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As she rounded the corner onto Glenwillow Road, she was surprised to see Reed’s Escape in her driveway. What was he doing there?

  She pulled in the drive, but Reed wasn’t in the car, nor was he up on the front porch. Curious, she parked beside his vehicle and got out, calling his name. No answer.

  Strange. Why would he leave his car at her place? She got back in and pulled into the garage. Seeing Reed’s car in her drive had almost made her forget about Tiger, but when she got out of the car and no kitten came running, a dull ache settled in her throat.

  She opened the side door from the garage and stopped short. Reed sat on the lone chair on the patio. Tiger lounged contentedly in his lap.

  “What in the world…?” A bubble of joy rose inside her.

  When the cat saw her, his ears pricked and he gave a short, squeaky meow.

  “Hi.” Reed grinned like the proverbial Cheshire cat and ran a tanned hand down Tiger’s back. The kitten arched his spine to meet the caress, his purr so loud Olivia half feared Mr. Burnside would hear him and come to take him away again.

  “What is going on?”

  He shrugged. “Tiger just found his way back home.”

  “But…how? I don’t understand.” An incredible lightness came over her, and she felt a slow grin spread over her face.

  “Did you know the Humane Society has cats?”

  Olivia crossed her arms, deciding to play along, and loving it. “You’re kidding? They have animals there?”

  Reed nodded, acting very proud of himself. “But only on Thursdays. They had dogs too, but I thought ‘nah, this little guy looks just about perfect for Olivia Cline.’”

  Buoyant, Olivia hurried over and reached to take the cat from him. Reed lifted Tiger up and placed him in her arms.

  “Had to pay twenty-five dollars to get the stupid thing back,” Reed said, letting the act slip. Even as he called Tiger “stupid” he gave him a good scratching behind the ears. “But that included shots and…well, you know… So there won’t be a bunch of little Tigers running around your neighborhood. You might want to be careful not to squeeze him too tight for a few days.”

  She laughed and held Tiger closer anyway. “Hey, buddy.” The cat purred louder, if it were possible, and ran flicked his sandpaper tongue under her chin. “Did you miss me, little guy?” She talked baby talk to him and willed herself not to cry again. Reed had to be sick to death of her tears.

  After a minute, Tiger wriggled out of her arms and jumped onto the patio, then sauntered over to his food bowls as if he’d never been gone. Olivia watched him for a minute before noticing the supply of food and kitty litter stacked by the back door. Two huge bags of cat food and two large plastic containers of kitty litter.

  She studied Reed. “What’s all this?”

  Reed’s mouth quirked in feigned innocence. “Oh. That. The Humane Society was giving that away today. Free food and kitty litter with every cat.”

  Olivia raised a brow. “But only on Thursdays, right?”

  The smile he gave her then melted whatever semblance of resolve she had left. Oh, also… I hate to separate you two so soon again, but I’ll be picking Tiger up early in the morning. He has an appointment at the vet…just to have him checked over.”

  “Oh, but, Reed…” Her joy deflated a little. “I can’t afford to take him to the vet.”

  “Nothing to afford,” he said, shaking his head. “It’s all taken care of. I’ll drop him off in the morning and you can pick him up after work. They said he’d be done by then, unless you want to have him declawed too. But…I bought a scratching post.” He motioned in the direction of the driveway. “It’s still in my car.”

  “But… You can’t—”

  “Olivia, please.” He held up a hand. “The bill’s already been paid. I want to do this. You obviously love this cat, and if the only thing standing between him and the pound is a few dollars worth of vet bills, then please let me take care of it. Call it an employee benefit.”

  She gave him a wide grin in spite of herself.

  “Besides,” he said, “If the work you did today is any example of what you’re like sans kitten, then it’s to my advantage that you have Tiger back.”

  “Hey!” She swatted at him, laughing. “I wasn’t that bad, was I?” She knew the answer before his frown confirmed it. “Oh, but I’m so happy to have him back!” She scooped Tiger up again and snuggled him to her neck, joy flooding through her.

