Tank (Blue-Collar Billionaires 1)

“Tank, can you help me? This one is stuck.” Emma points at one of the cages.

I stand carefully and Poochie retreats to the corner of the room. For the next hour, I help Emma and Brett by lifting cages and cleaning. It’s an easy hour, surprisingly. One where I’m not required to think about myself, just what I can do to help out. I’m starting to understand what Emma meant earlier about animals not requiring anything from you other than love. I scratch the kitten Emma’s holding behind the ears. Brett replaces the food and water in the cage we’ve just cleaned out.

I sit back down on the floor and Poochie slinks over. I’m not sure exactly what to do but she doesn’t require me to do anything. She rubs up against my shirt using me as a makeshift rubbing post. Another kitten crawling on the floor nearby climbs into my lap and curls up.

“This is amazing. I’m still in awe. You’re some kind of cat whisperer.” Brett holds out a clipboard. “If you wanted to adopt her, it’s easy. You fill out this form and then just pay the fees. She’s already up to date on all her shots and stuff.”

I’m shaking my head before he’s even done with his spiel. “Adopt? I can’t even keep a plant alive.”

He looks over at Emma. “So, how are you two friends? It seems like a bit of an odd matchup.”

I can’t disagree with him but the way he’s looking at her makes me want to stake my claim anyway. “Opposites attract, right? Besides, I’m sure Emma knows enough about animals for the both of us. I’m just here to help her out.”

I stand up and place the kitten back in its crate. Emma appears at my elbow. “She’s so cute.”

While I’m not an animal lover the way she is, it would take a heart of stone not to be moved by some of these little balls of fluff.

Poochie follows us as we move around the room.

“Come on, cat. It’s time to go.” I try to coax her back to me but she seems to sense it’s a trick. She gives me a mournful look and then retreats to the other side of the room. She presses herself against the wall, looking like she’d rather disappear than get back in the crate.

“She’s not coming. Not that I blame her.”

Emma makes a soft cooing sound. Poochie’s ears twitch but she doesn’t come any closer.

Brett waves a hand. “It’s okay. You can go. Once you leave, I’ll put her back. Thanks for the help today.”

“Of course. See you next week, Brett. Good luck with your exam.” She gives him a quick hug and then retrieves our coats. He watches her movements a little too closely for my taste. I grit my teeth and then shrug into my leather jacket.

There’s a mournful cry from across the room. It’s eerie, like the sound of a wailing ghost. Poochie yowls again when I step out of the room.

Emma doesn’t move. She looks horrified. “Aw, Tank. She’s upset that you’re leaving. Look at her.”

Against my better judgment, I poke my head back in the room and look at the meddlesome cat. She’s still doing that horrendous howling and trying to kamikaze dive against the wall.

“Okay, okay. Come here.” I crouch down and she immediately comes to me. I scratch behind her ears and she emits a rumbling purr. Brett walks up behind us. Poochie opens one eye and hisses at him.

“Good girl,“ I mutter under my breath.

I stand again and Poochie rubs against my leg.

“Wow, I’ve never seen her take to anyone like this.” Brett sounds amazed.

Emma looks up at me, her gray eyes soft. “She obviously has very high standards.”

Before I know what I’m doing, I grab the clipboard. “This is a bad idea.”

It takes a little while to complete the paperwork, pay the fees and then get Poochie into the car. Every few moments, I stop and look over at the cat in question. She looks like someone’s wrinkled grandfather. I have no idea what the hell I was thinking when I started this but it’s too late to back down now.

We stop at the store so I can purchase a cat carrier, food, bowls and a collar. Emma stays in the car while I navigate th

e pet supply aisle on my own. After I spend more money on cat crap than I’ve spent on myself in a while, I carry the bags back to the car. It takes a minute to coax Poochie over so I can put her in the carrier but she finally gives in. Then I slide back into the passenger side seat.

Emma starts the car. “Thank you for your help today. I know that wasn’t what you were expecting when you came to see me earlier.”

“I had fun.” Shockingly, I’m telling the truth. I enjoyed the experience far more than I’d expected to. I look into the backseat. The cat carrier is made partially of mesh so I can see Poochie in there leaning against the walls of the carrier.

“I even got an attack cat out of the deal.”