Page 81 of Mr. Perfect

Felix snorted. “Royce, your threat might’ve worked if I haven’t personally seen you baby talk to your enormous cat. One of us will call you.” It wouldn’t be him, but he’d be sure to pass along Royce’s message.

Felix disconnected the call. “Speaking of cats, can we run by my place so I can change my clothes and beg my cat’s forgiveness.”

“You have a cat?”

“The cat has me,” Felix countered. “Pul came with the house.”

“Pull? As in you’re pulling my leg.”

“One L. It’s short for Pulitzer.”

Jude laughed.

Felix scowled. Did Jude think Felix’s dream of being awarded the prestigious journalism prize was hilarious? “What’s so funny?”

“I have a terrarium in my home office. Guess what my turtle’s name is.”

Felix tried to think what a broadcast journalist’s equivalent to a Pulitzer was. He grinned when it came to him. “Peabody.”

“Yep.”

They headed to Felix’s house, where he phoned his claim into his insurance company before searching out his feisty feline. Pul was stretched across Felix’s bed like he didn’t have a care in the world, but he glared at his human with eyes that promised revenge.

“You still have food and water in your bowl,” Felix said. If the cat could roll his eyes or flip him the middle claw, he would’ve done it. “I’ve replenished your supplies, my king.” Felix curtsied, but Pul yawned as if Felix was boring him.

“That’s some cat,” Jude said.

Felix smiled. The cat was missing half a tail, a chunk of one ear, and only had one eye. He’d been through hell and back before Felix arrived on the scene. Felix spent a fortune getting rid of his fleas, ear mites, mange, and even his testicles. The last one was still a sore subject, no pun intended. Now Pul was a spoiled house cat who lived a lavish life. “He’s a little rough around the edges like me, but we have an understanding.”

“This is his house, and you live in it?” Jude asked.

“You’re familiar with cats, then?”

Jude laughed. “I’ve had a few over the years.” He approached the bed with his hand out.

“Careful,” Felix cautioned. “You might lose a digit. I have plans for all of them later.”

Jude grinned impishly over his shoulder before returning his attention to the beast on the bed. “I think you’re a magnificent boy.”

“Thanks.”

Jude laughed at Felix’s antics but continued making nice with Pulitzer. The cat sniffed his fingers before looking up at the big man’s face. Felix would swear on a stack of Bibles that the feline narrowed his eyes and assessed Jude. Pul must’ve liked what he saw because he rubbed his head against Jude’s outstretched hand and emitted a rattling, rumbly sound.

“That’s some purr,” Jude said.

“My boy didn’t have a lot to be happy about until we met. His skills got rusty.”

“Gives you character, doesn’t it, handsome?” Jude said, scratching behind the cat’s ears with skillful, strong fingers. Pul closed his eyes and leaned harder into the touch. “Too bad. I couldn’t win over your human this easy.”

“Which time? Then or now? I was pretty much an eager puppy when we met in college. I rolled over and begged you to pet my belly.”

Jude laughed. “If only it were that easy.” He smoothed his hand a few times over Pulitzer’s head before turning to face Felix. “You were suspicious and prickly, and I had to work hard just to get you to speak to me.”

“You smiled at me the first day in class, and I was a goner.”

“Really?”

Felix nodded. “I turned to see who had entered the classroom behind me.”