Footfalls approached the other side of the door, and Tam stepped back with a smile. When it opened, she was greeted by Patrick Butler, instead of her business acquaintance.

Light green eyes made a striking contrast against his dark hair and olive complexion, and his cropped, wavy locks lay mussed in a charming way. A giant, well-fed ginger striped cat was curled up in the crook of one of his arms. It looked like it could take down a gazelle. “Oh. Hi, again. I thought… Is Donna here?” she stammered.

“Good morning to you. ” His jeans were dusted with white powder and his shirt sleeves rolled up. “Donna already headed over to the bakery. Can I help you?”

Tam flushed with guilt. “Um, no.” She couldn’t admit she’d come to ask about the peaches behind his back. 

The ginger cat yawned lazily, and Tam gaped at the mouth full of sharp teeth. The saber-toothed tiger’s owner looked at her in curiosity as a second cat, a Siamese kitten, strolled up and rubbed against his ankle. “Nice fur babies,” Tam said, trying to figure out how to get peaches and avoid any contact with the cats. “I didn’t know Donna had animals.”

“They’re mine. They’re Butlers, too.”

“Interesting name.” He didn’t look like a butler. Her pulse skipped when he leaned one thick shoulder against the door.