I laughed like a loon as he bounced me up and down. He grabbed my ass, steadying me. “Careful; don’t fall.”
I pounded on his back, trying to speak through the laughter. Chaucer barked once and then sat himself in front of the door, blocking Bear.
Bear lifted me easily and placed me back on my feet. “Saved by the dog. All right. I’ll accept defeat, but I reserve the right to kiss you at will in the hopes that we eventually spark.”
I wiped away tears, my stomach hurting from laughing so hard. “I accept those terms but reserve the right to slap you if I find myself annoyed by the intrusion.”
He nodded. “And I accept those terms.”
After Bear left, I dragged myself upstairs to change into my warmest fleece pants and thermal top. I wished I’d felt something when we kissed. He was kind and funny, sexy and sweet. Why couldn’t I be attracted to him? And why did Aiden bringing me a hat to keep me warm give me the squishy feels? Gah! Officer Grumpy cleans out animal traps and I’m smitten. Bear kisses me and nothing. Sometimes, life truly sucked ass.
I awoke with a start, the phone echoing through the empty house. Chaucer put his nose against my forehead. “Dude, I hear it. Keep your cold, wet body parts to yourself!” I’d slept in the one chair left in the living room. Neck throbbing, I straightened, shaking out the hand currently being attacked by pins and needles, and ran to get the phone.
“Hello.”
“Katherine.”
I froze. My skin crawled.
“Katherine, are you there?”
“What do you want, Justin?”
“Many things. Fortunately, none of them involve you. First, though, I want my car. Before it starts to rust.”
Of course. The car. “How am I supposed to do that? You closed my banking accounts.”
“My banking accounts. I’m the one who makes the money. You’re the one who spends it.”
“No-fault state. And I worked my ass?—”
“Your considerable ass.”
“—off, cooking, cleaning, organizing your social calendar, hosting dinner parties and charity events.”
“True. You made a better personal assistant than a wife. I’m rather enjoying not having you always silently moping in the background.”
Was that true? Did I act like that? I thought about our ten years together but couldn’t pinpoint a time or event that caused a shift. He’d always relished complaining that something I’d done or said could have been executed better, corrected me to show me how I should have done it. After a while, it was easier to not say anything. He only ever listened to find fault, anyway. “Why are you really calling me?”
“I told you. I want my car back. If you were hoping for alimony or a settlement, you’ve got a wake-up call coming. So, here it is. You’re getting nothing from me. Nothing. I’m very good at what I do, Katherine. Your lawyer will never find my money, and it is mine. I want my car and then I’ll wash my hands of you. Well, almost. I have another gift coming your way soon.” Click.
My head throbbed. Justin. Threats. Infestations. Starvation. Unemployment. Gran. At the thought of Gran, a band seemed to squeeze my chest. I couldn’t handle it coming at me from every direction all at once. Chaucer leaned into me and then plopped his butt down on my foot. The band began to release. “You’re right. One thing at a time. We need to get you fed.”
I moved to the pantry and opened the door. Movement made me squeal and slam it shut. Chaucer barked, sniffing in the crack under the door.
Glancing at the phone, I wondered if this fell into the category of a 911 call. It totally should, but I doubted the cops would see it that way. Frick! Chaucer started clawing at the floor, trying to dig under to get at whatever was in the pantry.
I’d put a trap in there yesterday after I fed him, worried Chaucer’s food would attract critters. If a trapped animal was the price of being right, I’d rather be wrong. Chaucer barked and whined.
“I know!” I stamped a socked foot. Now what? I forgot to bring my hazmat suit and industrial-grade gloves with me.
25) Buy a hazmat suit! Lead lined.
I slowly opened the door again, body blocking Chaucer, who desperately wanted in. “Sit.” He sat, but his body strained around me, trying to see the predator stealing his food. Two angry eyes glared at me.
I may or may not have screamed. Those eyes had to have been a foot off the floor. I slammed the door. Pounding on the door caused me to jump, falling over Chaucer. My head cracked on the floor, but still I scrambled to get farther away from whatever was in the pantry that could pound on doors. Tears sprang to my eyes, but I stood up and stalked back to the pantry. I smacked the flat of my hand against the door over and over. “No more! Get out and stay out!”
When the pounding started again, I realized it was the front door, not the pantry. Oh.
