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A torturedyeowwwwlsounds over the racket, and Maya and I both lean down to see a massive orange cat crouched under the sagging bed, his tail puffed to twice its size as he hisses at the offending fixture. He casts an agonized look Maya’s way, as if pleading for his mom to make the madness stop.
“Oh no, honey. You poor thing. I’m here, it’s okay. You’re safe.” Maya drops to her knees beside the bed. To me, she adds, “He hates the radiator.”
“I also hate the radiator,” I agree.
She casts a quick glance over her shoulder, a half-smile quirking at her lips. “I know, it’s awful, but it doesn’t make that noise all the time, only when?—”
A crack like gunfire sounds from the street below, rattling the thin walls. Maya screams and launches herself into my arms. Before I can assure her that we’re okay, Pudge follows, scaling my leg and wool coat to drape himself over my shoulder like a furry gargoyle.
A very large, heavy gargoyle who makes me gulp as he wraps his paws around my neck and digs his claws into my scarf…
Thank God I haven’t had the chance to take it off yet or I’d be bleeding.
“It was just a car backfiring,” I say, hugging Maya close as I reach up to rest what I hope is a calming hand on the cat’sback. Thankfully, Pudge relaxes his claws, but the soft, miserable meow he offers in response is flat out pitiful.
The need to protect Maya—and her traumatized fur baby—hits me like a punch in the gut, eliminating my concerns about blowing my cover. “Pack your things.”
“What?”
“You're not staying here.” I release her long enough to gently gather Pudge off my shoulder. Proving he’s a sweet beast, he goes quietly, but continues to tremble as I guide him into Maya’s waiting arms. “Neither of you are. I’ll get you another hotel room, my treat. Or I have a spare bedroom if you’re okay with staying with me. Either way, I’m getting you both out of here.”
“I can’t, Anthony. I don’t want to?—"
“Please.” I cup her face in my hand, struck by how familiar she feels, how precious. It’s like I’ve known her for so much longer than a day, and I’d like to keep knowing her. Which means getting her out of this sketchy hotel and even sketchier neighborhood. “I need to know you’re safe.”
She studies me for a long moment, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth as Pudge rubs his head against my sleeve. “Are you sure? I don't want to impose…”
“You're not imposing. I’m insisting.” I glance down to where the cat is still butting his large head into my arm. “And Pudge obviously agrees with me.”
As if to prove my point, Pudge starts purring like a motorboat, before straining his neck up to lick my hand and then Maya’s chin.
Maya laughs, tension easing from her shoulders. “He does seem to like you. Which is kind of weird. He usually hates men.”
“Smart. A lot of men are trash,” I say, agreeing with Pudge again. “But I’m not, and I promise I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you’re comfortable and safe tonight.”
“Okay.” Her lips stretch into a slow smile. “Thank you. Again.”
“My pleasure, beautiful,” I say, and it is. Especially when she says she’s happy to come to my place, as long as it’s okay to have pets in my building.
I have no idea if pets are okay, but if there’s a problem, I’ll pay the Airbnb host whatever it takes to make it go away. That’s one of the best parts of having an obscenely large amount of capital at one’s disposal. Money can take care of a lot of life’s many problems.
But not all of them…
As I watch Maya gather her things, Pudge now in my arms, still purring like the cat who won the war against his evil radiator nemesis, I know money can’t help me out of my current predicament.
I’m starting to have feelings for this girl.
Already.
After one night.
God only knows what a fucking mess I’ll be after a week in her sweet company, but a demented part of me can’t wait to find out. Playing house with this woman will probably end in disaster, but until that happens, I like the idea of knowing she’s going to be sleeping right down the hall.
Or even better, in my bed.
chapter 8
MAYA