Courting Alley Cat (14 page)

              He sighed. “Somehow I knew that would be your answer.”

              He watched her walk toward the bedroom. “Alley,” he said, holding out his hand when she stopped and turned to look at him. “Hey,”

              “Hey?”

              “Come here.”

              She walked toward him.

              “Before you go to sleep, how about some ice cream?”

              “I don’t know. I’m not hungry.”

              “I know, but would you eat some with me?”

              “Ok,” she said, allowing him to pull her down next to him.

              “You wait here,” he said.

              She pulled her feet onto the couch and hugged her knees to her chest, with her head against her legs. Maybe it was better if she was with him for a little while instead of being by herself. She did feel a little shaky.

              Hearing him in the kitchen, she was comforted and, closing her eyes, she imagined that he lived here with her - in their house. She smiled when she heard Charlie meowing at him - and he answered.

              “Here we are,” Justin said, coming to join her on the couch, with two heaping bowls of ice cream with chocolate syrup on top.

              “You’re trying to fatten me up,” she said, taking one from him. But one bite into it and she stopped worrying about the calories. Maybe it was so tasty just because Justin had made it for her.

              “You didn’t get to tell me where you’ve been,” he said.

              “I had to go home for a few days.”

              “Something wrong?”

              “Yeah, my dad had to have surgery.”

              “Surgery? You didn’t mention it.”

              She glanced at him, saw the concern. “It was sudden.”

              “He’s ok?”

              “He did great.”

              “I was worried.”

              She looked at him. “Really?”

              “Of course. I actually thought that perhaps you had been kidnaped when I didn’t hear anything from you.”

              Alley lowered her eyes. She knew he had called. She had chosen not to answer. When he had called, she had purposely sent his calls directly to voice mail.

              “You didn’t answer your phone,” he said quietly.

              She nodded. “I know.”

              “Alley?”

              She looked into those blue eyes and couldn’t explain why she hadn’t picked up the phone when she wanted to talk to him more than anything.

              “Tell me.”

              “I was afraid.”

              “Alley,” he said, gently touching her cheek. “You’re not afraid of me?”

              “No,” she said quickly. “Of course not.”

              “Then what were you afraid of?”

              With his hand against her cheek and his sky blue eyes peering into hers, she had a hard time remembering much of anything - especially why she might have been afraid with regards to Justin. Then, when her heart did a little stutter, she remembered. She was afraid she might care too much - more than he did. But, of course, she couldn’t tell him that. However, self-restraint had never been her strong suit. “I like you,” she said.

              He grinned. “I like you, too, but it doesn’t make me not answer your phone calls.”

              “I’m sorry I didn’t answer the phone.”

              “It’s ok, Alley. I’m just relieved that you are ok.”

              “I didn’t mean for you to worry.”

              “I know.”

              Charlie chose that moment to jump onto the couch next them and managed to get his head into Alley’s ice-cream bowl.

              “Um, as your veterinarian, I should probably tell you that he shouldn’t have that.”

              Alley laughed and pulled the bowl back. “Sorry, Charlie. With a vet in the house, you don’t get to have any fun. Good thing he isn’t a people doctor.”

              Justin set their bowls aside, out of Charlie’s reach, and pulled Alley closer. “I may not be a people doctor,” he said with his lips a breath away from hers, “but I plan to keep a close watch on you.”

              “And just how do you plan to do that?” she asked, feeling herself being drawn into him.

              “I think I’ll start with this,” he said, and finally pressed his lips against hers.

              When Justin woke the next morning, he was dizzily disoriented. He didn’t recognize anything, including the blanket draped across his body.

              After a few seconds bordering on panic, he realized he was on the couch next door.

              The couch next door. Protecting the girl next door.

              He ran his hand through his hair and wished for a toothbrush and mouthwash. And a hot shower. He had slept well, everything considered. He hadn’t woken but once, and then it was with Charlie perched on his pillow, purring and pawing his hair.

              He would sleep here again tonight, too. He could feel the fear in the pit of his stomach. Alley was in danger. The man, whether he was THE kidnapper or not, was still a danger to her. He had located her and sought her out for whatever reason. It was the same man who had bothered her before. He had no proof, but he was certain of it. He would be back.

