Page 6 of Purrfectly Adorable

“I don’t know! Enjoy the beauty of dawn in Valentine?”

Huffing, I glare back at her. “Some of us need sleep, princess. We work odd hours and try to catch up on our days off.”

“You can’t catch up on sleep. It’s a scientific fact.”

Rolling my eyes, I shake my head. “You’re missing the point, angel. I like to sleep late and you like to greet the day like a tree-hugger. We’re different people. We like different things. But there’s no reason why we can’t get along.”

“I wish that were true,” she whispers. “But it’s not. I’ve found out the hard way that I’m a lot for some people to be around. Obviously you’re one of those people.”

I don’t bother answering her. I hear something in her voice that makes me sad. For her. Somebody broke her at some point. I wish I could hunt that person down and make them hurt as much as she seems to be.

After another five minutes of silence, I pull into her driveway and park my car. “We’re here, Del.”

She doesn’t bother answering me…just waits. “If I’ve hurt you in some way, Delia. I’m sorry. We just seem to rub each other the wrong way.”

“Could you open the door?” She ignores my apology like it doesn’t matter. Maybe it doesn’t to her. To me, it does.

But when I get out of the car and come around to open the back door of my cruiser, I reach out and grasp her hand to help her out. I hear a slight, in-drawn gasp and her delicate fingers quiver against mine.

And it makes me feel like I’m not alone in whatever is going on with the two of us. She’s just as affected as me.

She pulls her hand free and holds it to her chest like I’ve burned her or something.

Frowning, I follow her up the neatly-trimmed yard to her front door. She whips around, crossing her arms over her chest. “I can walk myself up to my own door. I don’t need a police escort.”

“It’s late and you don’t have your lights on. I couldn’t possibly let you walk out in the pitch dark by yourself. What kind of cop would that make me?”

With a huff of annoyance, she turns back around, her hands fisting at her sides, her back stiff as a board.

But both of us stiffen when her hand touches the door and it creaks open. I immediately push her aside and whisper urgently, “Stay here. Don’t move, Del.”

I gently push the door open far enough for me to slip around it, my eyes searching the dark. Cold wind follows me inside and I groan when the door squeaks. A small hand touches my back, twisting and pulling at my coat.

I turn and glare at her but her dark eyes plead. Taking a deep breath, I pull my gun out and slowly, stealthily creep through the small living room and into the kitchen, grunting when I trip over something.

“Mrrow!”Delia screams behind me and jerks hard, yanking me to a stop.

Bam!Grabbing Delia’s arms, I growl, “Do. Not. Move.” Racing after the thrashing, crashing noises, I barrel out the door and into the dark yard. Pausing, I search, my eyes straining, my chest pounding.

But there’s nothing. No more sounds. Nothing. With a huff, I turn back around and head back inside. Swearing under my breath when I trip over a rolled-up yoga mat. Fumbling, I reach the door just in time to catch the blasted cat before it skates out the door.

“Whoa!” Yowling, Princess Peppercorn hisses and scratches. Fumbling, I grip the feline terror tighter. “Delia! Take the cat!”

She reaches out her arms and gathers the fluffy thing. “I’m so sorry, Brandon. She’s obviously upset. But she didn’t mean it. Please don’t take her.”

Taking a deep breath, I put my gun away, grasping her shoulder lightly. “I’m not going to take your cat way, angel. I know I threatened her but I wasn’t serious. I’m sorry.”

Her smile could light up the room and for just a minute, my heart skips a beat.

“Really?”

“Really. I promise you. Your cat is safe. Unless she starts to chase people who break in. Maybe you should keep her under wraps for awhile.”

“She’s a free spirit. I couldn’t possibly keep her locked up. It’s just mean.”

Frustration bubbles up inside me, but I shove it down. “I’m gonna call for a team to come in and see if we can find any prints or anything. You go sit down and take a breath. I promise you…I’ll take care of everything.”

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