Will was about to spend the long weekend as a couch potato watching sports when the phone rang. He saw it was the shelter calling, probably with another cat to foster since he’d just sent his last cat back to her owner. “This is Will...”

“Hi Will, it’s Jeannie at the shelter. Sorry to bother you on the weekend.”

“Got another foster cat gig?”

“No, but if you’re not too busy I need a cat sitter for a couple of days. I was doing it myself but I fell this morning and hurt my back. All you’d need to do is go to a house, feed four cats and check on them. The owners are on vacation and will be back tomorrow night. Oh, and the house is just a couple of blocks from you. They’re actually some of our best volunteers.”

“Sure, I can run over there right now if that works.”

“Great, I’ll text you the address and the name and phone number of the vet if you need one. He actually lives across the street. The key to the house is at the shelter on my desk. It’s a keychain with a tabby on it. Gina is manning the shelter today and can get it for you.”

“No problem. I’ll take care of it.” He got up and grabbed a jacket and his car keys. His cell phone beeped, letting him know he had a text. He looked at it and furrowed his brow as he saw the address. It looked familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

***

A HALF HOUR LATER HE pulled up to the address and it hit him. “Oh, wow. This is Rory’s house.”

Will felt a little strange as he headed up the steps, as the memory of carrying Rory into her home came flooding back. He didn’t think she would be wild about him being there while she was gone since her home was also her office. Whatever, there were cats that needed attention. And it would give him a chance to bond a little with Rory’s kitty.

He opened the door and found three of the cats lounging on the couch, but didn’t see Hemingway. “Hey guys, you hungry?” The cats studied him as all cats do when confronted by a stranger. He moved toward them and slowly extended his hand to the tortoiseshell, which gave him a sniff and then a lick. He realized Rory was friends with Madison Shaw and these cats were from the famous litter. “Wow, we have a bunch of celebrities today.” He already knew where the cat food was, so he headed toward the kitchen.

He still didn’t see Rory’s cat as he started opening cans of cat food, which he noted were of the brand holding the contest. “Hemingway? Where are ya, buddy? Dinner is served.” He placed the food on the floor as the three cats had followed him and were waiting. They tore into the food. He started to look around for Hemingway and after searching everywhere found him lying in a sun square behind a table. “Hey, tiger. Time to eat.” He picked up the cat and brought it to the kitchen, then set it down in front of the food. The cat simply walked away and curled up in the living room next to the couch. “Guess I don’t know your dining schedule. Maybe you want some attention.” He followed the cat and found some cat toys on the coffee table. He picked up a wand with a catnip butterfly on the end and waved it in front of Hemingway. The cat didn’t respond. The other cats came running in from the kitchen and started chasing the wand, but Rory’s cat didn’t move. Will tossed the toy to the other cats and crouched down next to Hemingway. “You feeling okay, kitty?” He started to pet the cat and didn’t even get a purr.

The cat had its head on the floor and looked sad, not like the friendly one he’d met before.

Something was wrong.

He decided to go across the street and get the vet.

***

THE GETAWAY TO LAS Vegas had been just what the doctor ordered, letting Rory recharge her batteries with an old-fashioned girls vacation. She continued to savor every minute, knowing that once her three friends got married, things were going to change.

Forever.

It was almost like saying goodbye.

She shoved a forkful of pancakes into her mouth, a sugary syrup-soaked sponge that was part of her last meal before they headed back to the airport. Her plate now empty, she tossed her napkin on the table and started to get up for another trip to the buffet.

A.J. shook her head at Rory. “Are you trying to make the weight or something?”

“What?”

“Two plates of food aren’t enough for you? Going for round three?”

“Hey, we’ve got a five hour flight today and won’t get anything but pretzels and water from a cranky flight attendant. If you don’t stuff yourself silly here you’ll be sorry by the time we’re over Oklahoma. Besides, it’s a buffet and I want my money’s worth. I lost enough in the slot machines, I want some of it back.”

Madison leaned back and patted her belly. “Honestly, Rory, I don’t know where you put it. You eat twice as much as any of us and never gain weight.”

