Page 28 of The Great Maple Mistake

“Yeah, all but one that Finn took home to monitor. He says she’ll most likely be fine and not to worry.” He gives my hand a little squeeze, and it ridiculously makes me feel better. “I’m still a little worried, though.” God, he’s absolutely the sweetest person I think I’ve ever met. And so handsome. And kind, and thoughtful. Damn. I’m falling for him. Hard. That’s scary enough, but I’m not even trying to put on the brakes. And I’m all too familiar with howthatturns out.

I squeeze back, hopefully returning some of the comfort he was trying to offer me not a minute ago. “If Finn says the kitten should be fine, it’s almost a guarantee that she will. He doesn’t like to get people’s hopes up, just in case. But that’s positive language, so he’s probably more confident than he led you to believe.”

“I hope you’re right.” While Cody told us the story, Viv and I finished eating, and he made it through his second helping. Now he pushes his plate away, sighing happily. “Absolutely fantastic, Aunt Viv.”

“Thanks.” Looking pleased by the compliment, she stands up and collects the plates. I push my chair back to help, but she waves me off. “I have them. Sit for a minute. Do you want dessert and coffee?”

Before I can answer, Cody groans, giving me the good kind of goosebumps. “Yes please!” He leans closer. “Aunt Viv made brownies, and we have vanilla ice cream.”

Dear god, that sounds amazing. “Oh, yes please. Can I help you?”

“Not yet.” Viv gives me a teasing wink. “I’ll let you and Cody do the dishes after we’re finished. For now, just relax.”

So I sit back and listen to Cody tell me all about the kittens and how he’s always wanted a cat. When Viv comes back to the table with mugs and the coffee pot, Cody catches his lower lip between his teeth and looks up at her. “Aunt Viv, would you maybe be okay keeping one?”

She pauses, considering, and then shrugs. “I’d be open to discussing it.” She grabs the brownies and ice cream and sets them on the table, gesturing for us to help ourselves. As Cody loads our plates with dessert, he launches into earnest negotiations. It’s like watching a nine-year-old try to convince his parents that he’s responsible enough to have a pet, and I’m sure it’s exactly what Luke and I looked like each time we tried to get my parents to buy us a dog or cat. Mom always vetoed it because she said Dad, Luke, and I were more than enough to take care of, and she didn’t need a pet on top of it. In hindsight, she wasn’t wrong.

“You wouldn’t really have to do anything, Aunt Viv. I’d be responsible for him.” He hands her a plate of brownie and ice cream and then sits, turning soft, hopeful puppy eyes on her. It’s potent, and if he ever gives me that look there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll give him whatever he wants.

Aunt Viv seems immune. Smirking she scoops up a bit of the ice cream. “So you already have your eye on one of the males?”

He blushes and nods. “The one that looks like he’s wearing a little tux. I don’t know, there’s just something about him.” Cody describes him to me, and my heart melts.

She pins him with a stern look. “And you’ll take care of him? Be solely responsible?” Cody nods, eyes wide with hope. Oh my god, this man needs to stop, because my heart is a puddle of goo in my chest. “And what about when you’re on shift?”

Cody hesitates for a second, and then it’s like someone lets all the air out of him. His shoulders slump, and he sighs. “I forgotabout that. Yeah, you’re right. I won’t be able to take care of him while I’m at work.”

I glance at her, and she winks, only I don’t think Cody sees because he’s staring dejectedly at his half-eaten brownie. “It’s okay, Cody. I love cats. I’m happy to help you take care of him, if you want to keep one.”

Cody’s head shoots up, and goddamn, he looks so excited that I just want to wrap him up in a hug and kiss him. “Really?”

“Yes, really. But ultimately, he’ll be yours.”

Cody jumps up and rushes around the table, pulling Viv up out of her chair and hugging her. She all but disappears in his embrace, and when he finally lets her go, they both have tears in their eyes. “Thanks, Aunt Viv. I love you.”

“I love you too, sweetie.” She looks at me and chuckles a little wetly. “Don’t mind us. We’re an affectionate family.”

The rest of dessert goes by quickly as Cody chatters on about “Tux” which is the name he’s decided to give the little guy. After we’ve cleaned our plates of any remnants of brownie or ice cream, Viv excuses herself to watch TV in the living room, leaving us alone in the kitchen. We clear the table, and because Viv is one of those wonderful cooks who cleans up as she goes, we’re able to make quick work of the dishes. Most of what’s left goes into the dishwasher, and the rest we take care of in a few minutes.

When there’s nothing left to clean, Cody dries his hands on the dish towel and pulls me into his arms. “Is this okay?”

“More than.” I relax against him and tilt my face up, not asking him to kiss me with words, but making it easy for him to do. If he wants. Thank god he takes me up on my silent offer, and his warm, plush lips press against mine. It starts sweetly enough, but in moments, the kiss turns scorching as Cody’s tongue teases along the crease of my mouth. Without hesitation, I part my lips, letting his tongue find mine in a slow, sensual caress thatcurls my toes and has me digging my fingers into his back. He pulls me even closer, and I sink deeper into the oh, so perfect kiss. With his arms wrapped tightly around me, he leans back, lifting me up onto my toes for a second. Our hips press together and I can feel him getting harder. God, I desperately want to grind against him. Before I can act on that, he sets me down, ending the kiss. I chase after his lips, but he pulls back, grinning. “Maybe the middle of the kitchen, with my aunt in the next room, isn’t the best place for us to get hot and heavy.” Sighing, I nod, because yeah, he’s right. We definitely need to work on our make-out locations. “Do you want to go to my room and see the kittens?”

I look into his eyes, trying to determine if he’s using “see the kittens” as a euphemism for more kissing—and hopefully other things—or if he seriously just wants to show me the kittens. And then I decide that either outcome is good, and I nod. “Yes, I’d love to.”

He takes my hand and leads me to the stairs. “Aunt Viv, I’m showing Alex the kittens.”

I swear I hear her chuckle. “Okay. You two have fun.”

Is she giving us her okay to see the kittens, orsee the kittens? Does Cody think we’re going tosee the kittens? Am I ready tosee the kittenswith Cody?

Before I can get too caught up in my head, he squeezes my hand. “Hey. I can hear you panicking from here. How about we play with the little balls of fluff for a bit and talk. Maybe even kiss some more. It doesn’t need to be more than that. Unless you want something more to happen.” He turns on the stairs and looks me in the eyes. “This is all at your pace, Alex. You’ve let me know you have some hesitancy, and I respect that. I’d love for you to tell me what that’s about when you’re ready, but I’m not in any rush. I’m here for as long as you want me to be. And I’m happy to be as physical as you want, whenever that is.”

My whole body relaxes, and I hadn’t even realized I’d been so tense. But his words, and sincerity settle me. Dear lord, how is this man real? “Thank you. That means a lot. A whole lot.”

“Hey.” He strokes my cheek. “I’m not just saying it. I mean it. We haven’t known each other for long, but I really like what I do know about you. What you’ve shown me. I like what I know of who you are. And I don’t see that changing as I get to know you even better.”

Fucking hell. I gesture up the stairs. “Go. Let’s go. To your room. I need to kiss you and consider possibly doing other things to you, and the middle of the steps is not the place for that.”

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