Sawyer took a deep breath as he stood in front of Isabella’s apartment. He pressed his ear to the door and could hear music playing inside, so he knew she was there. Though maybe she was with one of the many men Zander was joking about. Or that person who was with her at the museum party.
“Well,” he muttered as he rapped on the door. “Here goes nothing.”
He stood there for what seemed an eternity, then heard footsteps heading toward him.
The door opened, streaming all sorts of bright light into the hallway, and Sawyer felt temporarily blinded, his eyes adjusting to the contrast.
“Sawyer?” Isabella said. “What are you doing here and how did you get here?”
“Clementine—” he said, still squinting at the brightness, holding his hand up to his forehead so he could see her face better. Unfortunately, it looked a bit angry.
“Did Clementine put you up to this? I should wring her neck,” she said with a shriek. “Look, Sawyer, I’ve got nothing to say to you.” She started to close the door, but Sawyer held his hand up to stop her.
“Princess, please,” he said. “I’ve got something for you.” He reached into his pocket first for the note and handed her an envelope. “Please just read this when you have a chance.”
She squinted at him, then shrugged. “Fine. But Sawyer, I’m sort of busy.”
He held up his hand. “Princess, I have one more thing I wanted you to have.”
“Really, I don’t need anything,” she said. “I’m all good.”
“Please, Kitten, just hold out your hands.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not your kitten.”
“Isabella, just hold out your hands and close your eyes.”
Sawyer reached into his coat pocket again and pulled out the tiniest, softest kitten with bright blue eyes and placed it in Isabella’s hands.
She opened her eyes and stared at the small animal, which was white with fluffy, long fur and an adorable brown snout with matching ears. Isabella gasped. “Oh, my God, Sawyer,” she said, holding the kitten to her face, rubbing noses as the featherlight creature mewed its approval. “But, how? Why? Oh, God, I can’t have a kitten here.”
Sawyer stepped inside the foyer and closed the door behind him. “Well, don’t let on to the rest of the family,” he said. “They’ll never be the wiser.”
“I’m telling you, my brother Zander is super allergic to cat dander.”
Suddenly, Sawyer felt a bit badly about inadvertently having the kitten inside Zander’s place. He’d forgotten that little detail.
“Princess, you deserve to have your own kitten,” he said. “Surely in this vast, vast palace, no one will breathe tainted air from cat dander. Besides, look at that little puss—” he put his thumb and pointer finger on either side of the kitten’s tiny mouth, holding it next to Isabella’s face and comparing their eyes. “And do you see her eyes? The same sapphire color as yours. She’s awfully cute, but you’re downright breathtaking.”
Sawyer saw a tiny teardrop forming in the corner of Isabella’s eyes, and he wiped at it with his finger. “Bella, just give her a chance. Give us a chance. I think if you stop trying so hard to be what everyone is expecting of you, you’ll find it’s a lot easier to let your heart go where it wants to go.”
Isabella took a deep breath and pulled the kitten closer to her heart. “I don’t know what to say, Sawyer.”
“Just say you’ll give it a try.”
She pulled the kitten up to her face, rubbing her cheek alongside the small creature and nuzzling nose to nose with it.
Bella sighed. “I don’t even know what you do with a kitten. I don’t even know what to call it.”
“I’ve given that some thought,” Sawyer said. “Considering that the source, meaning me, is a baker by training. Maybe you could call her Cupcake.”
Isabella smiled. “Cupcakes are fattening.”
Sawyer shook his head. “Only if by that you mean she’ll make your heart swell with love,” he said. “Look, I’ve got Clem waiting in the parking lot outside. I have a kitten starter kit hidden in her trunk. What say I leave that for you downstairs by the servants’ entrance. That way no one will be the wiser. It’s all hidden in wrapped packages.” He leaned over and gave the kitten a kiss on the head. Then he kissed Isabella ever so softly on the lips before turning and walking away.