Page 47 of The Cupcake Cottage

Daisy-Mae, who’d been poking through the box in the living room, peeked her head into the kitchen. “Are you already hungry again?”

“It’s for the cat,” he said, knowing that he wouldn’t be able to put his heart into decorating for Christmas until he’d taken care of the mama. “You can see her ribs.” Her kittens seemed healthy enough, but they looked to be a few weeks old and were no doubt draining the mama cat’s limited reserves.

Daisy-Mae wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her cheek against the back of his shoulder blades. “That’s sweet.”

“She’s hungry.”

“You know she’ll never leave if you feed her.”

“Kind of like you?” he asked with a smile.

She let out a giggle. “Yeah, kind of like me.”

His mom didn’t know what she was talking about. Daisy-Mae knew how much he adored her and that she was always welcome here.

“For the record, I’m okay with all of that.” He slid the cooked egg onto a plate, the scent of butter filling the air. “Besides, I could use a good mouser.”

“How about six of them?”

He turned in Daisy-Mae’s embrace, facing her.

“Once she’s done nursing I’ll have Brant spay her to help control the population. Then bring the kittens in once they’re old enough, so they don’t reproduce as well.”

“You’re going to keep them all?”

“If they want to stay, they’re welcome. Can you grab me a bowl?”

While she got one, he chopped the egg into bite-size pieces, then went to the fridge for some of the fish leftovers. He took asmall chunk from one of the fillets packed for his lunch, scraped off the spicy batter, and added it to the plate.

He took the bowl from Daisy-Mae and filled it with water, making sure it was cold and fresh. There was a small pond out back, but the mama cat shouldn’t have to make the trek, deal with the mud, or the fact that the water was less than desirable.

He lifted the bowl and plate, blowing on the still-steaming egg.

“The cat chose the right barn,” Daisy-Mae said.

“I’ll be back in a minute to help decorate.”

“You’re taking the good dishes out there?”

He glanced at the meal he’d created. “Yeah?”

Daisy-Mae made a clucking sound that made him smile. She dug through the recycle bin by the back door that led off the small laundry room attached to the kitchen. She returned with two empty plastic containers. “Here. You’ll get in less trouble from your mom this way.”

That was a good point.

“Thanks.”

Daisy-Mae was watching him with a warm expression. She stepped forward, brushing his cheek before planting a kiss on it. He had a feeling that just by being himself, he was winning some serious brownie points. He loved that about Daisy-Mae. It was all so perfect, so easy.

“I’ll be right back.”

Maverick left the food and water a few feet from where the cat and her litter were stationed, afraid to disturb her by getting too close. He didn’t want to spook her or make her feel she had to move her kittens elsewhere to keep them safe.

He headed back to the house, smiling at the light shining from the windows and the fact that there was a woman inside, waiting to decorate a Christmas tree with him.

Life was looking pretty good for this old defenseman, and the only way he could think to improve it would be to ask Daisy-Mae to be his wife.

CHAPTER 8

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