Page 78 of The VIP Doubles Down

She gave him a dubious look. “It smells awful.”

“I spent a couple of summers working on a pig farm, so cat vomit won’t bother me.” He’d taken the job to escape from working at his father’s store ... and nearly quit the first day when he had to clean out the pens. The stench had been almost unbearable. But he had gotten used to it and even came to like a couple of the pigs. After two summers there, his father had told the pig farmer he needed Gavin at the store full-time, and that had been the end of that small rebellion.

“You worked on a pig farm? Those places reek.”

“It got me out from under my father’s gimlet eye at Miller’s Feed and Dry Goods.”

She got that soft look again, as though she understood more than he had said.

He took a sip of coffee. “Bring warm clothes for Southampton. The sea wind can be bitter.”

He decided not to mention the charity gala he planned to take her to on Saturday. She didn’t need to bring anything for that because the dress was included with the price of admission, and it was a Barefoot Ball, so shoes were forbidden.

“I’ll come to Southampton,” she said. “But we work while we’re there.”

A wave of relief washed through him, easing muscles he hadn’t realized were tensed. “We’ll labor like proverbial dogs while Pie looks on with feline superiority.”

Allie dropped her sweater-stuffed duffel by the tote bag filled with cat supplies. Pulling the cat carrier out of her hall closet, she marched into the living room.

Gavin lounged on the sofa with Pie curled in his lap while he tapped out e-mails on his phone. He was in a surprisingly good mood, considering the crushing news from last night. Her theory was that getting her to agree to trek out to Southampton had soothed his bossy male ego.

She was not excited about the expedition. She winced every time she pictured Pie barfing on the Maserati’s hand-stitched leather seat. But she couldn’t afford to pay her neighbor to cat-sit.

She took a deep breath. “Okay, time to load up the cat.”

Gavin looked down at the little creature dead asleep on his black wool trousers. “Is it difficult?”

“Not this part.” Allie set the case down on the cushion beside him, unzipped the top, and stroked Pie to wake her up. The cat started, raising her head as Allie eased her off Gavin’s lap and into the case.

“She’s very cooperative,” Gavin said, his tone admiring.

Pie yowled.

“But vocal,” he added. “Shall I let Jaros know we’re ready?”

“Jaros? What about the Maserati?”

“That’s going in a different direction.”

Allie shook her head. How amazing to have minions who smoothed every obstacle out of the way.

Jaros carried everything except Pie downstairs. Allie took care of the little cat. When they got to the car, Ludmilla popped out. “Let me see kitty,” she said, reaching for the cat case. She peered through the mesh. “Pretty little Pie kitty.”

Allie cast a questioning glance at Gavin. He shrugged. “Pie is going to have a nice ride out to Southampton in the Bentley with Jaros and Ludmilla. If you look inside the car, you’ll see the handsome tent Ludmilla’s own cat uses for travel.”

“A cat tent.” Allie stuck her head in the open door and saw a structure complete with a litter box, bed, and cat toys, strapped into the seat. “Are we taking the Maserati, then?”

“We’re going by helicopter,” Gavin said from behind her.

Allie nearly hit her head on the door frame as she straightened. “What?”

Ludmilla patted her on the arm. “I take good care of Pie kitty. She so beautiful. We be good friends.”

“I know you will,” Allie said, not wanting to insult Ludmilla’s cat-sitting abilities.

Ludmilla patted her again and got in the car so Jaros could pass Pie’s carrier in to his wife. He closed the door gently and turned.

“She love cats. She make Pie happy.”