Page 78 of My Husband Problem

“People use spray bottles to keep cats from doing things like getting up on counters, climbing curtains, eating plants. It usually works. But Sutton said her aunt had a cat thatlikedthe spray bottle.” She tips her head. “You’re that cat for me.”

I laugh. “I see.” I move in closer. “I’m not sorry.”

She nods. “I know.” Then she lifts up on tiptoe and presses a kiss to my lips. “Goodnight, Declan.”

“Goodnight, Astrid.”

I watch through the kitchen door as she pauses at the counter, where all the first-aid supplies are still spread out.

“No,” I say. “Leave it. I’ll get that.”

She shoots me a little smile and then does as I say. I feel a hard-to-explain level of pleasure when she, once again, lets me take care of her.

She proceeds to the kitchen table where her cat is sitting. She scoops him up, cradles him against her chest, and starts for the doorway leading to the rest of the house.

Oscar peeks at me over her shoulder. And I swear he gives me a smug smile as she carries him up to her bed and leaves me behind.

I’m proud that I resist the urge to give a cat the middle finger.

CHAPTER 16

ASTRID

Declan:I can’t make it to lunch today. Can I take you to dinner instead?

I stare at the text message from my husband.

He can’t make it to lunch?

What could’ve possibly come up? He’s been in town less than forty-eight hours. It’s not like he has friends here. I’m not sure he has friends other than Iris anywhere.

He got along great with the team last night.

Yeah, yeah, of course he did.

Declan is charming when he wants to be. And it’s very hard not to like the hockey players.

I sigh.

Last night was really nice.

Not just at Perks and Rec, but also at home.

At home when we were kissing.

The kissing wasreallynice.

But also when he was so upset about me having a simple,smallsplinter in my hand. And when he was taking care of it. And when he was taking care of the ducks.

If I had known that Declan O’Grady would actually be a caregiver, I would have been even more adamant about avoiding him.

He’s becoming impossible to resist. And I was already having a very hard time not having big feelings for him.

The feelings were more than physical last night but…those were there too, for sure, and stronger than ever.

But then he petted a duck.

His big hand gently moving over the little ducks’ heads, him looking intimidated by the little creatures, but caring for them anyway.