The Naughty List Bundle - Kylie Adams [214]
Last night, Gabe reminded himself, she’d been more than willing to do other things. But she hadn’t come to him, he’d gone to her. He’d set about seducing her when he hadn’t found it necessary to seduce a woman in ages.
And even then, he had the feeling that if he’d stuck her damn pencil in her hand, she’d have stopped cold in the middle of his sensual ministrations to start taking notes on his character. Now that he knew why it was so important to her, he not only felt turned on by her physically, he felt touched by her emotionally.
Seduction was a damn arousing business.
Ceily let go of his belt loops and smoothed her hand over the breadth of his back. “Poor Gabe. You really are adrift, huh?”
“I’m gonna turn you over my knee, Ceily.”
She laughed at such a ridiculous threat. “No, you won’t. Because I can give you some valuable advice.”
Very slowly Gabe turned to face her. “Is that right?”
“Yep. You see, I heard Elizabeth tell your sisters-in-law that she has no intention of hanging around here once school starts. She’s an academic sort and she has big plans for her life. If you hope to be part of those plans, you’d better get cracking, because I got the feeling that once she’s gone, she won’t be coming back.”
8
WHEN GABE let himself in through the back entrance of Jordan’s veterinary clinic, he found Elizabeth and Jordan leaning over an examination table. Their backs were to him, but he could see that Lizzy was cuddled close to Jordan’s side, Jordan’s arm was around her shoulders, and they were in intimate conversation.
Gabe saw red.
“Am I interrupting?” He had meant to ask that question with cold indifference, but even to his ears it had sounded like a raw challenge.
Jordan looked at him over his shoulder; he was smiling. “Come here, Gabe. Take a look.” Then he added, “But be very quiet.”
His brother’s voice had that peculiar soothing quality he used when treating frightened or injured animals. It was hypnotic and, according to all the women, sexy as hell.
Gabe barely stifled a growl. If Jordan was using that voice on Lizzy, he’d—
A very fat, bedraggled feline lay on the exam table, licking a new batch of tiny mewling kittens. Gabe glanced up at the look on Lizzy’s face and promptly melted.
Big tears glistened in her vivid blue eyes and spiked her lashes. As Gabe watched, she gave a watery smile and sniffed, then gently rubbed the battered cat behind what was left of an ear.
Softly, Jordan explained, “She got into a tussle with a neighboring dog and lost. No sooner did she get dropped off than she started birthing. Eight kittens.” Jordan shook his head. “She’s a trooper, aren’t you, old girl?” Jordan stroked his hand down the cat’s back, earning a throaty purr.
Lizzy sniffed again. “She’s a stray. Jordan says she’s undernourished, so we didn’t know if the kittens would be all right or not.” She peered at Gabe with a worried expression. “They are awfully small, aren’t they?”
Gabe smiled. “Most kittens are that tiny.”
“And how…yucky they look?”
Jordan chuckled. “She’ll have them all cleaned up and cozy in no time. The problem now is getting her into a pen. I hate to move her after she’s just given birth, but I can hardly leave her and the babies here on the table.”
Lizzy seemed to be considering that. “Do the pens open from the top or the front?”
“Both.”
“Then…Well, maybe we could just take the table cover and all, and put her in the pen. I mean, if you hold the two top corners, and Gabe holds the two bottom corners, and I sort of guide it in and make sure no babies tumble out…Would that work do you think?”
To Gabe’s annoyance, Jordan smiled and kissed Lizzy’s cheek. “I think that’s a brilliant idea. Gabe, keep an eye on this