Because You're Mine(66)

“Anything for you.” He touched his lips to her forehead in a lingering caress. “I’ll be right back.”

Once his footsteps faded, she dashed to his room and hung the keys back on their hook without turning on the light. She returned to the hall and waited for Barry to return.

He came back with the fiddle and her bow in his hand. His smile brightened when he saw her, and she called herself every name she could think of for betraying his trust. What kind of wife sneaked around behind her husband’s back? She should just ask him to let her go into the room with him.

“Thanks.” She took the fiddle and bow. “I’d like to spend a little time with you. Can I come with you to your office?”

His smile faded. “I don’t think so, sugar.” His hand caressed her curls. “I don’t have to work tonight. What would you like to do? We’d talked about dinner out, but your mother showing up messed up our plans.” His eyes darkened.

Now she’d done it. He hoped for more than she was ready to give, especially after the things she’d seen and heard from Jesse today. And he wanted answers about her past. “How about a walk?” she suggested.

“You haven’t had enough adventures in the dark yet? It’s really not safe.”

“You’ll be with me.” She couldn’t bear to see his expression when she told him about her past.

“If you insist.” He took her arm. “You’d better spray on insect repellant.”

They went down the steps to the entry and past the voices in the parlor. Maybe this wasn’t a good idea. A walk in the moonlight might give him romantic notions. They paused to apply repellant, then stepped out into the moist night air. The moon was bright tonight, glimmering on the waves across the sea grass. She smelled salt in the breeze blowing from the east.

“Careful of the potholes.” He took her hand. “Oh, and I heard from the attorney I hired. He got the hearing in Ireland moved back three months, so Thomas will have no power over you by the time it comes. Your citizenship is coming through next week. It’s over.”

“Oh, Barry!” She reached up and kissed his cheek. “It’s wonderful, you are!”

He pulled her closer, and his lips found hers. The intensity of his ardor repulsed her, and she pulled away with a laugh, then stepped into the swath of moonlight. “It’s not as dark as I thought,” she said. The attraction she’d felt for him was missing tonight. She wanted to be with Jesse, not her own husband. The realization was daunting.

“Want to see Pete?” he asked.

“Why do you like that gator? He scares me.”

“We won’t get close.” He led her nearer to the pond.

She heard a low growl, then a splash, and stepped closer to Barry. “You be keeping him away from me.” Her gaze probed the bushes for Prince. She hadn’t seen him all day.

Barry laughed. “Just watch yourself around him, and it’s okay. Stay back though. He’s used to me bringing him something to eat, and he might get aggressive when he finds out I have nothing.”

Off to her right, she heard a soft sound. Was that mewing? “I think I hear a kitten.” She tugged her hand from his and started in that direction. If Barry had thrown another cat to the gator, she was leaving.

Barry called after her, but she continued on her mission. “Here, kitty kitty.” The mewing intensified and led her to the tiny cat. Kneeling, she reached out and touched the kitten which immediately moved closer to her. She picked it up. “It’s pure white.”

“It probably has fleas.” Barry’s voice held distaste.

“I’ll give her a bath.”

“You can’t possibly know its sex.”

“It’s so small, I just know.” She glanced around in the dark. “Are there more? Where are your siblings, your mama?” The cat mewed in her arms, a plaintive sound as if it were answering her.

“You should let it go.”

“I can feel her ribs. Poor little thing. I’m going to get her some milk.”

“Alanna.” Barry’s voice was stern.

Her arms tightened around the kitten. “I’ll keep her out of your way. She can stay in my room. I’ll put her food and litter box in there too. You won’t even know she’s in the house.”

She took off for the house without waiting for him to muster another argument. Whatever it took, she was keeping this kitten. She went up the porch and into the house. At least he wasn’t coming after her.

Jesse’s head turned as she went past the doorway into the parlor. “Is that a kitten?”

He was the only one in the parlor. The others must have gone on to bed. At least she didn’t have to explain the cat’s presence to Patricia. “Yes, she’s starving. I was about to get her some food.”

“She’s cute.” He followed her to the kitchen and went to the refrigerator. “How about some chicken? She’d like that.”

“Cut it into small pieces.” She watched him do as she asked.

What would he do if she stepped closer and ran her fingers through the curls at the nape of his neck the way she used to with Liam? Would she see Liam in his eyes when he turned to look at her? She yanked her thoughts back.

He brought the chicken on a paper plate he found in the cupboard. “Here you go.” He set it on the floor.