“Interesting. We were just talking about Cash’s sexual prowess,” Reed says as he heads to the back to clean up.
“It was more like an interrogation,” I murmur.
“Oh, is it that Sage chick? Damn, she’s smoking. You see her again?” Jodie asks, taking Reed’s seat.
“Yeah. At the shelter. Went for coffee.”
“Coffee? That’s the best you could do?” she asks, smiling.
“Listen, that woman’s a handful. It was like pulling teeth to get her to agree to a single cup.”
“Oh, she’s good. The old hard-to-get act. Nice,” Jodie announces, smirking.
“Sounds like you’re speaking from experience,” Levi says, putting an arm around her as she leans into him.
“Well, we all have our ways,” she says, shrugging.
“So, when are you going to see her again?” Levi asks.
“Next week probably. At the shelter.”
“And in the meantime?”
“In the meantime, I might give that Layla a call.”
“You two-timer,” Jodie says, feigning horror.
“It’s not two-timing when you’re not a thing. Nothing’s changed. Sage is fun and smart and gorgeous. And yeah, I had fun talking to her. But it doesn’t change anything. I’ve still got my Cash Creed game, and I’m ready to play.”
Levi rolls his eyes. “You’re hopeless. Just admit this one’s got a hold of you somehow.”
“Well, that’s impossible,” I say, standing from the table. “No one can catch this guy. Now, I’m off to the bachelor pad. I’m tired. I’ll see you tomorrow. I want to talk about that new rental agreement you showed me. Some of the wording leaves loopholes.”
“Well, maybe, instead of looking for loopholes in the rental agreement, you should be searching for loopholes in your own love life rules. Maybe a girl like Sage Everling is what you need, you know?” Jodie asks, raising an eyebrow.
“Even if that were true, which it’s not, that woman isn’t going to bend. If you think I’m tough with my rules, you should see hers.”
“Show up on her doorstep. Surprise her. I’m sure you can work that Texan charm.”
“One problem. I have no clue where she lives. And although I’m all about living a little dangerously, not sure I want a stalking lawsuit slapped on me.”
“You’re a lawyer. You could get out of it.”
I shake my head, waving goodbye as I head out the door, thinking about what Jodie said.
Thinking about Sage.
Thinking about how many days until I see her again and wondering how the hell I’m going to find a loophole in my own heart to get me out of this train wreck before it crashes into me.
“So, not to bring up your love life again, but how bad do you want that Sage Everling back in your bed?” the voice asks when I answer my phone the next afternoon.
“Reed?”
“Yeah, it’s me. And I’ve got some hot news for you. I was scrolling through Instagram this morning, stalking my favorite designers, and one Sage Everling’s latest post showed up. Apparently, she has this hairless cat named Monticello who escaped last night from her condo. She’s offering a huge reward for information leading to the return of her cat.”
I sigh, thinking about how she was in the cat room at the shelter. I have a feeling that cat means everything to her, judging by her baby talk with the cats and the fact she volunteers there.
“Well, lucky for me, I have a job, so I don’t really need a reward,” I say.
“Listen. Imagine how grateful she’ll be if you find that cat. I mean, the cash reward would probably accompany a huge thank you, gratitude, who knows what else for the right guy. This would totally win her over. Plus, who knows, maybe she’d like throw in a bag or something.”
I shake my head looking at the ceiling. “So are you sure you don’t want to find the cat?”
“Well, trust me, I’ve been searching the area around Midsummer all morning. But I thought if we team up, we have a chance to find the damn naked cat. You could get more time with her to do whatever it is you crazy kids want to do, all Christian Grey style or whatever, and I could get my bag.”
“I’d hardly call our sex Christian Grey level. Yet,” I add, grinning to myself.
“Hey, no one’s judging. But the point is this. Get over here and help me find this cat, and maybe we both could get what we want.”
I sigh, leaning on my counter. “Even if I was so desperate to win Sage over, finding a cat in Ocean City isn’t exactly the easiest task. It’s like a needle in a haystack and all that.”
