Page 54 of The Maverick's Homecoming

“Now, what can I do for you, Finn?”

He gave her the news, along with Ardella’s number.

She laughed. “Thank you!” He could hear the happy smile in her voice. “I’ll call her before practice. You are the best.”

He hung up feeling great. Kenzie wanted cats and he’d gotten right on that for her.

* * *

He caught up with her at practice.

When he asked if she’d had time to contact Ardella, she nodded. “I’m going over there after we’re done here. I’ve called the vet in town. The receptionist said I can bring the kittens in today for shots and testing.”

“But—”

“I know, I know.” She was beaming from ear to ear. “I haven’t even seen them yet. But they’re kittens, Finn. What’s not to love?”

“I’m sure they’re adorable. Just let me go with you to Ardella’s house.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Oh, yes, I do. I’m the one who set you up with Ardella.”

She looked at him for an uncomfortable count of five. “And…”

“My housekeeper gave me Ardella’s number. The kittens are supposed to be for free, but I’ve been warned that Ardella will try to get money for them. My housekeeper says it’s important to draw the line with Ardella.”

Now, Kenzie was giving him a look of great patience. “I think I can handle the situation myself, Finn.”

“I’m sure you can. But come on. Let me go with you.”

“Because you want to or because you think I’m somehow going to get taken advantage of?”

“Because I want to. Plus, I’m a crackerjack negotiator. And I admit, I’m curious about Ardella.”

“Well, okay then.” She grinned wide. “Today’s your lucky day.”

“Great!” he said. “And tomorrow’s game day. The guys need to be fresh and alert, so today’s practice will be short. That means we’ll be out of here by five, five thirty at the latest.”

“That’ll work. The vet closes at six but the receptionist said she’d wait around for me.”

He wanted to grab her and claim those sweet lips of hers. Unfortunately, sharing torrid kisses with Nurse Osborne right there on the football field would in no way be considered appropriate behavior.

With a nod, he turned and headed back to join the team.

* * *

Ardella was a real pistol.

Even taller than her cousin Marlene, Ardella wore her platinum-blond hair in a beehive worthy of Amy Winehouse complete with a ponytail that she combed forward over one shoulder. That ponytail fell almost to her waist. She introduced herself and her husband, Earl, said they were new to Tenacity. Retirees, they’d bought their house for practically nothing two years before.

“But things are looking good around here now,” Ardella declared. “Right, Earl?”

“Right, Sugar Bear,” Earl replied. He sat in a giant recliner with two cats in his lap watching infomercials on the big screen mounted over the fireplace.

Ardella had at least five grown cats—the two on Earl’s lap and three more that Finn spotted lurking under a table and peeking out from behind a sideboard. As for the kittens, they were all shorthairs in a variety of colors. They zipped around the living area, batting at shadows, knocking cat toys under tables and wrestling with each other.

Kenzie had a hard time choosing. Finn got a kick out of watching her cuddle each kitten, declare it the one…and then say the same thing about the next one she got her hands on. Finally, she settled on one of the two black cats and a gray tabby, both male.