Page 65 of Relationship Goals

There’s just something so perfect and adorable about a huge muscled man taking care of a tiny animal—I could literally just bite him from the cute aggression.

“Do you ever think something’s so cute you want to chomp it?”

He pauses, giving me a long look. “Do not bite the kitten. It probably has fleas.”

“I wasn’t going to actually bite it.” I decide not to share that I wanted to bitehim, not the cat.

“You’re not worried about fleas?” he asks, somehow swaddling the precious bundle of needle teeth and bugs and soft baby fluff in his coat.

“We’ll take care of the fleas. Should we stop by a pet store? Do you think he needs—what’s it called?—formula? Kitten formula?” I have no idea how these things work.

“I have some at my place.” He holds the angry ball of fur out to me, and I gently take it, grip as tight as I can manage to keep it secure without freaking the baby out.

“You have kitten formula.” It takes me a moment to process what he’s said. “Why do you have kitten formula?”

“I foster them sometimes.”

“You do?” The question explodes out of me, and the kitten does his best Tasmanian devil impression in protest. Tiny fangs sink into Luke’s jacket. “My, what a terrifying little kitty you are. So much teeth. Much claws,” I coo at him.

“I’m not good with people. Cats are easy. You know where you stand with them.” He checks his blind spot as he merges back onto theempty road. “We’re only a few minutes from my house, so just keep a firm grip on him.”

Sure enough, it takes less than ten minutes for Luke to navigate us through the rolling hills in one of the nicer parts of the city, thanks to the significant lack of traffic in this more upscale area.

I own my own house, which is, in my opinion, a pretty big deal, and I’m proud of it.

Still, my jaw practically unhinges when we roll up to a large steel and glass structure set way back on what must be a gorgeous property during the day. The exterior lights glint off the dark glass, everything about it sleek, modern, and gorgeous.

Definitely expensive.

I mean, rationally I knew some of the bigger-name soccer players make good money…but it’s one thing to know it and another to see it in the form of what must be a multimillion-dollar mansion.

“And you rescue cats,” I muse.

“Yeah,” he agrees. “We’ll get some formula in him, but there’s not a whole lot we can do for the fleas with one this little other than give him a bath.”

“A bath,” I repeat. I squint at him in the bright light in the garage.

“Yep.”

I consider it for a moment, the kitten in my arms quiet and seemingly resigned to its fate. “Cool. I’m happy to help, just tell me what to do.”

“It will be nice not to be alone for once,” he says gruffly, turning the keys in the ignition, the engine falling silent.

With that, he stalks around the car to open my door. I cuddle the kitten to my chest, wrapped up tight in Luke’s jacket, a jacket I don’t think Luke will be getting back anytime soon.

“I don’t want to stop holding the baby, but can you grab my—” I don’t even have to finish saying it, since my purse is already in Luke’s hand. “Thanks.”

Instead of his usual grunt, he gives me a slow, hesitant smile, his gaze traveling up and down my body in a way that makes me feel beautiful. Wanted.

Carefully, he puts it over my head, and I duck as he settles the thin strap so it lies across my body and away from the tiny ball of floof.

“Have I told you how stunning you look in that?” There’s something warm and affectionate in his voice that makes my heart sit up and take notice.

“Oh, this old thing?” I bat my eyelashes, clutching the vibrating floof to my chest. “This guy I’m talking to got it for me.”

“Talking to?” He tilts his head, gesturing for me to lead the way. “What does that mean?”

“Oh, you know.” I want to wave my hand, but I can’t do much in the way of gesticulation with the little ball of angry cat in my hands. “When you are maybe dating someone, maybe not, and no one wants to put a label on it. You’re just talking.” I can’t put air quotes around it, and I cringe slightly, because it’s coming off ruder than I meant.