“Well, exactly. But with our two brilliant minds, maybe we have a shot. I messaged Sage on Insta to ask what streets she lost him between. It’s 78th and Baltimore.”
“Shit, that’s right near my condo.”
“Bingo. So we have a starting point.”
So Sage Everling lives within a block of me. Interesting. She completely failed to mention that one. Hell, we could carpool together.
“Are you listening?” Reed asks, bringing me back to the conversation. “I said I’ll meet you at your condo in fifteen if that’s okay. I’ll bring some tuna. Get your kitty-calling voice ready. We’re finding this cat if it kills us.”
He hangs up before I can protest. Great. Not exactly how I wanted to spend my day—sweating in the hot summer sun creeping around with Reed looking for a naked cat that’s probably either squashed or long gone. What the hell has life come to? People accuse Texas of being weird, but this place isn’t really selling itself as normal these days.
I sit back on the couch, thinking about all the things I could be doing this afternoon—work, getting an early start at the bar, or more likely, lying on the beach staring at scantily clad women all day. Instead, I’m waiting for another man to come over so we can go whistle for a cat all day. Just great. This woman isn’t my girlfriend. Hell, she was a one-night stand, and look at all the trouble she’s causing. I’ve got to get with it, put my foot down, and move on. This isn’t the kind of thing I do.
Twenty minutes later, Reed shows up at the door. “Hey, Cash, good news. I’ve been thinking this whole way here. I know exactly where to start,” Reed announces as he barrels through my door without even knocking.
I shake my head. “This ought to be good.”
“Michael’s Crab Shack,” he blurts. “Come on, it makes sense. It’s right near where Sage lives, and you can smell that place from here. If I were a cat, I’d be dumpster diving there.”
I raise an eyebrow. “And you think Sage hasn’t thought of this?”
“Have you seen Michael’s Crab Shack? The place looks like you’d get crabs walking by it. Doesn’t seem like the kind of place a woman like her would think of.”
I shake my head. “So what, we’re going to just go scope the place out for a cat?”
“You got it. Now come on. Time’s wasting.”
I pinch the top of my nose between my thumb and forefinger. “Okay, let’s go,” I say because I really don’t know what else to say. I follow Reed out into the summer air, passing a poster of the missing cat in question. As we walk the several blocks to our dilapidated location, I think about how in Texas, I’d never be going dumpster diving for a cat. I guess a whole lot can change in the blink of an eye
“Here, Monticello. Here kitty,” Reed yells, crouched behind the dumpster as I gag, trying not to hurl from the smell of rotten seafood. I’m not sure if the smell is actually coming from the dumpster or from inside this place.
I cover my nose with my sleeve. “If Monticello knows what’s good for him, he’ll pick a bit of a classier place to dumpster dive. Shit, this place stinks.” I cough, Reed still searching around the dumpsters for the cat he’s convinced is here. Looks like Monticello has finer tastes than this.
“What are you two doing back here? Do I need to call the police?” a voice bellows from behind me. I turn to see a man in an apron splattered with all sorts of food standing in a doorway. I put my hands in the air
in a sign of innocence, as if he’s the police. This only makes me feel more idiotic.
“Just looking for a missing cat,” Reed says smoothly, coming over to stand beside me.
The guy, sporting a moustache that is enviable if not a bit over-the-top, rolls his eyes. “Yeah, you and everyone else on the block. Never seen a damn search party so big for a freaking cat. There have been seven people back here today looking for some cat, hoping for some reward or something. Honestly, what, is the cat the Pope’s or something?”
“Better. Sage Everling,” Reed replies.
“Who?”
“Never mind,” I say. “Sorry for trespassing. We’ll be going now.”
The man wipes his hands on his apron and returns inside, muttering something about no-good tourists.
“Well, I think he needs to work on his charm a bit if he wants Michael’s to take off,” Reed says, wiping his hands as if he’s ridding himself of Michael’s Crab Shack
“So now what, master cat finder?”
Reed sighs. “I really thought this was our lucky break.”