  Reed unfolded himself lazily from the chair. “Well, I’ll leave you two to get reacquainted.” He scooted the chair back in place and started around the house toward his car.

  Olivia set the cat down and caught up with him, laying a hand on his arm. “Thank you so much, Reed.” Impulsively, she gave him a quick hug. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”

  He returned her hug, patting her back lightly. But then he backed away, dipping his head and mumbling something about getting the scratching post out of his car.

  She looked away and folded her arms. She probably shouldn’t have hugged him—especially after his confession the other day. But it had been an honest reaction to his gift of redeeming the kitten and nothing could quell her joy over having Tiger back.

  She followed Reed around the side of the house. “Here, I’ll come with you and carry the scratching post.” Thinking about what had just happened, Olivia couldn’t suppress the peal of laughter that bubbled up. She clapped her hands together like a little girl on Christmas morning, and practically skipped the short distance to where the Escape was parked.

  Reed smiled and shook his head as if to say “you crazy woman.” But she didn’t care. She was elated over Tiger’s return—and if she were honest, about seeing Reed here—and she wasn’t going to spoil the evening worrying about what he thought of her.

  He opened the back hatch of the Escape and lifted out a tall, carpet-covered scratching post with a platform on top.

  “Oh, he’ll love napping up there. Here… I can carry it,” Olivia said, trying to take the unwieldy post from him.

  Reed ignored her protests. “I’ve got it,” he said. “It’s heavy. Besides, I need to carry that kitty litter in for you. That stuff weighs a ton.”

  She hurried ahead to unlock the back door for him, and made a quick decision to place the scratching post by the dining room window. “He’ll love watching out the window.”

  Reed made sure the post was steady on the hardwood floor, then went back for the other things.

  He reappeared a minute later, lugging a heavy pail in each hand. “Where do you want these?”

  “Oh…probably in the laundry room. Here…” She led him to the tiny room on the other side of the kitchen.

  “Nice place,” he said behind her. “You get good light in here even this late.”

  “It is nice, isn’t it? It was a little scary buying it sight unseen.”

  “You did that?”

  “Well, Derek had seen it before we made an offer, but I didn’t see it until—” She backtracked, brushing away the memory of that first night she’d seen the house. And the reminder that she may soon be trying to sell this house. “Well, anyway, I do like it…”

  She motioned for him to set the containers down beside the washing machine.

  “Here,” she said, leading the way through the hall and out to the living room. “You don’t have to go all the way around. The front door is closer.”

  Reed wandered slowly through the room, looking around as he went. “I like what you’ve done in here. I forgot you’d said you were a decorator. That’s very obvious seeing this place.”

  “It’s funny you should say that. Until last night, I really hadn’t done much at all. But I figured if I’m going to sell the place, I ought to make it look presentable.”

  He seemed taken aback. “Are you? Going to put it on the market, I mean?”

  “Well, not right away, I guess, but… I really don’t see how I can afford to keep it. You can’t give me that big of a raise. Not
and still eat.” She laughed nervously.

  “It would be too bad to have to move from here.”

  She shrugged, uncomfortable with where the conversation was taking them.

  Reed seemed to sense that she wanted to change the subject. He wandered into the living, looking at the framed prints she’d hung on the walls just last night. As he worked his way around the room to the foyer, he came to her cow painting. She cringed inside, hoping he would just keep walking.

  She opened her mouth to thank him again for bringing Tiger back, but not in time.

  “Hey, this is an original.” Reed leaned in to examine the brush strokes on her painting.

  “Yes,” she said, suddenly acutely aware of how amateur her work was compared to Reed Vincent’s. She wished the canvas would disappear, and her along with it.

  “This is nice,” he said. He turned to look at her. “Do you know the artist?”

  She glanced away and placed her tongue firmly in her cheek. “I…know her. Not well.” That at least was true, and becoming truer all the time, apparently.

  “I like it,” he said, apparently not getting her little joke. “Shows a lot of promise.”

  She studied his face. Was he just playing along, or did he really not realize that she was the artist?

