The Return of the Rebel

“Be careful,” Cleo called out. “Support his back feet.”

Jax adjusted his hold and the cat seemed to relax. That was good because he didn’t know one thing about felines. His family didn’t have cats or dogs. Not even goldfish. His father thought that they were a waste of money. That was what he’d loved about the Sinclair’s ranch. They had lots of animals, from cats to steers. He’d always dreamed of living on a spread like theirs. So when the senior Sinclair took him under his wing and showed him how to work on a ranch, he was thrilled. He’d done something he enjoyed while making some pocket money.

“What are you smiling about?” Cleo eyed him. “Did Charlie find your ticklish spot?”

“Not hardly.” He wasn’t ticklish.

Cleo sighed. “Well, bring him inside and be gentle. He just had surgery.”

Jax stared down at the furball. It didn’t look as if anything was wrong with him. But Jax would take Cleo’s word for it and as carefully as possible placed the cat on the couch.

“Enough about the cat. What I want to know is why you took off. Don’t you realize that the thug who hurt you is still out there?”

“I was careful.”

“I talked to the police on my way here.” He waited to see if the reminder of their situation would gain her attention.

She didn’t raise her head to look at him. Instead she fussed over the cat. “What did they say? Has he been arrested?”

“No. And he was spotted in this area last night, but he eluded the police in the darkness.”

She glanced up. The light in her eyes dimmed. “Oh. I didn’t think—”

“Exactly. Now let’s get you out of here.”

He strode over and reached for the door.

“Wait. I’m not ready. I want to grab a few things. And you’ll need to load the litter box in the car while I put Charlie in his carrier.”

“I don’t think so. I’m not hauling some howling cat around in the car.”

Cleo frowned at him. “Charlie doesn’t howl. He’s not a dog.”

“Howl. Meow. It’s all the same.” He wasn’t a cat person.

“And don’t forget to scoop the litter before loading it.”

“No way. I’m not hauling around a litter box and a cat.”

* * *

A few minutes later, Cleo settled on the passenger seat of the SUV. “Did you remember to grab extra kitty litter?”

“Yes.” Jax’s grumpy tone made her smile. “I don’t know how something so small can require so much stuff.”

He’d grow to like Charlie. She was sure of it because beneath all of that gruff, Jax had a big heart, even if he refused to acknowledge it.

“It’s okay, Charlie. He’s not normally this grouchy. He just woke up on the wrong side of the bed.”

“I did not,” Jax grumbled from the hatch as he stowed away her crutches.

In no time at all, they were on the road. She noticed how Jax kept checking the mirrors. She supposed she hadn’t made the wisest choice this morning. Her gaze moved back to Charlie—but he needed her.

She glanced at Jax as he focused on traffic. “How long are you planning to keep us hidden away?”

Jax’s fingers tightened on the wheel. “As long as it takes to make sure you’re safe.”

“I’m not your responsibility. I moved to Las Vegas to get away from my family and their overbearing expectations and overprotectiveness. Now you’re trying to do the same thing.”