Kian (Undercover Billionaire, #1)(52)

“I also have a cat that’s going to have kittens at any time,” Kian said, wanting to draw Lily back into insisting on coming to his house.

“Really?” Lily said, her eyes going wide again.

“Yep, so you and your . . .” He paused. Was he supposed to say aunt or mama? He didn’t know. “Um, you and Roxie can come and see them, maybe even be there when they are born.”

“Can we, please?” Lily asked Roxie.

Roxie was refusing to look at him. She was irritated he’d put her on the spot. Well, too bad. He knew what he wanted, and he wasn’t afraid to go after it. He’d told a white lie, though. He didn’t actually have a mama cat, but his brother had been complaining about a big pregnant cat that wouldn’t leave his back porch. It appeared as if Kian was officially adopting the stray now. He’d pick it up on his way home and hope the damn thing hadn’t popped already. He’d have to call his cleaning lady and see if she could pick up whatever the hell he needed to take care of a cat.

“I guess we’ll have to do that,” Roxie finally said, and Kian wanted to jump in the air and pound his fists. He wanted them to come to his place. Victory was his.

“Why don’t you all come out here this coming Saturday?” Evan asked, making Kian turn. He’d forgotten other people were even around. Roxie consumed him so much, he felt sucked into his own world whenever they were in a space together.

“What’s happening Saturday?” Kian asked. He wasn’t sure how much he wanted Roxie around his very eligible friend.

“I’m having a barbecue to thank community members who volunteer,” Evan said. Of course, at this, Roxie gave him a beaming smile.

“Oh, that’s so thoughtful,” she told him.

Never in his life had Kian had reasons to be jealous of another person, but he was feeling the green-eyed emotion pretty damn bad at the moment as the damn vet tipped his hat at Roxie and winked.

“I’m a thoughtful guy,” he said.

“Humility looks fake on you,” Kian said with a slight growl. Roxie turned and glared at him.

“You’re being rude, Kian,” she snapped. Then she turned back to Evan and smiled even more brightly. “And I think it’s amazing for you to do that. Lily and I would love to come.”

“I’ll pick you both up,” Kian said. There was no way he wasn’t going to bring her. He was certainly keeping his eye on her around the damn vet.

“We can get here ourselves,” she said. But he knew Roxie enough to know she wouldn’t be willing to get into a fight with him in front of people.

“There will be a lot of cars here, and we don’t want to take up too much room. I’ll bring you both, and then you can feel free to have a drink without worrying about driving,” he pointed out.

“Oh, I didn’t think about that. It might be kind of nice,” she said.

“Then it’s all settled.” Kian wouldn’t give her a chance to change her mind. “You can also check on the deer and pigs.”

“Piggies,” Lily said, her face brightening.

Right then, Evan’s old yellow Lab came lopping around the corner, and Lily was distracted by yet another animal. She went over, and the old boy rolled over on his back so she could scratch his tummy.

Kian couldn’t help but laugh when the dog’s head rolled side to side with his tongue out as Lily curled up into him and scratched his belly.

“She needs a dog,” Kian said.

“I know,” Roxie said. He looked up and saw guilt in her eyes. “I just can’t afford it right now.”

“I can,” he insisted.

She gave him a stern look. “She’s not deprived. I’m taking good care of her.”

“We can both take care of her. She doesn’t have to go without,” he said. This argument was getting old.

“Sometimes, when children get too much, they turn into spoiled little brats. I don’t want that to happen to her. I want her to work for the things she truly wants. She will appreciate it so much more then.”

Kian was about to argue, but he saw her point. His parents hadn’t handed him and his siblings anything. They easily could have, and there had been definite advantages in having money, but they’d all worked hard, and because of that, they had good ethics.

“You’re absolutely right. Let’s figure out ways for her to have the things she desires by earning them,” he said.

Roxie seemed shocked by his compromise, and he wondered if he’d always been that much of a dictator that people didn’t expect him to meet them halfway. He didn’t think so, but maybe he’d have to ask his siblings their advice on the matter.

“I can agree to that,” she said, and Kian felt as if he’d just won a gold medal. Damn, he enjoyed making this woman happy.

Roxie’s phone rang, and she stepped out the door of the barn so she could take the call. Kian found himself wanting to know who was on the other end of the line, but he realized it was truly none of his business.

Lily rose to her feet and looked to the door, her sweet face worried for a moment, but then she zeroed in on Kian. She walked over to him and held up her arms. He gratefully lifted her into the air and held her tightly to his chest. She snuggled against him, and within what seemed seconds, she was still, her breathing even.