Ник Сайнт - Purrfect Cut

Harriet and Brutus shared a quick look, then Harriet shook her head. “We’ve thought about it and we’ve decided to wait.”

“Wait?” asked Dooley. “Wait for what?”

“For later, all right? And now can you please shut up about kittens already?!”

Dooley shut up. I could have told him that Harriet was the kind of cat who, once she got an idea into her head, could drive everyone crazy harping on about it, but just as soon forgot all about it when a new idea entered her head. I had the impression she’d forgotten about those kittens the moment she’d mentioned them, and didn’t enjoy being reminded of her impetuousness.

“I like kittens,” said Pussy dreamily.

“Hey, I like kittens!” said Dooley.

“What a coincidence!” Pussy cried.

“I like kibble,” said Dooley.

“Me, too!”

The two stared at each other for a moment, then Pussy giggled, and so did Dooley, and if I wasn’t mistaken, he actually blushed beneath his fur.

Oh, dear. This could only mean one thing. Dooley was in love.

“Let’s give these two lovebirds some space, Max,” said Brutus with all the delicacy and diplomacy of an elephant stomping on someone’s toes.

But he was probably right. Still, it was with some reluctance that I followed Harriet and Brutus and left Dooley and Pussy to explore what else they had in common, aside from their self-professed love of kittens and kibble.

And as I walked away I could see the love light shining brightly in Dooley’s eyes.

“Let’s slip next door, snuggle bunny,” said Harriet, on whom young love always had an aphrodisiacal effect.

“Great idea, angel face,” grunted Brutus.

And before I knew what was happening, I suddenly found myself all by myself. And as I wandered into the fallow piece of land lining Odelia’s backyard, I was feeling slightly dejected. If my best friend was going to hook up with the richest cat in the world, what was going to happen to me? And as I aimlessly drifted here and there, I suddenly noticed a pair of cat’s eyes following my every movement. When I looked over, I saw they belonged to a cat I knew very well indeed.

“Hey, Clarice,” I said. “How are things?”

“Things could literally not be better,” she said.

Clarice is a feral cat who likes to live wild and free. She roams the fields and forests surrounding Hampton Cove, and is the best dumpster diver I know. She’s also something of an acquired taste. And she has a standing invitation, extended by Odelia, to consider our house her home.

“Care for a piece of succulent meat?” I asked.

“Is Tex manning the grill?”

“No. They hired a caterer.”

“Then I don’t mind if I do,” she said, and followed me into the backyard.

She watched as Dooley and Pussy got cozy, and clicked her tongue. “Young love,” she said. “It disgusts me.”

I laughed. “Most people wouldn’t agree with that particular view.”

“That’s because most people are idiots.”

“Well, if not for young love no babies would be born, or kittens.”

“And would that be such a bad thing?”

What did I tell you? Acquired taste.

We moved over to Odelia’s side and when Odelia saw Clarice she smiled and petted her. Odelia is the only one who is allowed to do that, and Clarice actually purred with delight!

Odelia then handed down a piece of burger and Clarice gobbled it up. “Keep em coming,” she snarled, and Odelia did just that.

Clarice then jumped up on Odelia’s lap, and the feast continued unabated.

And as I watched on, Clarice being fed and petted by Odelia, Dooley and Pussy gabbing away on the swing, my humans prattling gaily in the backyard, and Brutus and Harriet ducking in and out of the shrubbery, my heart warmed. Who was I kidding? Even if Dooley hooked up with Pussy, which I kinda doubted he would, I wasn’t losing a friend but gaining another friend.

“I kinda like this human of yours, Max,” Clarice grunted. “If you’re tired with her, I just might adopt her for my own.”

“No way,” I said. “Odelia is mine.”

“Hah,” said Clarice with a sly grin. “I knew you’d say that.”

“Max!” Dooley shouted. “Pussy likes naps, and I like naps, too! How about that!”

“God,” said Clarice, shaking her head. “This is torture.”

“And I hate getting wet and Dooley hates getting wet, too!” Pussy said.

“And guess what? There’s something else we have in common!” Dooley said.

“Yeah, we both like you, Max!” Pussy said.

“We love you, buddy!” said Dooley.

I held up my paw. Somehow I’d suddenly lost my voice.

I swiped at my eyes. Tears, you ask? Nah. Just a speck of dust. In both eyes.

THE END

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About Nic

Nic Saint is the pen name for writing couple Nick and Nicole Saint. They’ve penned novels in the romance, cat sleuth, middle grade, suspense, comedy and cozy mystery genres. Nicole has a background in accounting and Nick in political science and before being struck by the writing bug the Saints worked odd jobs around the world (including massage therapist in Mexico, gardener in Italy, restaurant manager in India, and Berlitz teacher in Belgium).

When they’re not writing they enjoy Christmas-themed Hallmark movies (whether it’s Christmas or not), all manner of pastry, comic books, a daily dose of yoga (to limber up those limbs), and spoiling their big red tomcat Tommy.

www.nicsaint.com

Also by Nic Saint

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Purrfect Murder

Purrfectly Deadly

Purrfect Revenge

Box Set 1 (Books 1-3)

Purrfect Heat

Purrfect Crime

Purrfect Rivalry

Box Set 2 (Books 4-6)

Purrfect Peril

Purrfect Secret

Purrfect Alibi

Box Set 3 (Books 7-9)

Purrfect Obsession

Purrfect Betrayal

Purrfectly Clueless

Box Set 4 (Books 10-12)

Purrfectly Royal

Purrfect Cut

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Murder Motel

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Washington & Jefferson

First Shot

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Spooky Times

Spooky Trills

Spooky End

Spooky Spells

Ghosts of London

Between a Ghost and a Spooky Place

Public Ghost Number One

Ghost Save the Queen

Box Set 1 (Books 1-3)

A Tale of Two Harrys

Ghost of Girlband Past

Ghostlier Things

Charleneland

Deadly Ride

Final Ride

Neighborhood Witch Committee

Witchy Start

Witchy Worries

Witchy Wishes

Saffron Diffley

Crime and Retribution

Vice and Verdict

The B-Team

Once Upon a Spy

Tate-à-Tate

Enemy of the Tates

Ghosts vs. Spies

The Ghost Who Came in from the Cold

Witchy Fingers

Witchy Trouble

Witchy Hexations

Witchy Possessions

Witchy Riches

Box Set 1 (Books 1-4)

The Mysteries of Bell & Whitehouse

One Spoonful of Trouble

Two Scoops of Murder

Three Shots of Disaster

Box Set 1 (Books 1-3)

A Twist of Wraith

A Touch of Ghost

A Clash of Spooks

Box Set 2 (Books 4-6)

The Stuffing of Nightmares

A Breath of Dead Air

An Act of Hodd

Box Set 3 (Books 7-9)

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