“Well, you heard Michael or whoever that guy was. There’s already a search party in full force. I’m sure someone is going to beat us to finding the cat.”
“Someone’s a bit cynical.”
“Realistic. Now, how about we head to Midsummer Nights, get ourselves a drink, and let someone else do the work.”
Reed is glum as we walk toward Midsummer Nights. “There goes my lovely bag or sneak peek at the men’s line.”
I shake my head. “All this for a bag? Wow.”
He jabs me in the ribs, grinning. “All this for a woman? Wow.”
“I was just helping you. This wasn’t about her.”
“Keep telling yourself that, darling,” he says, grinning as we walk toward the restaurant, hands in our pockets, the summer sun blazing.
“Where have you two been?” Levi asks, sitting at the bar when we return.
“What are you doing here? Don’t you have a business to run?” I ask.
“Same goes for you,” Levi replies as Lysander slides him a beer. “I shut down for the day. Wanted to give the staff a break. Jodie’s working on her latest book at home, so I thought I’d come to my second favorite place.”
Reed and I both grab a stool at the bar, and Lysander slides us each a drink as well.
“If we’d have known, you could’ve come with us. I bet with all your rodeo skills, you’d be perfect at wrangling him.” Reed takes a swig of the beer, winking at Lysander.
“Wrangling who?” Levi asks.
“Monticello,” Reed replies. “We needed a wrangling expert or a freaking miracle to find it.”
“Why do you two smell a little weird? No offense,” Lysander says now, shriveling his nose up.
“You two do smell a little ripe,” Levi replies.
“We were dumpster diving at the crab shack,” I say.
“Little brother, you have some new hobbies you need to enlighten me about? Dumpster diving doesn’t quite seem like your scene.”
“Well, it is if it gives him the chance to win Sage Everling over,” Reed adds, and I shoot him a look.
“Oh, did you two find Monticello?” Lysander asks.
“No. I told Reed it was useless,” I say. “There are already a ton of people looking for him. But Reed was convinced he’d be in the dumpster at the crab shack.”
“Makes sense, right?” Reed asks, jumping to his own defense.
“I think it was worth a shot,” Lysander replies, leaning across the bar to kiss him. “I love you, even if you do smell a little odd. How about you head home and grab a shower? Maybe I could take a break, get Joseph to run the bar.”
“Oh, I could use some company,” Reed murmurs.
“Do you two ever simmer down?” Levi asks.
“What fun would that be? Now, you two boys, behave. And Cash, keep your eyes open. You never know when opportunity could just drop into your lap. A cat can only be in so many places, you know?” Reed says, slapping my back as he leaves.
I shake my head, drinking my beer as the two rush out like teenagers. It’s just me and Levi at the bar now.
Levi smirks. “So, dumpster diving for cats now? Man, brother, she’s got you good, real good.”
“What are you talking about? This was Reed’s idea. I was just helping him out.”
“Uh huh. You tell yourself that. You tell yourself you weren’t trying to be the hero, save the day so Sage gives you another chance. Oh, shit. You’re done for. I’ll get my wedding toast ready.”
I elbow him. “Keep dreaming. I was just being nice. There are plenty of fish in the sea I haven’t tested out yet.”
“Yeah, but there’s only one who has you hooked.”
“No one beats this fisherman at his game.”
“We’ll see about that,” Levi says before heading around the bar to get himself another beer.
The rest of the week passes by at a steady pace. I call in the plumber for some repairs at the condo and show a few apartments off to some newcomers. I go to the club a few times, but no one really piques my interest. I also spend a morning on the sand, taking in the scenery—the ocean waves and the women. Okay, maybe the bikinis get my attention a little more if I’m being honest. And, if I’m being honest, I do spend a little more time than usual scoping out my surroundings for a certain cat with creepily wrinkled tan skin. I find myself peeking behind bushes and turning my head when I heard a meow.
But no luck. No Monticello. No chance at another night with Sage.
