Read Where the Heart Is for Free Online Page B

“Well, I appreciate the breakfast and everything else. You’re my knight.”
    He stood up too, though she sensed reluctance in his posture and in the fact that he didn’t immediately go toward the door.
    â€œYour knight?” he said, finally turning.
    She joined him to walk him to the door. “In shining armor. Though I wouldn’t mind it if you brought the bad boy out to play some time.”
    He pivoted at the doorway and faced her, his blue eyes vivid and alluring. “You got it.” He looked at her mouth. “Do you mind, that is—”
    â€œNo.” She curled her arms up around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss. But this one wasn’t soft and sweet like the first. No, this time he unleashed his inner bad boy and slid his tongue along her lips until she let him inside. Then his arms were around her, crushing her into his chest and his mouth slanted over hers. This was a movie kiss, the kind that made you sigh and weep and feel hot all over.
    After several wondrous moments, he pulled back and gave her a regret-filled smile. “I really have to go. Oh, I almost forgot. Any chance you want to be my date at the Archers’ Christmas party tomorrow night?”
    A ginormous chance. But she had nothing to wear. Literally. Luckily, Mike had insisted on giving her the weekend off so that she could restock her wardrobe and look for a new place. Step one: find a killer party outfit. “I’d love to.”
    His answering smile was broad and sent every part of her into a quivery mass. “Great. I’ll stop by to get you at six, okay?”
    â€œCan’t wait.”
    â€œMe neither.” He gave her a last, lingering stare before leaving and closing the door behind him.
    Chloe touched the door as if she could still feel his imprint on the handle, then turned around and pressed her back to it. Then she heard voices in the stairwell and pivoted to reopen the door.
    A petite woman with pale blond hair was just ascending the last few steps, a gray bundle of fur in her arms.
    â€œAshley!” Chloe held out her arms, absurdly happy to see the kitten she’d only barely met but felt incredibly possessive of.
    The woman—she had to be Emily Archer—transferred Ashley into Chloe’s waiting embrace. “She’s doing very well. Takes her eye drops like a champ.”
    Chloe stared at her little kitten who was now looking up at her, which she hadn’t done the other night. “Oh, thank you so much. It does look as though she can see better, doesn’t it?”
    Emily nodded. “Definitely. She found the food dish quite easily this morning.” She paused. “I’m Emily, by the way.”
    â€œOh, yes, sorry.” Chloe nestled Ashley into the crook of her left arm and then held out her right to shake Emily’s hand. “I’m Chloe.”
    â€œOh, nonsense, young lady. We’re huggers.” She reached over and gave Chloe a quick squeeze. Then she pushed by her into the apartment. “I’ve put Ashley’s eyedrops in the cupboard next to the sink there. And there are cat food dishes and cat food in the cabinets.”
    â€œI don’t know how to thank you—for the groceries, too. How much do I owe you? And for the vet.”
    Emily waved her hand. “Nothing. I insist. If you can’t rely on the kindness of strangers to help you amidst a terrible tragedy, what good is this life?” She continued bustling around the apartment. “There’s a litter box in the bathroom. I wouldn’t let Ashley outside, especially until she’s better, though I wouldn’t let her be an outside kitty at all. There are too many coyotes around Ribbon Ridge.”
    Coyotes? Yeah, she lived in the boondocks, all right. “I think Ashley has had a hard enough time outside. Something tells me she’ll be perfectly happy inside as a TV-watching, bon-bon eating kitty.”
    Emily