A Little Bit of Christmas Page 9
There wasn’t much that interested him lately, aside from work.
“Knock yourself out.” He stepped aside and gave her some room.
She walked back to the expensive SUV parked a few feet away from his truck and rummaged around for a bit, then returned clutching a pink and black bag in her hand. She opened it and popped a candy in her mouth and smiled at him. Which was something he took a moment to appreciate because the woman had one hell of a smile.
“I know what you’re thinking,” she said.
He was thinking of how good she looked bent over the front seat of her vehicle while she searched for the bag in her hand.
“I doubt that.”
Her smile widened. “You’re thinking, no way can I get that little kitten to come to me, when you’ve been trying for the last hour.”
“Fifteen minutes.”
“What?”
“I’d be a popsicle if I’d been out here for an hour.”
Her eyes dropped to his bare chest, for a ghost of a moment, and he noticed the pink in her cheeks deepened.
“You’re a little underdressed for the weather.”
“I’m just out of the shower. Damn cat is lucky I noticed it when I started the truck.”
“Can I?” She moved past him and leaned toward the truck and shook the bag, all the while speaking softly to the kitten. Within seconds, literal seconds, the small fur ball appeared, meowing loudly, as it jumped up toward the bag, those sharp little claws extended like daggers. She scooped up the kitten and turned to Beck.
“You owe me,” she said with a laugh.
“I don’t remember anything about a bet.”
She moved forward and held out the kitten, who looked smaller than any kitten Beck had ever seen before. When he didn’t immediately take the little guy off of her, she frowned.
“This belongs to you.”
“I don’t like cats.”
“Well it was in your truck so it belongs to you now.”
“Those are the rules?”
“Those are the rules,” she replied with a small smile. She moved closer and held the little guy up, and Beck had no choice but to grab hold of it. Oil and dirt left marks on its orange face and back, but other than that the kitten seemed okay, though it was shivering something fierce. Beck held the animal against his chest and pulled one half of his flannel shirt over it for warmth. It immediately began to purr and it was an odd sensation, but not exactly unpleasant.
He looked at the woman, Sid, and nodded to his house. “I’ll grab the key for you.” She followed him inside and he held the kitten gingerly, while rooting through the pile of paperwork on the kitchen table that at the moment doubled as his work station. He found the envelope marked, stone cottage, and handed it over.
“You out here on your own?”
Her eyes darkened and the soft smile that had graced her face disappeared, like a ghost melting into the shadows.
“How is that any of your business? A woman can’t rent a home on her own? Why does everyone think I need a man to protect me?” Her tone was sharp, her voice high.
“No,” he replied slowly, watching her carefully. “I just wondered if you needed an extra key is all. I only have the one but can get a spare made up for you.”
“Oh. Sorry. I didn’t mean to…I just…It’s been a day and it’s not even ten o’clock yet.” Her eyes slid from his. “I’m fine with the one.”
“It’s just up the road,” he said as she took it. “Technically, the next property over, but my place here is about ten acres so it’s a bit of a hike.”
“Thank you.” She backed away.
“The heat’s not on. I didn’t get a chance to get up there because—“
“I’m early.” She shrugged. “Sorry.”
“There’s a file on the kitchen island with all the instructions you need.”
“I’m sure I’ll be able to figure it out.” She pointed to his chest. “Again, sorry to bother you on a Sunday and good luck with your new friend.”
She closed the door and Beck watched through the window as she slid into her shiny SUV and moments later, drove away.
He groped for his cell phone and Nate picked up on the first ring. “Two things,” he said before his brother could say hello.
“What’s that?”
“Your friend is early.”
“Sid?”
“That’s the one.”
“Good to know. What’s the other one?”
Beck looked down at the kitten tucked into his flannel, now fast asleep and purring wildly. He should drop it at Molly’s animal shelter and let them deal with it. He didn’t have time for a cat. Hell, he didn’t even like them.
Just then the kitten stretched and slowly opened its green eyes. For a moment, it felt like the little fur ball could see right into his soul. The kitten angled its head and snuggled closer, before resuming the purring and kneading the edge of his shirt with its paws.
“Beck?”
Beck leaned against the counter in his kitchen and sighed. “What do you feed a kitten?”
Also by Juliana Stone
A Crystal Lake Novel
The Thing About Trouble
That Thing You Do
A Little Bit Of Christmas
Coming February 2020
Click on the title to preorder your copy today!
Love And Other Things
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The Blackwells of Crystal Lake
You Make Me Weak - Free
You Drive Me Crazy
You Rock My World
You Own My Heart
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The Family Simon series
Tucker -Free
Jack
Maverick
Teague
Grace
Cooper
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The Barker Triplets
Offside - Free
Collide
Conceal
A Barker Family Christmas
Long Road Home
Standalone Novels
He’s All that
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author and 2015 RITA® winner JULIANA STONE fell in love with books in the fifth grade when her teacher introduced her to Tom Sawyer. A tomboy at heart, she splits her time between baseball, books, and music. She’s thrilled to be writing young adult as well as adult contemporary romance—books that have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly & Booklist—from somewhere in the wilds of Canada.
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I love hearing from my readers, and you can find me by clicking the links below! If you want to stay abreast of all happenings, you can sign up for my newsletter by clicking the contact link below!
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Juliana
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