Alluring Infatuation by Skye Turner, Kari Ayasha Page A

small sound as I reach the kitchen and look down. An extremely fluffy black cat is following me and it appears like she’s talking to me. I love animals, so I squat down. As I get near the floor, it reaches up and taps my legs with its little paws. “Well, hello there. You are a pretty little thing. Friendly, too. What’s your name?”
    I hear a chuckle and look up. Melonie is standing in the doorway watching me pet and talk to this little cat. “Her name is Peanut and she’s spoiled rotten. She thinks everyone likes her and is asking you for permission to get in your lap.”
    My eyes widen. “She’s asking permission?!”
    She laughs at my expression. Nodding, she says, “Yeah, sit down and pat your thigh where she’s tapping you.”
    A cat is asking for permission to get in my lap. Pussy wants to climb in my lap?!
    I laugh out loud, but do what Melonie suggested and tap my leg. The cat climbs in, curls into a little ball, and closes her eyes while she purrs.
    Well, I’ll be damned. I’ve wanted a pet for years, but since we’re gone so much, I don’t want to get one and then leave it alone while we travel. This little girl is pretty and sweet.
    I chuckle. “I think she likes me.”
    I hear Melonie mumble under her breath. “Smart cat.”
    Chuckling, I scoop the kitten up and stand. I set her on the floor and she just stares at me. “I’ll play with you later. I’m hungry right now and I need to talk to your mommy.”
    I see Melonie’s surprised expression as I talk to the cat.
    After washing my hands, I help her plate up the food. It looks good. She points to the table. I carry both plates over while she grabs some wine out of the freezer. She gestures to it and asks, “Would you like a glass?”
    I’m not a wine man. I like beer and hard liquor. I shake my head. “I’m not much of a wine drinker. Sorry.”
    She shakes her head and opens the fridge. I hear drawers opening and closing and then she says, “Yes.” Turning around, she holds out a Shiner Bock. “I have this? Is this better?”
    I nod.
    She opens it and brings it and her glass of wine to the table. As she sits down, she says, “I forgot those were in there. My ex-fiancé used to drink them.”
    My jaw goes slack. The fuck?! Her ex-fiancé?!
    She sees my expression. I didn’t even bother to try to hide it. “Ex-fiancé?”
    Shrugging, she takes a bite. She swallows and takes a sip of wine before answering. “Yes, Jake. My ex-fiancé. I was engaged.”
    My brain is racing. I ask calmly, “When?”
    She looks at me. “Before I went to St. John.” I see her catch her breath.
    Before she went to St. John. What does that mean?! Ok, we’re talking. This is what we need to talk about. How the fuck long was she engaged?!
    Don’t be a dick, Dade. Just talk to her. This is what you wanted. We’re coving the bases.
    “Before St. John? What does that mean?”
    She sighs and sets her fork down. She takes a large gulp of her wine. “St. John was supposed to be my honeymoon, Dade.”
    I drop my fork. What the fuck?
    She smiles sadly. “Yes, we mutually agreed to call off the wedding and I took the trip alone.”
    My mouth is hanging open. She was about to get married? To who? Did she really only hook up with me to get over someone else? Was I just the guy who was convenient at the right time?
    I control the thoughts as best I can. “Ok.”
    She looks at me with a considering expression on her face. “Do you want the story or would you rather not know?”
    She’s holding her breath. Do I want to know? Yes. Yes, I want to know.
    I nod. “Yeah, you can tell me.”
    She nods, too and finishes her glass of wine. Getting up, she grabs the bottle. Bringing the entire thing back to the table, she sits back down and pours another glass. Leaning back cradling the glass between both hands, she looks into my eyes. She starts. “Jake and I went to college together. We met at Freshman Orientation. He was this adorable guy who caught my attention. We