              He wasn’t sure what it would take to make her safe. He only knew that he would do whatever it took. He felt under his pillow for the comfort of his 38 pistol. He knew how to use it and, most importantly, he knew when to use it.

              Technically, he knew, he was supposed to have asked Alley’s permission to bring a concealed weapon into her home. He also knew that he could be in big trouble if she found out about it didn’t like it.

              That was just the reason why he didn’t tell her. He didn’t want to freak her out - first of all by having a gun, and second by explaining why he happened to have one.

              If he had to use it, it would be worth the risk. He rubbed his eyes and stretched his legs. He had to tell her - everything - that he carried a concealed weapon and that he trained and used SAR dogs. He just didn’t know when he was going to tell her.

              He admitted that he was afraid - afraid it would turn her away from him - much like it had someone in the past - someone he had cared for at the time.

              But this was Alley - his childhood fantasy, who, by the way, was so very much better in real life. He couldn’t risk screwing it up. He knew he only had one chance with her. Why was it a guy only got one chance with the girl he really cared about? If he didn’t care about her, he could muddle it all up good and she would still be around.

              Alley stared at the bedside clock and listened for sounds in the house. She had been awake for nearly an hour, but didn’t feel inclined to get up. She rarely slept with her door closed, but last night she had not only closed the door, but had locked it. Charlie had woken up around four a.m. and requested to be on the other side of the closed bedroom door. He was an early riser, after all. 

              This morning the events of last night seemed much less perilous. Indeed, at this point, with the light of early morning shining through her bedroom window, she was much more concerned that Justin was in the next room than the man who had been at her back door claiming to have a lost puppy.

              Finally, after telling herself she needed to be brave, she threw off the covers and stood up. She had to admit to herself that she was curious about whether or not Justin had left yet - and Charlie would be hungry by now. She put on her slippers, checked her hair in the mirror, and after deciding she needed a shower, decided to take one later. Padding down the hallway, she knew he was still there. The house just felt different somehow with him there. Charlie ran to meet her and followed her into the kitchen. She wasn’t surprised when Justin spoke to her from the kitchen doorway.

              “You’re up early,” he said.

              She glanced at the clock. It was a few minutes before seven. “Yes, I suppose I am,” she said, filling the coffee filter with ground coffee.

              “Did you sleep ok?” he asked.

              She rinsed the spoon. “Yes, and you?”

              “Like a lamb.”

              “I guess we were safe then.”

              He nodded as she filled the carafe with water and poured it into the coffee maker. She turned back to look at him. “You really were worried,” she said.

              “I still am,” he said, seriously.

              “Thank you,” she said.

              “For what?”

              “For staying here. For watching out for me.”

              “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said, taking a step toward her.

              “Nevertheless,” she said. “You’ve gone above and beyond.”

              “Above and beyond what?”

              “Above and beyond what a neighbor would do.”

              “Is that how you think of me? As a neighbor?” he asked, taking another step forward.

              “Well, no....”

              “Then how do you think of me?”

              “Well, I - um”

              He was standing in front of her now. Close enough to touch.

              She lowered her eyes. “Justin.”

              “What?” he asked, lifting her chin until their eyes met.

              “I don’t know what to think.”

              “Maybe you think too much.”

              Then before she knew how it happened, his lips were on hers. It was truly like coming home again. She melted against him and he pulled her so close they became inseparable. They stood that way, each clinging to the other until time spun out of existence.

              Finally, almost to regain breath, they pulled apart ever so slightly. His hands were in her hair, hers dug into his shirt.

              “Whatever it was I did,” he whispered against her ear. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

              She nodded. She didn’t know what he did. Maybe she had done it. Whatever it was, it no longer seemed important.

              “Please don’t leave me again.”

              She shook her head against him.

              Right now she couldn’t think past the feel of him against her. Couldn’t think past the next breath. She wasn’t even sure what he was asking of her. It didn’t matter. She would have agreed to it.

              “Let me make you breakfast,” Justin said, nudging her forward ever so slightly. He wanted her. He wanted her skin next to his now. But he wanted that to be special. Not now when he was focused on his day’s appointments and she was focused on being afraid in her own home.

