. “Hey. You helped me when I needed it. Don’t make me hunt you down and force you to accept the help.”

Giggling, I reach out and hug her…hard. I lose it even more when she ‘eeps’ at me squeezing her so hard.

“I’m good. I’ll call you if I need help.”

She points at me, her green eyes narrowed, threatening. “You better.”

She leaves along with the rest of the chattering crew and I sigh, picking up the litter from our little crew. The library doesn’t mind us having our weekly meetings here but I guarantee the director would be less than thrilled if she came in to the slight mess that our little snacks create.

An hour later, I step outside and grimace. It’s my late night and I should have driven but my mind has been a mess lately. I can’t sleep. I keep waking up, worrying about Princess’s thieving proclivities. The rain is a steady sheet, falling down around me. It’s cold and dark and I don’t like it at all. But at least it almost keeps my mind off of my spoiled princess cat.

Almost. But the worries are tormenting me anyway.

What if she steals something from someone that really hates cats? She could get really hurt. Maybe I should start keeping her inside all the time.

But the thing is, when I found Princess, she was a scrap of cat. So small that it was hard to tell for real how old she was. She was pushed back into the corner of an alley and was facing off with a raccoon that seemed to find her presence in that alley, by that dumpster, to be an insult to his pride.

“Hey!” Waving my arms and yelling loudly, I chased off the little monster and came closer to the spitting, hissing tortoiseshell cat.

Until I managed to get my hands on the little cat and she immediately started purring, her silky head butting my hand over and over again.

“You’re such a little love bug!” I laughed, my eyes welling with tears when she ran her sandpaper tongue over my chin and bumped her head into my cheek.

I fell in love with the little con artist right then and there.

But it hasn’t been without its ups and downs. Namely the klepto thing. But there’s no way I can imagine my life without her.

But if Brandon Courtney gets his way that’s exactly what will happen. I honestly can’t believe the guy is being so stubborn about this. She’s a harmless little cat. Practically a baby in fact.

“What the devil are you doing out here at this hour, Del?”

Sighing, I roll my eyes to the sky. “Really? This is how you repay me for all my good deeds over the years?”

“Who are you talking to?”

“Nobody.”

“You still haven’t answered my question. Why are you out here walking all alone to the edge of town in the middle of the night?”

“It’s not the middle of the night. It’s barely dark. For one thing. For another it’s nobody’s business but my own.”

He pulls his cruiser to a stop and slams it into park, opening the door and getting out, the dinging of the door the only sound for the seconds it takes for me to take a deep breath. I eye him uncertainly. The guy is big. Dark. Intimidating.

“What are you doing?”

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