Page 97 of Just Between Us

Liam’s drumming pauses. “Oh yeah. Mom and Dad didn’t care what my siblings and I brought home. At one time, Ryan had turtles and I had a pet snake.” He pulls a dog biscuit from a box and gives it to a beagle passing by with a dog walker. “His name was Kevin.”

My eyes widen. “I’m sorry? Your snake was named Kevin?”

One corner of Liam’s mouth tilts up. “You got a problem with the name Kevin?”

“It’s fine if you’re a middle-aged accountant.”

Liam releases a short laugh. “Big fan ofHome Aloneas a kid.”

I can’t decide if the mental image of a child-sized Liam, snake draped around his shoulders, makes me smile or shudder.

We’re interrupted by Diana announcing the start of the seventh annual Cupid’s Companion event and they open the gate.

Liam is, of course, a natural salesman. He turns on the charm, quickly matching two large mixed breed dogs with new owners. While they fill out paperwork, Liam entertains the dogs, sprawling out on the grass to distribute belly rubs and scratches.

I try several times to introduce Duchess to potential adopters, but she does herself no favors by flattening her ears and hissing at every single person who so much as glances her way.

My attention is snagged by a large dark-skinned man, easily six-four with broad shoulders, wearing an Army hoodie. His left arm ends just below the elbow, the sleeve of his shirt pinned up neatly.

He pauses in front of Duchess’s cage wearing an expression I can’t quite decipher. Intrigue, maybe?

Naturally, Duchess hisses again.

I expect him to back away like others have done, but he stands there, lips twitching into an almost smile.

A large group of teenagers approaches, and I spend the next ten minutes telling them about each animal. I warn them they have to be eighteen or older to adopt and they lose interest and head to the parking lot.

When I turn back to see if the man is still with Duchess, I find he’s nowhere in sight.

The afternoon passes in a blur of new beginnings as animal after animal is adopted. I do a little happy dance each time I have a successful match, which makes Liam shake his head and grin. By half past three, most of the animals have found homes. The crowd has thinned to only a few stragglers, meanwhile, Duchess remains sprawled in her cage wearing a snarl on her face. I’m starting to think she’ll be here another year when the sight of an Army hoodie catches my eye.

Once again, he’s approaching Duchess, so I head his way.

After a quick introduction, we both pause to watch Duchess swat at an imaginary enemy.

“Saw her earlier,” he says, voice gravelly. “Place was too packed. I waited in the parking lot till the crowd thinned out.”

I nod in understanding. “Crowds can be overwhelming sometimes.”

The man gives a brisk nod and leans in to read Duchess’s card, letting out a low whistle through his teeth. “Been here a while, huh?”

“Yeah, she’s…um…” I tilt my head side to side. “Particular about who she tolerates.”

“I see.” He’s still looking at the cat, and there’s something almost respectful in the way they’re eyeing each other. “I’m not looking for easy. Easy’s boring.”

If this man wouldn’t think I was crazy I’d do my happy dance right here, on the spot. This ornery cat might actually find her match today after all.

“Would you like me to take her inside to the meet and greet room for you two to get better acquainted?”

He rubs at his chin, squatting so he’s eye level with the cage while Duchess tracks the movement like she’s assessing a threat. “Yeah. I’d like to meet her properly. Name’s Marcus, by the way.”

Twenty minutes later, Liam and I are breaking down tables when I spot Marcus emerging from the building, carrying a cardboard cat carrier. As he approaches, I can see Duchess through the air vents, a murderous expression on her face. But she’s going home. I can hardly contain my smile at the sight.

“She let you live, I see.”

Marcus’s mouth twitches. “Barely. Hissed and swatted a bunch. But she finally let me pet her for a good five seconds.”

“That’s basically a friendship pact from Duchess.”