Page 44 of Double Obsession

“Well, two princes and two princesses.” Clark pointed a thumb at himself and an index finger at a panting Lizzie.

Although Hunter’s best friend was almost pleasant, he seemed to have serious issues if he thought he was a princess. She’d decide later if he was worth praying for.

“Come on.” Clark motioned for her to follow.

She pressed her thumb on the nasty feline and thunked his forehead. “Be good,” she grumbled.

With dogs in tow, she clutched the cat against her bosom and followed Clark into a kitchen of shiny stainless-steel appliances, large windows surrounded by carved oak, and a wooden table that could easily sit a half dozen diners. The desk in the corner held a personal computer.

She missed hers so much that she sighed.

“Do I need to put this in the fridge?” Clark inclined his chin toward Lizzie’s birthday cake.

Arkansas nodded.

Clark put the cake on the bottom shelf of an almost empty refrigerator. “The kitchen will be your domain. Hunter mostly eats meat, twigs, and leaves, so he gets seriously hangry.”

“That’s terrible,” Arkansas said.

“Yeah. Maybe you can experiment with some healthy recipes. The man needs to eat more. On the other hand, I will eat anything, especially if it’s covered in hot sauce or cheese.” Clark rubbed his slightly protruding belly.

Buddy sniffed his way to a soft dog bed, turned a circle, and plopped down with a grunt.

“And he needs sleep.”

It took Arkansas a moment to realize Clark was talking about Hunter.

“He’s burning the candle at both ends. Come to think of it, he also needs to be laid more often. For the last two weeks, he’s been applying for sainthood and acting kind of weird. Although I think he indulged in some horizontal refreshment this past weekend with some chick he’s had a crush on for years.” When he shook his head, his slicked-back hair didn’t move. “I could use some help. Normally he’s pretty laid back, but the guy is wound tighter than a top right now. So, it’s a good thing you’re here.”

How dare he talk in a strange code that made no sense to her? She tightened the grip on the gift bag. “Where is Hunter now?”

“He’s at an out-of-town photoshoot. He’ll be back tonight. He asked me to help you settle in.”

Hunter was expecting her? She rubbed her forehead as she connected the dots. That’s right. Hunter had been so impressed with her that he’d asked her to come live with him and be a mother to his dogs. Hadn’t he? Oh yes. It was all coming back. He had also said if she married him, he would give up showing his body to perverts for money.

Her panty area tingled. Hopefully, Hunter approved of her virginity.

“Bianca, his agent, said you were trustworthy.”

“He needs to fire his stingwap!”

“Yeah, I second that. She’s a bitchystingwap.”Clark laughed so hard he bent forward and clutched his ribs. Once he finished his hysterics, he pointed at her miserable charge. “Maybe Mister Pissy can hang out in the backyard while I show you around. It’s fenced.”

The cat could rot in hell along with her house full of smelly critters. She now had dogs, a fiance´, a beautiful home, and a new friend. Arkansas followed Clark through a sliding glass door to an outdoor patio and a three-burner gas grill.

“Stay,” he said, halting Lizzie with a palm as he slid the door shut.

Sad puppy-dog eyes watched them through the glass.

A string of lights hung from the back door to the far brick wall. A basket of red flowers and candles sat on a picnic table. It was the perfect spot for their first romantic dinner together.

She deposited the cat on the ground, and he scampered to the far wall.

“Let me show you the rest of the house,” Clark said.

First, she toured the laundry room. She didn’t mind washing the men’s clothes, and she would need to wash hers every few days since she hadn’t packed anything. Normally she did hers every week and was excellent at it. However, she had no idea what to wear to bed.

Clark pointed at a door beside the kitchen. “That’s the basement. Don’t go down there unless you’ve had a recent tetanus shot. It’s a mess. The floor’s torn up, and piles of brick and wood are everywhere. Hunter is having renovations done in the fall, but for now, it’s a pit.” He wrinkled his nose. “And don’t even get me started on the mouse shit all over everything.”