When Sunday rolls around, my day at the shelter, I have to admit there’s a little bounce in my step. Maybe Sage will need a shoulder to cry on. Maybe she’ll need a bed to wash away her sadness over her lost cat. Or, at the very least, maybe she’ll need a cup of coffee from a dilapidated building where no one will recognize her. Of the three choices, I know which one I’m hoping for—but I’ll take any of the above.
In truth, I spent a little more time getting ready, slicking the hair back just right. I traded in my typical shelter outfit of sweatpants and a T-shirt for some nicer fitting jeans. I put on some extra cologne.
I get to the shelter and Janice gives me instructions, showing me to the new intake area where I can help get a few new pups settled in.
“Sage here yet?” I ask, trying to be nonchalant.
“She’s not coming in today,” Janice says, smiling.
I try to keep a poker face. Apparently I fail.
“She’s a special one, that Sage, isn’t she? It’s rare to find a woman who is pretty, super successful, but super sweet, too. None of that fame and fortune went to her head, you know? I do hope she can find someone who appreciates that,” she says, winking at me.
“Yeah, she seems okay,” I say as I lean down to let Chopper, a tiny Yorkie, out of his kennel and take him for a walk.
“For a man who thinks she’s just okay, you seem pretty despondent. But none of my business, really. Carry on.” With that, she whisks herself off to the cat room, leaving me standing with the tiny dog, grimacing. She’s right. I am embarrassingly despondent. And I hate that I’m despondent. What the hell is wrong with me?
At that, Chopper decides he can’t wait to get outside to the grass, peeing all down the front of me. Peeing all over my expensive jeans I wore to impress a woman who isn’t even here.
“Great,” I mutter, exhaling as the dog licks my face, his butt wiggling in happiness.
At least someone is having a good day.
I’m finishing up some filing in the office when I hear the door fly open. An old man hobbles in, leaning heavily on a cane. He’s wearing a fedora and thick glasses. A cigar hangs from his mouth.
“We’re closing soon, sir,” I say, looking up from the folder in my hand.
“Got something for you,” he murmurs, his voice gruff.
Shit. An intake right before closing. Not the kind of depressing note I want to leave on. I hate seeing animals come in.
; “We have a form for a surrender you’ll have to fill out,” I say, rifling through the other folder where the forms are.
“I’m not surrendering anything. It’s something I found. A stray, I guess. Weird, though. The thing must be sick or something.”
“What is it?” I ask.
“Cat. Sick cat. No hair.”
At this, I freeze. “Did you say no hair?”
“You need a hearing aid, boy? I said no hair. Now are you going to come get the mangey thing or what? Found it scavenging in my garbage can behind my house. Thought it was a coon at first. I always hated cats, to tell you the truth. But decided to do a good deed and drive it down here. At my age, you need all the heaven points you can get. Now come get it before it pukes in my car or something.”
I can hardly believe it as I follow him to his station wagon. I peer in the backseat window, where a box sits. Inside, a tan hairless cat with a blue collar lets out a meow.
Monticello.
“Monticello! Hey, thanks, buddy. Thanks a ton,” I say, reaching out a hand toward the guy. He groans, climbs into his car, and tosses the cane on the passenger seat.
“Good luck,” he says as I open the back door to grab the box, careful not to stir Monticello too much. The old guy is backing out before I’m even back in the gate to the shelter.
“Hey, buddy. Where have you been? Oh, this is good luck.” I wander inside as Janice emerges from the cat room.
“What do you have there?” she asks as I approach the counter, putting the box down.
She looks inside. “Oh my, is that…?”
“Monticello. Sage’s Monticello,” I say, beaming.
She smiles. “Oh, thank God. She’s going to be so relieved.
“Can you call her?” I ask, knowing she needs to know right away. I know I’d want to know immediately if this were Killer.
“No,” she says, smiling. “You can just take him to her.”
“Me? I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I say, tossing the idea around in my head. Won’t it be weird for me to show up? I don’t want her thinking I’m super creepy or odd.
Lone Hearts (Lines in the Sand Book 6) Page 8
