them. Got her fixed.â She named a reasonable figure, and in less than ten minutes Gray had paid the lady and they were on the street with one wide-eyed kitten and a few pet supplies.
âNow what?â she asked, cradling her newest family member.
âWe need a litter box. Letâs pick one up on the way home. That way youâll be set.â
As a cab moved up the street toward them, she looked into Grayâs handsome face. âThank you. Heâs beautiful.â
Leaning in, she thanked him more thoroughly with a lingering kiss that ended when the cab came to a stop and the kitten began to squirm between them. Laughing, they got into the car and were on their way.
âWhat will you name him?â
She studied his coloring. âSterling, I think.â
âIt fits. Great name.â Putting an arm around her, he kissed her.
It wasnât until later that night, snuggled on the sofa against Gray, with Sterling in a little ball on her lap, that the enormity of this dayâthis momentâreally hit.
She was in so much trouble here. With this man, she could have a life. Complete with pets, laughter, love. The whole nine yards.
And as scary as it seemed, it was fantastic, too.
She never wanted this to end.
***
âYou want me to meet your mother?â
Gray stared at Anna and tried to swallow the sudden surge of panic that threatened to explode in his chest. âIâve never done the parent thing before.â
Disappointment shadowed her happiness, and she worried her bottom lip. âToo much, too soon?â
âNo, I was just surprised, thatâs all.â He smiled at her to cover his discomfort. âThis thing between us is still new, and I didnât want to push you too hard.â
âLiar,â she stated, incredulous. âYouâve done nothing
but
push since you first laid eyes on me. But I know meeting Mom is different, so never mind.â
âNo, wait. I didnât say I didnât want to meet her,â he said, laying a hand over hers. âThe answer is yesâweâre on. Iâd love to have dinner with you and your mom when you treat her here at the restaurant.â
Her smile blinded himâand infused him with horrible guilt. The past few days had been the best of his life, spending every minute he could with his lover, falling more and more for her each second. He wanted something real with Anna, but not like this. Not surrounded by lies and subterfuge, pretending to be someone he wasnât. But he didnât see a way out of his mess until the investigation was over.
âBeware,â she warned him. âMy mother is sort of overwhelming.â
âIâll consider myself forewarned.â He stood, needing to get out of her office, put a bit of distance between himself and the source of both his guilt and joy. âI have to close tonight, so I donât know if youâll want to wait for me. If you donât, call a cab or Iâll worry about your walking home alone with that mugger still on the loose.â
Gray, youâre a manipulative bastard.
She gave a shiver. âIâll wait for you, if thatâs all right.â
âIâm glad.â He paused at the door. âSee you in a while.â
âOkay.â
His shift went slowly, the clock moving as if mired in molasses. He hated this fucking fake job and couldnât imagine why anyone would want to work for a screaming prima donna like Ethan. Every day he felt like he was trapped in one of those hellacious reality shows, like that one where the chef shrieked at his underlings constantly and turned so red, Gray was surprised he hadnât had a stroke by now.
In Grayâs
real
job, if a madman screamed in his face while Gray was wielding a paring knife, said nutcase would get the knife planted between his ribs.
That grim thought made him smile. Unfortunately, it also earned Ethanâs eagle eye.
âWhatâs so
Bella Love-Wins
E. V. Thompson
Jennifer Weiner
Peter Cawdron
T F Muir
Stormie Kent
Elmore Leonard
Chris Kuzneski
Tymber Dalton
Jane Haddam