“She wouldn’t do this in front of a guy,” added Tish.

Rory reached into her purse, pulled out the list and held it up. “Hey, that was the old me. Any guy who wants me needs to know that there’s a big grocery bill attached. You’ll be proud of me... I actually ordered dessert at that lunch I had with the cat food CEO the other day. I ate the whole thing. And he still seemed interested.”

A.J.’s eyes widened. “Ah, you didn’t tell us you had another prospect. Did you hook up with him in the corporate coat closet?”

Rory playfully slapped A.J.’s shoulder. “Stop it.”

“So what’s the deal?” asked Tish. “Who do you like better, the cat food guy or the advertising man you attacked at the Halloween party?”

“Oh, I guess I didn’t tell you the latest. The ad guy has some serious red flags. Major deal breakers. I met his live-in girlfriend—”

“Now there’s a red flag.”

“Wait, it gets better. Anyway, he told her about the incident in the coat closet and added that I gave him the best kiss he ever had. She wasn’t even fazed by this and offered to share him with me.”

Madison wrinkles her nose. “Ewww. He sounds incredibly cruel and is obviously into multiple partners. So what’s the deal with Mister Cat Food?”

Rory rested her head on her palm. “On first glance, he seems to be the total package. Smart, funny, seriously good looking, never married, and he loves cats. He’s got four of his own. He sent a truckload of cat food over to the shelter after we had lunch. Of course we haven’t gone out yet but he dropped a ton of hints that we will after the contest is over. And I’ll see him again Friday when we make our proposal. I haven’t spent much time with him but I really felt a connection.”

***

WITH TEN MINUTES TILL they boarded their flight, Rory decided to check her email before she turned off her phone. She spotted one from the woman who ran the shelter and opened it.

Rory,

Hemingway is okay now but he was ill yesterday. I didn’t want to ruin your vacation because the vet treated him in time and said he’ll be fine.

I fell and hurt my back so I was unable to take care of the cats. One of our most trusted volunteers went to your house. He was playing with them and noted that yours wouldn’t eat or play and didn’t look well, so he went across the street and brought the vet over. Turned out Hemingway had a urinary tract infection which was easily treated. You’re lucky this volunteer was one who didn’t just feed the cats and leave. He knew enough about cats that he noticed something wrong with Hemingway. Anyway, he’s been spending a good deal of time at your place to keep a close eye on your cat and said he looks much better today. I know how attached you are to that cat but the vet says you have nothing to worry about.

Have a safe trip home and we’ll see you soon.

“Oh my God.”

Madison turned to her. “What?”

“Hemingway was sick. I just got an email from the shelter. He’s okay now thanks to some volunteer who went and got the vet.”

“Thank God we don’t just leave our cats all alone with a ton of food like some people do. Gotta have a cat sitter. You’re lucky we had a good one.”

“Yeah, no kidding. I owe that volunteer big time.” She looked at her phone, which featured a photo of her cat on the screen. “This is going to be the longest flight ever.”

***

MADISON LOOKED AT RORY in the rear view mirror as they headed home. “Rory, will you please calm down? You already talked to the vet who said the cat is fine.”

“I won’t feel right until I actually see him for myself.”

A.J. worked her fingers into Rory’s fist. “You are a world class worrier.”

“Oh, and you didn’t freak out when Gypsy got sick a while back?”

A.J. shrugged. “Fine, you got me.” She pointed at Rory’s home as Madison turned the corner onto her street. “There’s a car in front of your house so the volunteer must be there taking care of him.”

Madison pulled the car in front of the house. Rory barely waited for the car to stop moving before bolting out of the vehicle and running up the steps. She opened the door and what she saw stopped her dead in her tracks.

Will Prescott, sitting on the couch, with Hemingway on his lap.

“Will? What the hell are you doing in my house?”

He looked up at her. “Hi Rory. Welcome home. I’m your emergency cat sitter.” He stood up and carried the cat toward her and handed Hemingway over. “Look who’s home, kitty.”

Rory took the cat and hugged him hard, then held him up and looked into his eyes. “You okay, tiger?”