              A little off-balance, she agreed. “Ok,” she said softly. It wasn’t what she had expected.

              As Justin scrambled eggs, he tried to compose in his mind what it was he needed to say.

              “Alley,” he said, as she refilled their coffee cups. “I have to ask something of you.”

              “All right,” she agreed, though it was more of a question.

              “You have to stay inside today with the doors locked.”

              “Ok...,” she said.

              “And, please, don’t let anyone inside.”

              “I can take of myself,” she said, and he caught a hint of the resistance he had known he would meet.

              “I know you can take care of yourself, but I think that man may be dangerous.”

              “Why do you think that?”

              He shook his head as he scooped eggs into two plates and set them on the counter. “I just think he may be. I don’t want you to risk me being wrong.”

              “You know something,” she said.

              “No,” he answered, too quickly.

              He knew she didn’t believe him.

              “Tell me what you know,” she demanded. He almost caved under her penetrating stare.

              He sighed. “I truly don’t know anything about the man who was here yesterday. But I have followed the kidnaping case.”

              “Followed?”

              “Yes, I’ve kept up with it. And I have friends who are searching for the girl.”

              His mentioning friends reminded Alley of the brunette he had disappeared with.

              “A girlfriend?”

              “No,” he said, as realization dawned. “But a friend who is a girl.”

              She gave him a questioning look.

              “I’ve worked some with Brenda and her dog.”

              “You are Brenda are close.”

              He smiled. Because he suddenly knew what had happened. She had seen him hugging Brenda. And, of course, he had left with Brenda and broken his date with Alley.

              “We’ve known each other a long time. And, yes, I was with her the other night when I couldn’t call you. Since Brenda is working on the case, I couldn’t tell you.”

              Alley seemed to digest this information. It seemed plausible enough. “You kissed her,” she blurted out.

              She had seen them. He had forgotten about that. “Actually she kissed me.”

              Her incredulous look said it all. The disbelief. The distrust.

              “That’s just how she is,” Justin insisted.

              “And that makes it ok to just let anybody kiss you at will?”

              He just stared at her. Then he burst out laughing.

              She glared at him.

              “If you knew Brenda, you’d know she’s not someone anyone would want to kiss at will.”

              “What’s wrong with her?”

              “There’s nothing
wrong
with her. Exactly. She just isn’t like you.”

              “Like me?” He was digging himself into a hole.

              “She’s different from you.”

              “Different?” At least he wasn’t laughing anymore.

              “Well, yes. You’re the kind of girl I’d want to go around kissing.”

              “But, you kissed her anyway?” She persisted.

              He laughed again, though not so hard this time and shook his head.  “You’ll just have to meet her.”

              “I don’t know if I want to meet her.”

              “You might like her.”

              “I like most people.”

              “I know,” he said, wryly. “What’s more, she’ll like you.”

              “Most people do,” she said softly.

              “Yes, they do,” he said, taking a step toward her.

              “Do you?” She found herself asking.

              “What’s not to like?”

              She shook her head. “That isn’t what I asked.”

              “But it’s true. You’re perfect.”

              “No one’s perfect,” she said, taking a step backward.

              “You’re perfect for me.”

              Her heart stuttered. Did he mean that?

              “What can I do to convince you?”

              “You stood me up. I’ve never been stood up.”

              “I was working.”

              “You have a cell phone. And... you have my phone number.”

              “You’re right. And that was my mistake. I didn’t think you would understand. Please.” He reached out and touched her cheek. “Let me make it up to you.”

              “How can you?”

              He smiled. “I don’t know.  At least let me try.”

              “That might be interesting,” she said, giving him a sideways look.

              “I can make it interesting,” he said, running his fingertip down her cheek.

              She felt a little chill run down her spine. When he tilted his face toward hers, she closed her eyes and leaned forward. This was something she so wanted. His lips were soft against hers, then firm, demanding.

              She leaned against him, her lips drinking him in.

              When he pulled away, she moaned.

              “Am I forgiven?” he asked.

              “I don’t know yet,” she answered, her voice husky.

              “Then I’ll just have to keep trying, won’t I?’ he asked, and kissed her again.