Page 9 (1/2)

She blinked at hirimaced "No"

"I didn’t think so You’re not the type I want…" She drew in a breath and said, "I love plants I love how they’re all so different I love h ones I love how they look and feel and smell and how they all have different personalities"

Personalities? Plants? He told hio with it This was Willow, after all

"Soic," she said "I want to open a nursery"

She paused, then see for an attack "Dumb, huh?"

"It’s not du about business I didn’t go to college, I’ve never even worked in a nursery It takes money to start a business"

"You could marry Todd A million dollars is a lot of start-up capital"

That earned hiainst the sofa, which trapped his arm behind her neck, but he wasn’t inclined to pull it back

"Okay, I’ll be serious You get a job in a nursery and learn the business You go to coe and take business classes"

She turned to look at him "You make it sound simple"

"Why does it have to be hard? When I was in the hospital and the army recruiter stopped in to see me, I realized it was a way out I couldn’t stay where I was--they’d only coain I already had a fake birth certificate saying I was eighteen, so when I was released, I joined up If it’s important, you do what you have to do It doesn’t have to be hard Willow, you got me to adopt a damn cat Trust me, you can make a business work"

"You think?"

"I know"

She s happy smile that made him want to strip her nad and take her in ways she didn’t know existed

Instead he leaned forward and handed her a cookie

Later, when Willow had left and he was alone with the cat, Kane glanced at the feline who seeet any ideas," he told her "I only called Willow because you needed your own space It won’t happen again I don’t like her I don’t like anyone, including you"

The cat blinked slowly

"Just as soon as your kittens are older, I’ all of you to the pound Just so you’re clear"

The cat blinked again and the sound of her purring filled the quiet rooh the beads on the table in front of her, chose one and picked up her glue gun She carefully applied the bead to one of the candles she’d finished the previous night and did her best not to grin as Kane paced the length of her small kitchen

It took hio the other way She’d offered hi their conversation

She wouldn’t have minded if he didn’t look so…uncolanced around It was pretty girly--all ruffles and ribbons on the curtains she’dwith candles and dishes of potpourri She had a small collection of china and crystal unicorns on a shelf in the living room Her furniture there hite wicker with floral cushions

Definitely not Kane’s kind of place

"I’ll be gone two nights," he said as he glanced at a pot holder in the shape of a frog and grimaced "I’m sure the cat will be fine, but if you could feed her--"

"I’ in her sive her a little attention" She paused and prepared to enjoy theme a key"

"Yes"

"To your house"

"I know"

She picked up another bead "It will be like we’re living together"

He turned and stared at her "We’re not living together"

"I didn’t say ere"

"You i after the cat, that’s it The cat you insisted I keep I shouldn’t have the cat at all"

"But you do"

His mouth thinned "You’re to take care of her and then leave Don’t go through my stuff"

She pretended to be insulted "Would I do that? Honestly, Kane, when have I violated your personal space?"

"You want a list? I know you," he growled "You’ll snoop"

This was so ht happily He was just adorable when he was grumpy "I promise I won’t"

"As if I believe that"

"Hey, I don’t lie I won’t look around"

"I’ll know if you do"

He probably would So ould he do? Put single hairs across drawers and sticky spy stuff on the inside of closets?

"I gave my word," she told him "I meant it Take whatever precautions make you happy, but there’s no need I’ll respect your privacy"

He eyed her for a second, then put a key on the counter

She sighed "This is so sudden I thought you wanted to take things rinned "I can’t help it You’re just so easy"

"Thanks"

She turned off the glue gun, then stood "I don’tyou now"

"You can’t It’s e Besides, you’ll be interested in this"

She walked into the living roolass and wicker coffee table "Look," she said as she waved it "This is for the spring sen up for business classes And I’ve been looking at getting a job in a nursery" She paused for effect "I have an interview on Thursday"

His tortured expression relaxed "Good for you"

"Thanks I never thought about just taking the steps I guess they didn’t seem possible But now they are and it’s all thanks to you"

"I only pointed you in the right direction"

"You don’t want to take credit?"