Page 34 of Whiskers on Kittens

“Cleaning products, power tools, elbow grease, and determination. I guess that’s close?” Easton reclaimed his phone. “I’ll tell you what. We get through this case and get those kittens home by Christmas Eve, and I’ll help you find a rug, and we’ll clean one together. I’ll even let you use the rotary machine. That one is my favorite.”

“You’re on.”

ELEVEN

“You’re the worrywart type, aren’t you?”

I ordered breakfast to be delivered to our suite, discussing the food situation with the hotel while Easton went out to stretch his legs and get some fresh air. To my relief, thanks to my foresight, they’d have no problems making sure I fueled my big, bad wolf although I tried not to think about how much the bill would be when I checked out in the morning.

As the hotel likely couldn’t afford another dinner feeding frenzy and still handle the rest of their clients, I hauled my cop out to a buffet, paid the ridiculous amount required for a true unlimited buffet experience, received white and red bracelets to identify us as hungry lycanthropes, and warned the staff my wolf had been malnourished until I’d gotten my hands on him.

To my astonishment, they had a protocol for half-starved lycanthropes, and I spoke with the hostess while one of the waiters took Easton to our table at my request. The hostess bent over and retrieved a tub of protein mix from her stand, which was formulated for lycanthropes. She showed me the instructions for it and offered to charge three of the massive tins to my bill to help get him back into shape. She even showed me the CDC’s website, which listed the product as good for lycanthropes for the purpose of improving base nutrition.

Huh. Nobody had told me about the powder, and I’d never seen it in a store before. I accepted the offer and had her add it to my bill, and she promised I could pick up my bounty on the way out the door. A rather worried Easton waited for me, and he regarded me with wide eyes. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. They just had protein mixes for strong, manly lycanthropes who need a little extra protein in their diet. I was getting it added to our bill. It’s CDC approved, but I wanted to talk to her about it before eating.”

“You’re the worrywart type, aren’t you?”

Was he kidding? I had transformed worrying over the details into an art. “It’s in the job description. I worry about everything so others don’t have to worry about anything. I am very slow at picking my prizes at a buffet, so I will guard the table while you get your first share. We’re unlimited and have no time limit, so relax.”

“How did you manage that?”

“I asked.” I smiled. “Next time you’re recovering from exertion or you haven’t been eating properly, just tell the buffet your situation, and they’ll offer you their unlimited package. Most lycanthropes just go for the double-priced offers because they don’t need to eat that much. But you’re underweight, so I got us both the unlimited.”

“You’re not eating nearly that much, though.”

“It’s fine. It just means I will overindulge for a change. I’ll burn off the extra weight in no time flat.” I shooed him off with a wave of my hands. “Do not make me wait forever to start my leisurely attack on this buffet.”

Laughing and shaking his head, he got up and did as told.

To my amusement, he beelined straight for the baked potatoes. He conferred with the man at the station, after which he took six of the potatoes, loaded them up, and came back with a rather triumphant expression on his face.

Well, some things were easier in life than others, and I kept company with someone who would be easy to please. “I see you like potatoes.”

“I can have as many as I want. He asked if I liked baked potatoes, and he promised he’d get an entire batch made for me.”

I leaned over for a view of the restaurant’s worker, and sure enough, he headed off to the back, probably to give marching orders to feed the big, bad wolf. “Well, we can take our time, so enjoy every last one of the potatoes they give you.” I got up, and as warned, I took my time browsing through the offerings. Aware their potato stock would enter the danger zone, I avoided his prizes and went for every other comfort food I could get my paws on. To help put him at ease, I avoided the foods most typically viewed as overly fancy, including the sushi.

The sushi would fall prey to me in terrifying quantity but only after Easton relaxed.

To my delight, they had fried catfish, and rather than be dignified and work only one plate at a time, I indulged, piled the catfish high, and headed back to the table, ready to conquer the buffet’s fishy offerings.

He stared at the mountain of food, laughed, and said, “You are such a cat.”

“I am not only a cat, I’m feline perfection.” I went for my catfish first, regretting my inability to purr. “I don’t usually make fish at home. I’m no good at it. Steak? I’m feline perfection. Chicken? Also feline perfection. Fish? Fish makes my ability to cook flee the building. I keep wanting to eat it immediately, it never gets cooked thoroughly, and it’s a real problem.”

“I can fry fish.”

Unbeknownst to Easton, he had signed over any hope of escape. As far as my virus was concerned, the wolf was ours and we’d settle with fish once a week. “I’m holding you to that. If I don’t get fried fish, I might perish. I’ll wither away to nothing, and there’s no way we can have that happen.”

“Perhaps you should eat before your mouth gets you into trouble.”

I snorted, but as the fish was still hot and crispy, I went to work filling my belly, careful to remove any bones so I wouldn’t choke on them or stab holes into my mouth. Once I’d conquered the first two pieces, I said, “Are you going to be all right with the job?”

“I’m going to have to be. I have sufficient evidence that it’s necessary, although I have questions about the complete cleaning you wish to do.”

“It’s hard to rebuild from nothing.” I stabbed a piece of my fish, checked it for bones, and gulped it down. “I should know. I started from nothing, and I refused to go the illegal route to earn any of it.”