Page 54 of Fake It Till You Make It

Tobias nodded. A signal Amarie translated as plan approval. “You’ve got a one-track mind when it comes to money.”

“And food,” Eli piggybacked on his brother’s comment.

Amarie’s smile slipped. “No, I don’t like missing meals.”

Eli looked at her, frowning. She would have to do better at hiding her visceral reaction to hunger. During her time at Howard, she’d seen a therapist more than once to address her irrational fear with food instability. The psychiatric nurse practitioner had suggested Amarie carry a light snack with her at all times, like a pack of peanut butter crackers, and eat healthy snacks in between meals if needed.

Once she’d embarrassed her father at a company holiday party by adding a second warm roll to her bread plate before everyone else at the table. It was shortly after she and her mother had returned to his home. Through the years, she’d trained herself not to fidget or reach for the last scrap of meat when an efficient server cleared the table.

“Who needs help making their first video? Then we’ll repost all the video content from the clinic’s TikTok page on your personal pages.”

“Oh.” Noah whistled. “I’m going to love this. Do you see the way these ladies are dressed on here?”

“You mean undressed on here,” Eli rasped, glaring over Noah’s shoulder. “I don’t get why anyone would pay money for this.”

“Because we’ll show them the value that the Calvary family and the clinic adds to the community. All the good work the Calvarys are doing here in Service. People really do want a reason to do good and help one another, Eli.”

“You really believe that?” Eli asked, his brow furrowed.

“Yes, I do. Call me crazy, but I do believe in happily ever after.” She reached up, grabbing his hand. “And my partner.”

More subconscious than an actual steady force, she curled her fingers around Eli’s, sealing their connection. The feel of his roughened hand on hers felt amazing. Something electric jolted deep in her belly. Warmth spread like orange blossom honey in her veins.

Everyone fell quiet.

Alarmed, Amarie studied their faces. “Did I say something wrong?”

She turned to Eli for an answer. His mouth thinned, but he still held her hand. Amarie felt a little awkward. She didn’t know what to say next. Luckily, she was saved by the bell. The chime sounded a second time.

“Is someone at the door?” Tobias stood.

Noah lowered his phone. “Why didn’t they come in?”

That’s when they heard it. High-pitched cries. More than one.

“What in the world is that?” Leah asked.

When they all got up to investigate, Amarie extricated her hand from said growly partner. The men’s heavy footfalls followed, tactical in movement like they had an unspoken pre-arrangement of how to defend their home.

Eli reached for the screen door, then stopped. “Stay back. There’s something moving on the porch.”

Using his sinewy forearm for balance, Amarie peeked under Eli’s extended arm. It’s a sack.”

“Why is it moving?” Tobias walked around her. Opening the door, he nudged the bag with his foot. And then the sack contents started to meow. “Someone dropped off a bag of kittens.”

Amarie pointed. “Look, there’s a note.”

“I’m sure this is Bucky’s idea of a joke,” Eli growled. “He confronted me at the Black Bear accusing me of targeting the women.”

“And Phoebe’s cat was pregnant.” Amarie frowned. How could a father be intentionally cruel to his flesh and blood? Phoebe was a sweet little girl.

Eli snapped up the cloth sack. First he scanned the note, then read it aloud.

Since you Calvarys like to cat around with every woman in town, here’s some kittens to keep you busy.

“What a crap thing to do.” Tobias shook his head in obvious disgust.

Eli fished in the bag. One. Two. Three. Four. Five kittens clawed his shirt. One orange striped. A dove-white one with blue eyes. A little cream-colored cutie with a big noggin. And a pair of twin grays with wild staticky hair and glowing green eyes that made Amarie think of Eli. Rather, his captivating stare when he pinned her with one of his looks, like he was doing now. It was unnerving, the flutters in her belly.