Page 38 of Driven to Love

She blinked. This quaint house with wooden shutters was Nash’s? Not where she pictured him living. Not even close.

“Will do. Nice to meet you, Addison. See you on Sunday.” He took the dog from her arms and hopped out of the car.

“Nice kid,” Addison said when Nash backed out into the street.

“He’s a good kid.” Nash stopped at the stop sign. “I have a general idea where you live, but not the exact address.”

“Turn left.” She gave him her address.

After a couple of blocks, he said, “You don’t have to go to the game on Sunday. I can make an excuse for you.”

“What? Why wouldn’t I go?” She wasn’t one to cancel once she committed to something.

“For starters, I know you don’t love baseball.”

“Not true. I like baseball. What I didn’t like was the obsession over sports.” She’d played softball throughout high school, not that he needed to know that.

He nodded, but didn’t say anything else. When they reached her house, Nash turned off the engine and stepped out of the car.

“What are you doing? I can make it to the door by myself.”

“I’m checking your house.”

“Seriously. I’m sure there’s no big, bad bogeyman waiting inside.” Surely, Lu would take anyone out who tried to enter his domain… especially if it was around dinnertime.

“Humor me.” He held out his hand. When she didn’t give up her keys right away, he wiggled his fingers. “Gimme.”

“Fine. But you’re overreacting.” She dropped them into his palm.

“Wait in the car.”

“Really?”

Nash shot her a look that would have a nun doing his bidding.

“Okay. But beware of Lucifer. He can be testy when it’s mealtime.” She climbed into the car but left the door open.

He snickered. “You have the devil as a pet? Why am I not surprised?”

“Just wait and see.” Lu detested every guy Addison had ever brought home. Heck, he barely tolerated her. She’d lay odds that Nash would come out of her house with a few scrapes or new holes in him. Addison grinned as she watched him enter her front door.

One. Two. Three. She listened for swearing. A minute passed. Nothing. She frowned. He better not have harmed her attack cat.

A minute later, Nash stuck his head out of the doorway and signaled it was safe to enter.

She got out of the car, slammed the door, and stomped up to the house. As she got closer, she noticed Lu was zigzagging through Nash’s legs. Did she hear purring? The traitor.

“What did you do to my cat?”

“Nothing. He’s a good boy.” Nash reached a hand down and pet Lu’s head. The purring grew louder.

“That’s what I mean. He hates everyone. Lu’s the meanest cat I’ve ever seen. But he likes you.”

Nash shrugged. The jerk. His magic charm not only worked on women but cats too. Figured.

Addison slipped passed him and kicked off her shoes. “See. All’s fine.”

Just then, her phone rang. She checked the number. Unknown. She sent it to voicemail.