Page 67 of False Start
We meet in the middle of the car at the console and kiss over the smelly kitten. “No offense, QB, but Punter needs a bath before we can continue kissing over him.”
— 23 —
Now
AFTER WORK THE NEXT day, Bryant walks into my office with a big smile on his face. Since he found Punter last minute, we weren’t able to find a cat sitter, so I brought him to work with me in a shoe box and hid him in my office all day. Zina and I took turns feeding him with a bottle while Bryant was at practice.
“Where’s the little guy?” he asks as he rubs his hands together, eager to get them on the kitten.
“Nice to see you, too,” I say.
“Babe, I’m always ecstatic to see you, but you’ve been playing with him all day while I’ve been pouring sweat in the Louisiana August sun. I haven’t had a shower, so I’m not trying to get in your space. I just wanted to hold him for a minute before I hit the locker room.”
I grin at him. “You’re adorable.”
He grins back and two dimples make an appearance on either side of his full lips. “Glad you think so. Hand over the kitten.”
I take a step back and tuck Punter in the crook of my arm. “This kitten?”
“I will wrestle you to the floor and take him from you,” he threatens with his hands on his hips.
And God. The thoughts his words elicit are naughty at best.No sex, I remind myself.
“Don’t do that,” he says.
“Don’t do what?”
“Lick your lips and give me ‘the’ look.”
“‘The’ look?”
“Baby, when you want my cock, you lick your lips and get this hungry look in your eyes.”
I snort. “I do not.”
He gets back to the issue at hand. “Zhanna, hand over the cat.”
“Meow,” the little traitor in my arms says as though he’s crying out for Bryant.
“Fine,” I say and give him Punter.
He baby talks the little guy and asks him how his day was before he hands him back over and heads to the showers. But he’s back in my office in less than twenty minutes with loose, wet hair hanging past his shoulders.
“I need to hit the pet store close to my place. He hasn’t had his shots yet, so can you watch him while I go inside?” he asks.
“Okay, sure. Why don’t I meet you at your place? I’ll stay there with Punter until you get home.”
“Sounds perfect. Here,” he says as he reaches into his pocket and produces a single key, “I’ve been meaning to give this to you. Please don’t take it the wrong way. You live closer to me than anyone else. I may need you to check on Punter or something while I’m on the road.”
I take the key without a word. Before a few weeks ago, I would’ve fought it. Hell, I would’ve fought pretty much anything to do with Bryant.
He reaches out to touch my cheek. “Thank you for taking it.”
I lean into his touch, loving the way he smells like his expensive body wash after a fresh shower. “I’ll meet you there.”
Bryant leans in and kisses my cheek as he pets Punter’s head, and then he’s out the door. Zina sticks her head in a few moments later while I’m still standing there looking at the empty door.
“What are you smiling about?” she asks.
