Liam
Another evening with no plans. Here I was, wandering the streets of Sutter Lake, finding myself pulled towards The Tea Kettle. Tessa had already said no to dinner, and the pain in her eyes when I’d asked meant that I wouldn’t be repeating that question anytime soon.
What was it about Tessa? I couldn’t put my finger on it. Maybe it was the mystery surrounding her. All the unanswered questions. Maybe it was because I had written my first lyrics in months when I was around her. Maybe it was just that she pulled back instead of leaning forward. I had gotten so used to people clamoring for my attention, it was weirdly nice that Tessa seemed to have no need for it.
I rounded the corner that brought the Kettle into view—closed up tight for the night, no one sitting on the porch. Disappointment flooded me. I’d gotten my hopes up for a few traded words. A glimpse of those hypnotizing eyes.
My gaze caught on a figure bent over near the side of the building. A long, brown braid hung down the figure’s back. My heart picked up speed, just a little, as did my stride. This time, I remembered her jumpiness and called out while I was still more than ten feet away. “Hey, Tessa.”
Her head snapped in my direction, her braid swinging around. My footsteps stuttered when I caught sight of her face. It was white as a sheet, her expression stricken. “Liam. Can you help me? I don’t know what to do. I think his leg might be broken. I don’t have a car to take him to a vet, and my phone just died. Who would do this to a little defenseless thing like him?” Her words ran together like one long, run-on sentence.
“Hold on, what’s going—?” My words halted when I saw the tiny orange ball of fur in her hands.Shit.
Tessa held up the kitten for my inspection. “His leg and his back. Look.”
The poor creature’s fur was matted with blood. A long gash ran along its back, and one of the kitten’s legs looked bent at an angle that wasn’t natural. “Okay. We need to get him to a vet. Is there one in town?”
Tessa glanced at her watch, cradling the kitten carefully in her other hand. “Not one that’s open now. There’s an emergency vet the next town over, but I don’t have my car.”
“I’ve got my SUV around the corner, we can take that.” I started to walk, but Tessa didn’t follow. Her gaze went from me to the kitten to the building behind us, her brows pinched together as if following me would cause her physical pain. My stomach dropped. Someone had hurt her badly. I wanted to rip whoever it was limb from limb. This woman’s trust was nonexistent.
I pulled out my phone. “Do you want me to call Jensen instead? It might take her a bit to get here, but I’ll wait with you until she does.”
Tessa looked down at the kitten in her arms and then straightened her spine. “No. There’s not enough time. Just let me grab my bag.”
“Okay.” Why did her acquiescence to just riding in the car with me feel like I’d just won the lottery?
Tessa walked quickly but carefully up the porch and grabbed her purse. “Can you pull up Caldwell Mill Animal Clinic on your phone so you know where we’re heading?”
I punched in the name on my screen, bringing up a map. “Let’s go.”
We hurried down the street and back towards my Escalade. I went straight to the passenger-side door, beeping the locks and pulling it open. Tessa did a good job of disguising her hesitation, her stride stalling only briefly before she forced herself forward and up into the vehicle. That hesitation, I realized, was pure fear. The knowledge burned my gut.
I did my best to hide the rage that was now scorching my veins. I slowly, and with as little force as possible, closed the door behind her. Jogging, I rounded the car and got in, bringing the engine to life. “How’s he doing?” I asked with a quick glance in Tessa’s direction.
Her face was filled with worry as she stared down at the kitten. “I’m not sure.” The poor guy was wrapped in Tessa’s flannel shirt. I took in the fact that she was wearing only a tank top and that the temperature outside was in the forties.
I reached into my backseat with one hand while my other remained on the wheel. I felt around for the sweatshirt I’d tossed back there the other day before my run. “Here you go. You must be cold.”
Our fingers brushed as I handed her the bundle, her smooth skin sending shivers up my arm with just that barest touch.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice soft. “I’ll put it on when we get out of the car.”
She didn’t want to jostle the creature in her arms. I turned up the heat. The navigation on my phone called out directions and declared that we’d arrive in twelve minutes. I shifted in my seat. “Have you seen him around before?”
Tessa stroked a tiny part of the cat’s fur that seemed unmarred. He let out a small meow. “Only once. I’ve been putting out milk, and he’s been drinking that, but he hasn’t wanted anyone to get too close, I don’t think.”
Sounded familiar. “The vet will be able to fix him up.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip. “I hope so.”
The minutes seemed to drag on and fly by at the same time. When I pulled up to the small animal hospital, Tessa was out of the SUV before I even had the thing turned off. I hurried after her, catching up by the time she reached the door. I pushed it open and held it for her.
Tessa rushed to the front desk. “I found this kitten, and he’s hurt pretty bad. Can you help?”
The older woman stood and rounded the counter. “Oh, no, that poor baby. I’ll take him back to the doctor right now.”
Tessa hesitated for only half a second before placing the kitten in the other woman’s arms. “Thank you.”
