Part 27 (2/2)

”You didn't expect me to waste your movie ticket, did you? It's bad enough we had to make a later show.”

”You went to the movie with Myrna?”

”She happened to be available.”

In more ways than he claimed to realize. Was he real y blind to how much the other woman wanted him?

Unbelievable.

”And what did Myrna have to say?”

Harvey relaxed. ”She told me about a local animal shelter. They take care of strays until they find homes for them.”

”Why would Myrna tel you about an animal shelter?”

”You can take that cat there, and they'l care for it until it finds a home.”

Kendra had been sucker-punched. Her lips parted but she couldn't breathe. Her eyes widened but her vision blurred. He wanted to take Thomas from her. Not now. Not ever.

”Tom has a home-with me.”

As though sensing he was the subject of discussion, Thomas began to meow. Kendra glanced down at him seated beside her, but he seemed fine.

Harvey spread his arms. ”It's obviously too much for you.”

She stiffened defensively. Her voice was tight. ”What makes you think that?”

In her peripheral vision, she saw Thomas stand and close the distance to Harvey. He stroked himself against Harvey's leg. Either her boyfriend didn't notice or didn't care. It was probably the former.

”You're always shopping for it and playing with it. You even talk to it. You know, it doesn't understand you.”

Kendra begged to differ. ”I'm not going to apologize for caring for Tom. I'm sorry you're feeling neglected, but you're not being fair.”

Final y becoming aware of Thomas's actions, Harvey glanced down to where the cat was tracing figure eights around his legs. ”What in the hel is it doing?”

”He's showing you affection. You could learn something from him.”

”It's also getting fur on my pants.” Harvey lifted his right leg and shook it. ”Cal it off.”

Kendra briefly closed her eyes, then leaned forward, extending her right arm toward her cat. ”Come here, baby.”

Thomas continued to pace around Harvey's legs.

”It's a cat. Not a baby.” His tone was just short of snappish.

Kendra tipped her face up to meet his eyes. ”That's a term of endearment. Or should I be offended every time you cal me baby?”

Harvey looked away. ”You're obsessed with it.”

”You're just upset because you no longer feel like the center of my world. I'm sorry for that, but it can't be helped.”

”Wil you get your cat away from me?” Harvey growled and lifted his right leg again. But this time he used it to kick Thomas away.

Thomas cried out as Harvey's foot connected with his side, bouncing him across the carpet.

”Have you lost your mind? ” Kendra screamed as she kneeled to check on Thomas.

Her shaking hands slowly moved over the brawny little body checking for b.u.mps, bruises or-Heaven forbid- broken bones. Thomas stared up at her, stunned. She didn't feel any damage, and Thomas never cried out.

Maybe he was OK. But Kendra was fit to be tied.

She wanted to rip Harvey apart. She wanted to kick him even harder than he'd kicked her cat. Instead, she made Thomas her priority, lifting him into her arms and cuddling him close to her body.

She straightened and turned to face Harvey. Her voice was low and shook with fury. ”Don't you ever touch him again.” Kendra s.h.i.+fted her arms to keep hold of Thomas's wiggling body.

Harvey's eyes widened. ”He was leaving fur al over my pants.”

”So?”

Kendra gasped as Thomas launched himself from her embrace onto Harvey's chest. Harvey shouted and stumbled back. Thomas clung to him, hissing and spitting fury. Harvey tried to grab Thomas's paws while avoiding the cat's unsheathed claws.

Kendra fol owed them across the living room, managing to wrap her hands around her cat's struggling body. She tugged him back toward her, but Thomas's claws hooked into Harvey's polo s.h.i.+rt.

”Stop. He's shredding my clothes.” Harvey scowled and tried to untangle Thomas's claws from his s.h.i.+rt. Once free, Harvey stepped back. ”You see? That cat's dangerous.”

Kendra was just as furious as Harvey sounded. ”You attacked him. What did you expect him to do? Pack up and leave?” She kept a firm hold on the stil hissing-and-spitting Thomas.

”Why didn't you have him declawed?”

”Because he has to be able to protect himself from bul ies who'd attack him.” She gave Harvey a pointed look.

”That cat is crazy and so are you.”

”That should make it easier for you to stay the hel away from both of us.”

Harvey's eyes grew so wide, Kendra thought they'd pop from his head. ”You're choosing that cat over me?”

”If someone had told me you were capable of hurting a defenseless animal-one that was showing you affection, one that belonged to your girlfriend-I would have told them they were crazy. Little did I know I was a horrible judge of character.”

Paul had told her animals were good judges of character.

Considering Thomas had never cared for Harvey, she now was inclined to believe him.

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