Page 21 of The Knotheads Next Door
His eyes narrow. "No."
"It's just temporary," I say quickly, already moving toward the kitchen. "Found him abandoned on the side of the road. He would have died out there."
"I found him," Rowan corrects, following me closely. "Then I saw Theo driving by."
Jasper crosses his arms, his whole posture radiating disapproval. "And you immediately decided to bring it home? Without discussing it with anyone else who lives here?"
"He was dying," Rowan says, her voice taking on a stubborn edge I'm starting to recognize.
"We didn't have time for a household meeting."
"What's happening?" Wells appears from his office, looking between us with growing suspicion. His eyes land on the bundle in Rowan's hands, and he takes a deliberate step back. "Is that a cat?"
"Kitten," I correct, already filling a hot water bottle at the sink. "About three weeks old. Abandoned. Needs immediate care."
"This is not a pet hospital," Jasper growls. "The house rules clearly state—"
"Oh, I'm sorry," Rowan interrupts, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Next time I'll just leave a helpless baby animal to die in the rain because it might inconvenience you."
Jasper's jaw tightens. "That's not what I—"
"Guys," I interject, wrapping the hot water bottle in a towel. "Fight later. Save the kitten now."
This, at least, seems to pause the brewing argument. I motion for Rowan to bring the kitten to the kitchen island, where I've spread out supplies from my emergency vet kit.
"Wells, can you grab more towels? Soft ones," I direct. "Jasper, I need a box or a small basket. Something we can make into a temporary bed."
Both of them hesitate, then move to follow my instructions. Nothing like taking charge to make alphas fall in line.
"What can I do?" Rowan asks, her eyes never leaving the kitten as I gently take him from her.
"Get changed into dry clothes before you catch pneumonia," I say, already examining the tiny creature more thoroughly. "Then come back and help me feed him."
She looks reluctant to leave the kitten even for a minute, but nods and heads upstairs.
Once she's gone, Jasper returns with a shoebox. "The kitten isn't staying," he says gruffly, watching as I clean the mud from the kitten's fur with a warm, damp cloth. "We find it a home as soon as it's stable."
"His name is Gerald," Rowan announces from the doorway. She's changed into dry clothes—leggings and an oversized sweater—and her hair is wrapped in a towel. "And he's not an 'it.'"
"Gerald?" I repeat, fighting a smile. "That's... an interesting choice for a kitten."
"He looks like a Gerald," she says with complete conviction, coming to stand beside me.
"Dignified but down on his luck."
The kitten in question lets out a pitiful mew that's anything but dignified, but Rowan nods as if he's just confirmed her assessment.
"It doesn't matter what its—his—name is," Jasper says, though I notice he's moved closer, peering at the kitten with reluctant interest. "He's not staying permanently."
"I'll find him a home," Rowan promises, though something in her tone makes me suspect she's already considering herself thathome. "But he needs care for a few weeks first. He's too young for adoption."
"How young?" Wells asks, returning with an armful of towels. He keeps his distance, but I can tell he's curious despite his allergies.
"About three weeks," I answer, finishing my examination. "He'll need bottle feeding every few hours, including overnight. And he's got an upper respiratory infection starting, but I can treat that."
"That sounds like a lot of work," Jasper points out, looking pointedly at Rowan. "And you just started a new job. Who's going to take care of him while you're working?"
"I will," she says immediately. "I'll figure it out. Bring him with me if I have to. Crystal seems like she'd be okay with a kitten in the shop."