  He stepped back and to the left, perusing the painting from another angle. “Hmmm…”

  “Do you really like it?” she risked.

  “I do. Something about the light really appeals to me. And the colors the artist chose. Not a lot of contrast, yet it works beautifully. Adds to the serene mood of it.”

  She dipped her head, feeling herself flush. “Well… thank you,” she said quietly.

  He turned and studied her with narrowed eyes. “It’s yours? Seriously?”

  “Seriously. Were you serious…about liking it?”

  “I was. Really, Olivia. I’m impressed. I don’t remember you ever telling me you were such an accomplished artist.”

  “Well, I said I paint a little.”

  “There’s a difference,” he said. “House painters paint a little. This is art.”

  She bit her lip, unable to resist the urge to fish just a little. “I just dabble. I haven’t painted seriously for years. It’s so strange that you like it though. Derek never cared much for this—or for any of my work, actually.”

  “No?”

  She shook her head. “He was a little more of a realist. As far as art went, anyway. He called this ‘splotchy’.”

  “Splotchy, huh?” Reed kept his eyes on the canvas, as though he were taking notes. “Well, this is a very nice bunch of splotches.”

  Olivia barely suppressed a grateful sigh. This man really, really knew how to make a girl’s day.

  Chapter 24

  Reed drove home with a wide smile on his face and a deep feeling of relief. He’d second-guessed himself all the way to Olivia’s from the Humane Society, worrying that she may have already had a change of heart and decided it was all for the best that the cat was gone.

  He’d had visions of her sending him straight home, cat in tow. And being angry because he’d made her grieve all over again. And then what would he have done? He didn’t even like cats. Although he had to admit that Olivia’s kitten was a rather nice exception. To be fair, Tiger was the first cat he’d really been around for any length of time. He’d always avoided felines whenever possible. He wasn’t sure why, except maybe that his father had had the same attitude about cats.

  He replayed his afternoon at the Humane Society and mentally rolled his eyes. He must have it bad for Olivia Cline if he was willing to go to all that trouble for a stupid cat. It had been worth it though, just to see the glow on her pretty face. He’d known the minute he saw her with Tiger in her arms that he’d done the right thing. And the hug she’d given him was a step in the right direction for sure.

  When he pulled in his driveway a few minutes later, Maggie was sitting on his front steps smoking. When she saw him, she ground her cigarette under her heel before jumping up to follow his car into the detached garage.

  He shut off the engine and opened the door. “Hey, Maggie. What’s up?”

  “Not a whole lot. Just haven’t seen you for a while. Thought I’d come over and see if you’d starved to death yet.”

  He patted his belly. “I’m doing fine, thanks. Not that I’d turn down a neighborly offer of baked goods should one come my way.”

  She hooked a thumb over her shoulder. “I put a plate of brownies on the counter by your fridge.”

  “Oh, bless you.”

  She graced him with a smile.

  He got out of the car and pulled the garage door down, motioning for Maggie to follow him back to the front stoop where she’d been sitting. He plopped down on the top step and she sat below him, leaning against the iron railing.

  He spotted the cigarette butt she’d crushed earlier. “I see you’re still smoking those coffin nails.”

  She shrugged. “A fella’s gotta die from something.”

  He’d been bugging Maggie to quit ever since he moved in next door. As he’d grown to know and love her, he’d stepped up his campaign, but his pleas seemed to fall on deaf ears. “It’s nice out here.” He changed the subject. “Finally cooled off a little.”

  “Finally. I wish Missouri springs lasted longer than a week. Seems like we always jump from April straight to July. The older I get the more I dread the summer.”

  He shook his head. “I’m not crazy about the heat either. Thank the Lord for my air-conditioned studio.”

  “Speaking of which,” Maggie said, “how’s your new assistant working out?”

  Reed knew a leading question when he heard one, but he played dumb. “Olivia’s great. I hardly had to train her. I just discovered tonight that she’s a pretty good artist herself.”

  “Tonight? What, did she have a show or something?”

