Page 34 of Code Mages & Empty Pages
“Mm?” Her face was still pressed into my neck, and the soft tickle of her breath made me smile, even if she couldn’t see it.
“I was thinking,” I said quietly, “maybe we could check out that shelter tomorrow. They’re open in the morning.”
She nudged me, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. “Lucien Atkins, have you been scoping out rescue cats without me?”
I grinned, unable to help it. “Guilty as charged. Scouting’s my thing. And that Cat-Sìth, Ruffles, he’s still there. It’s been four months now.”
She laughed, the sound lightening the air between us. The tension in her shoulders finally eased.
“I checked him out, too,” I admitted. “The longer they stay, the harder it is for them to find a home. He’s basically the rescue version of forgotten cheese at the back of the fridge.”
She wrinkled her nose, but her smile was real. “So, you want to go just to look?”
“Yeah. Just look.” I tried to sound casual, but she could probably hear the hope in my voice.
She nodded and rested her forehead on my shoulder for a moment longer. “Okay, let’s go tomorrow.”
We took my car out to the shelter, a quiet place on the edge of the old woods outside Kirkmuir. There was something deeply satisfying about driving Dawn anywhere, like I was finally doing something right.
“This is him. I saw him online but didn’t think he’d still be here.” The little fairy cat started purring the instant Dawn approached.
“Isn’t he adorable?” she cooed and dropped to her knees by the kennel door. My brain thoroughly misinterpreted her intention.
She’s not going not blow you right here!
“He is,” I managed, though my voice came out a little strained. Dawn caught my eye and smirked. She read my dirty thoughts perfectly.
But when Ruffles turned those wide, hopeful eyes on me, every stray thought vanished. Don’t worry, Ruffles. Operation Extraction is on.
“Why don’t you take him home?” I suggested.
She blinked. “Sorry?”
“I mean it. Keep him at my place until your house is sorted. He’s practically yours already.”
“Don’t enable me, Comte,” she said, standing and nudging me with her elbow. I caught her arm and squeezed.
“Why not?”
Before she could answer, a cheerful volunteer named Edgar appeared. “Perky said to meet you here!” he said with a bounce.
“We’re here for Ruffles,” I told him.
Edgar brightened. “He’s had some interest, but we’d prefer to place him with a couple. He’s a sensitive soul. You two are together, right?”
Dawn took a breath, probably about to clarify, but I stepped in before I could think better of it. I wrapped an arm around her, pinched her ass for show, and gave Edgar my best lovesick sigh.
“We just moved in together. Dawn’s already fallen for Ruffles, and I do whatever she wants.” I glanced at her and almost cracked a smile when she rolled her eyes at me. I knew what we’d said and the rules she’d put down but I didn’t give a single fuck if Edgar went and spilled the beans to Samuel Carson himself. It was my truth. “He is cute, though. What do you say, Dawn?”
She hesitated for a moment, then she whispered: “Yes, let’s take him home.”
Later in the car, Dawn cradled Ruffles in his basket and shot me a look. “We lied, Luc!”
I grinned. “Not really. You did move in. And”—I leaned over to kiss her—“Iamat your beck and call.”
She bit her lip, glancing at me over the top of the basket. “He heard what he wanted to hear.” She hesitated. “But I’ll move back when my house is fixed…”
“So? Ruffles won’t mind. Would you rather leave him there?”