“Better than he was yesterday. He ate a lot today and even played a little. But he’s on low power.”

She rested the cat on her shoulder and turned to Will. “So, you’re a volunteer at the cat shelter?”

“I help them out when they’re desperate. Jeannie fell and hurt her back so she needed someone to come over here. I was the only one around on a holiday weekend. I didn’t realize it was your house when she sent me the address.”

Rory was distracted as her friends entered the house and started looking for their own cats.

Will gave them a wave. “Hi, everyone. I’m Will.”

Madison found her cat, picked up the tortoiseshell and walked toward him. “Hi, I’m Madison. So, you’re the nice volunteer who saved Rory’s cat.”

He shrugged. “All I did was notice he didn’t look like he was feeling well so I went across the street and got the vet.” He pointed at Madison’s cat. “That one’s a sweet cat.”

“Yeah, he’s really special.”

“He? Wow, a male tortoiseshell? Those are rare.”

“Yep.”

A.J. joined the conversation with her cat, a Russian Blue. “Did my Gypsy drive you crazy?”

He laughed. “That one is a master of sneak attacks. Scared the hell out of me a few times, but a lotta fun.”

Tish came over with her tuxedo cat. “Socks give you any trouble?”

“Not at all. Loves to play.” He turned to Rory. “Anyway, before I get going let me go over the medicine situation. It’s in the kitchen.” Rory followed him to the kitchen where he picked up a small bottle and handed it to her. “Half a teaspoon every twelve hours. I gave it to him at eight tonight so the next dose is tomorrow morning. He likes the taste and actually licks it from a spoon so it’s not a problem.”

She looked at the bottle, then at Will. “Okay. Eight in the morning. Got it.”

“By the way, I was here quite a while yesterday and got hungry, so I owe you a bag of potato chips. Oh, and your dripping kitchen faucet was driving me crazy so I fixed it. You just needed a washer. No charge.”

“Huh?”

“Anyway, I’ll get going so you can bond with your cat.” He reached out and scratched the cat’s head. “Glad you’re feeling better, Hemingway. See you later, Rory.” He headed toward the door and said goodnight to everyone.

Rory followed him to the door. “Will?”

He turned to face her as he put on his jacket. “Yeah?”

She paused a moment, then reached out and took his hand. “I, uh, can’t thank you enough for saving my cat.”

“I didn’t save your cat, the vet did.”

She felt her eyes getting misty. “But you were here, knew he was sick and took really good care of him while blowing your whole holiday weekend. I won’t forget this. I owe you one.”

“You don’t owe me anything, Rory. Happy to help out. I didn’t have plans anyway. Hey, I saw you’re on the short list for the cat food contest. Good luck this week.”

“Yeah, you too.”

He locked eyes with her for a brief moment, then let go of her hand and opened the door. “Well, goodnight Rory. And goodnight, Hemingway.” He left the house and Rory closed the door. She turned and found her friends putting their cats in their carriers.

“You’re sure lucky that guy knows cats,” said Madison. “And he’s a cute little thing. What was his name?”

“Will. Will Prescott. He’s the advertising guy I told you about.”

Tish’s eyes widened. “That’s the coat closet guy with all the red flags?”

Rory nodded.

A.J. shook her head. “He doesn’t seem like a world class jerk. You sure you’re reading him right?”

“That’s what Skylar says. And after what his girlfriend told me—”

Madison’s face tightened a bit as she put her cat into the carrier. “Something’s not right. A guy who blows off his whole weekend to take care of someone else’s cats... sure doesn’t sound like a jerk to me. My reporter’s radar tells me there’s more to the story.”

Tish smiled at Rory. “And speaking of there being more to the story, did you guys catch the look he gave Rory at the door?”

Rory knew what they were talking about, but didn’t want to admit it. She furrowed her brow. “What look?”

Tish tapped her on the head with a knuckle. “Hello! McFly! The guy obviously likes you.”

“He’s got a stunning girlfriend. He’s probably interested in a hookup because I kissed him.”

Madison laughed. “I dunno, Rory. The way you looked at him in the same way... there’s definitely some chemistry between the two of you.”