Sprinkled with Love

“Hmm…you must have snuck in the door when I came in.” And then Avery looked at Marshmallow. “Is this your boyfriend?”

Marshmallow’s eyes narrowed as though she was frowning at him. Avery couldn’t help but chuckle to himself. Romeo inched closer to Marshmallow. Obviously Jillian’s cat had been aptly named.

“Well, boy, it’s time you went home.” Avery approached the cat, who watched Avery’s every move.

When Avery put out his hand to pet him, Romeo sniffed his hand. Avery ruffled the cat’s shiny black coat. He wondered what Marshmallow thought of him befriending her admirer. She’d turned her head away, ignoring the entire scene.

“Hey, Romeo, if you’re trying to win over Marshmallow, looks like you’ve got your work cut out for you.”

Just then Avery went to pick up Romeo, but the cat darted away with lightning speed. The cat slipped under the bed. Avery dropped down on his good knee, bent over, and peered into the darkness. He stretched out his arm, but he couldn’t reach the cat.

With a sigh, Avery stood. He pulled out his phone to call Jillian. He may not have caught the cat yet…but at least he could let her know Romeo was safe.

Jillian answered the phone in a frustrated tone. “He isn’t here—”

“Because he’s here.”

“He is?” Her voice suddenly took on a gleeful tone. “Don’t let him out of your sight. I’ll be right there.”

“Well, that’s the problem. I can’t see him or touch him. He’s hiding under the bed.”

“Did you say under the bed?”

“I did.” He couldn’t help smiling at her confusion. This evening had indeed been quite confusing. “I was hoping you could coax him out.”

“But how did he end up in your house? Wait. Never mind. I’m on my way.”

Avery wasn’t sure seeing Jillian again was a good idea after everything that had happened earlier. But it wasn’t like he was going to act on his impulses. It had been just a momentary lapse in judgment. It wouldn’t happen again.

*

At last, some good news.

Romeo was safe.

Jillian wasn’t sure she wanted to see Avery twice in one evening. He hadn’t been acting like himself. There was something about the way he talked to her. And was it her imagination or had he held her longer than necessary when she’d slipped?

Still, she didn’t have any choice but to go to his place. Jillian pulled her coat back on. She grabbed her keys and purse from the kitchen counter. She assured herself that his reaction to her had been a figment of her imagination. After all, he’d had years to notice her but he never did.

Nothing had changed. And even if it had, it was too late. She’d moved on with her life. She was so over Avery Wainwright.

Now, if only she could get to Avery’s house and back before her mother returned, none of this miserable experience would have to be repeated. And to think for years she’d been a nanny for Avery’s younger brother and sister. Who’d have guessed watching humans would be easier than watching an ornery furbaby?

Jillian dashed out the door. This time she decided to drive. Having grown up in Marietta, she came from hearty stock. But tonight it was just too cold out to walk. And she wasn’t taking any more chances with Romeo. He was anything but the docile lap cat the shelter had portrayed him as.

Less than two minutes later, she pulled up in front of the Wainwright place. It was a bungalow house with moss green siding, white trim and a dark red front door that Jillian had always liked. The door was just the right signature touch to make the house stand out without being over the top.

Jillian exited her car and if not for the ice, she’d have run up to the front door. Not that long ago, she’d have thought nothing of letting herself in the door without knocking, but a lot had changed since those days. Now she paused and pressed her finger to the illuminated buzzer adjacent to the door.

It took a bit before the door swung open. When it did, there stood Avery, all six foot two feet of him. His brown hair was tousled and there was a hint of scruff trailing down his jaw. He’d definitely grown into a strikingly handsome man. If not for his determination to remain the bachelor cowboy, she was certain Avery could have his pick of any number of women.

Not so long ago, she’d have been one of those eligible women vying for his attention. After all, with those broad shoulders and dreamy eyes, it was hard not to fall for Avery’s charms. But she’d managed to move past all of that. She was immune to him now.

As he stood in the doorway, she couldn’t help but notice his clothes. She found it odd that on one of the coldest days of the year, he was standing there in nothing but a white T-shirt with a sports logo and gray sweat shorts. But it was the black knee brace that held her attention. Realizing that she was staring, she returned her gaze to his ruggedly handsome face.

“Thanks for coming over,” he said. As though he didn’t notice her staring, he turned to head further into the great room. “I wasn’t sure how I was going to get the cat out of Beth’s room with this thing on my leg.” He gestured toward the brace. “It makes getting around difficult at times.”

“Should you even be standing?” Her gaze returned to his knee, giving it more intense scrutiny.