Page 227 of Mountain Grump

She yawns. And my heart melts even more.

I hear Ethan park his truck just as my phone notifies me of another car passing the driveway cam.

The front door opens, and Ethan walks in. But I keep my eyes on the baby. Wanting to soak her in as much as I can.

Ethan sighs as he crouches next to where I’m sitting on the floor.

I didn’t want her falling off the couch. And I figured, in case she pees on me, then at least this way it’s just my dress and not any furniture.

Ethan’s warm palm settles on my bare shoulder. “She’s cute.”

I nod. “Super cute.”

We both hear the other car pull up, and Ethan stands to go wait by the door.

The baby cat blinks her eyes open.

“Such a pretty girl,” I whisper as Ethan and the stranger step into the house.

I keep my gaze on the cat.

The furball stretches, her front legs reaching out, her claws catching on my dress.

I help her untangle, then finally lift my eyes to Ethan. “Sorry.”

He lowers back to a crouch beside me. “You don’t have to be sorry.”

“After I called you, I did an internet search about what you should do with abandoned mountain lion cubs.” I wince as I say it, and we both know why.

Every search turned up with the same thing.Do not touch them.For a plethora of reasons.

Ethan runs his tongue along his teeth. A move I suspect is meant to hide a smirk.

“Turd,” I whisper.

He runs a hand over my hair, petting me like I’m petting the baby. “Yeah, but I’m your turd.”

The other person, a woman in her thirties, sets a pet carrier on the floor a few feet away from me. “Hi. I’m Shelia.”

“Hi, Shelia. I’m Tilda.” I look back down at the feline in my lap. “You gotta go with Shelia now. But I promise you’ll like her.”

I sniff against the urge to cry.

I want to ask where the baby’s mother is.

How they’ll find her.

But I don’t ask because I’m afraid the answer will end up being something sad.

Shelia pulls leather gloves on, and I stroke the baby’s back one more time before she picks her up.

Shelia expertly gets the cat secured, tells us goodbye, then carries the mountain lion out of the house.

Ethan, still next to me, leans in and presses a kiss to my temple. “I’m sorry, Starlight.” He kisses me again. “We can get you a regular cat if you want.”

I exhale the sadness. “I’m allergic.”

An engine starts, and a vehicle drives away.