  Oh boy. He’d walked blindly into that one. Oh, well. He’d never had any secrets from Maggie. “No, I had to take something over to her house. Just happened to see some of her paintings. She’s good. I kind of hate to encourage her though. I’d hate to lose her.”

  “Not to mention she could be your competition.”

  He winced. “I hadn’t thought of that. Really, though, I don’t know how I’d keep up around here without her. I’m sure glad you had your daughter put that notice on the church bulletin board.”

  “Yeah, well, how come I haven’t gotten to meet her yet? Seems like you’d want to introduce us, seeing how she’s so wonderful and all?” Maggie winked.

  He shrugged one shoulder, goading her. “You’ll have to come over some time when you see her car in the drive. I’m sure she likes brownies, too.”

  “Well, maybe I’ll just go get that plate I brought you and bring them back over tomorrow when she’s here.”

  “Oh, that would be subtle.”

  She beamed. “Since when was I ever known for my subtlety?”

  “Oh yeah. I forgot who I’m dealing with here.”

  She tilted her head and examined him with a playful glint in her eyes. “Okay, since I’ve already got a reputation, let me just come out and ask: is there more between you two than a working relationship?”

  He tried to look innocent. “Me and Olivia? Now why would you ask that?”

  “Two reasons,” she said, counting them off on heavily ringed fingers. “One, I never see you anymore. Seems like you used to get a little lonely once in a while and at least come over and tell ol’ Maggie hello, shoot the breeze. Haven’t done that for a while. Two…” She leaned in like she had a secret to share. “Don’t know if you’re aware of this, Mr. Vincent, but you get this peculiar gleam in your eyes every time you mention her name.”

  He felt his cheeks heat up. Man! Was he that transparent? He ran a hand through his hair and looked at the sidewalk, but he couldn’t stop the smile that tugged at his mouth.

  “That’s what I thought,” Maggie said. She punched him in the bicep. “Well,
come on. Let’s hear all about it.”

  Reed turned serious. “There’s nothing to tell, Maggie. Olivia lost her husband a few months ago. She’s still grieving.”

  “Lost him? You mean he died?”

  He nodded.

  “That’s gotta be tough.”

  “It gets worse. She’s pregnant.”

  Maggie’s white eyebrows rose an inch. “Really? I’ve seen her from a distance. Didn’t notice she was pregnant.”

  “She’s just a few months along. Not really—you know…”

  “Showing,” she filled in. “So are you going to lose her when the baby comes? I mean will she quit her job then?”

  “I hope not. She’ll need her job even worse after the baby.”

  She cocked her head. “So did I totally misread the gleam in your eyes?”

  He hesitated, sighed heavily, then shot her a guilty grin. “Not totally.”

  “You like her.”

  “I do, Maggie, but she’s not ready for a relationship.” He quoted Alissa. “I’ve got to give her time. She needs to grieve.”

  “Well, I’ll grant you that. But that baby will need a daddy too. She might be ready sooner than you think.”

  “Maggie.”

  “I’m just saying.” Maggie pulled herself up by the railing and stretched, rubbing the small of her back. “I better get going. My show starts in a few minutes. An episode I missed in the regular season. Can’t miss it in reruns too.”

  Reed watched her walk across the lawn. He sat on the steps until the sun dipped below the rooftops, replaying their conversation and wondering why her simple words gave him such hope.

  Tiger raced through the living room on the slick hardwood floors, skidding to a halt in front of Olivia. In spite of Olivia’s careful trimming, his claws had already feathered faint scratches on the shiny surface. But she didn’t care. Tiger had brought so much sunshine into this house, into her life, she didn’t think she’d bat an eye if he shredded the drapes and ruined the floors.

  She took another bite of her raisin bran and set the bowl on the floor. Tiger pounced on it and lapped up the last drops of milk. He was growing out of kittenhood, and had that gangly, awkward “adolescent” look about him now. He ate like one, too. He’d already gone through half of one of the big bags of cat chow from Reed, yet he always seemed happy to clean up any scraps of food Olivia put out for him.