Free The Widow and the Orphan by J. Thomas-Like

home. Since we had to rebook our flight, I was forced to take a seat in coach. My whole body is killing me from being squeezed into that tiny space for twelve hours.”
    Pepper clucked sympathetically and pulled the trunk hood closed. “Okay, sweetie. Get in.”
    She tried to make conversation on the drive to Aiden’s condo, but it was stilted and uncomfortable. Gabe didn’t say a word and Aiden didn’t want to say too much. There really wasn’t much to talk about besides the elephant in the car anyway, so eventually Pepper gave up. When they got to Aiden’s place, she helped him by carrying one of his bags to the door and then gave him another hug, promising him that everything would be fine. He promised her that he would be at work without fail.
    When she got back into the car, she glared at Gabe. It didn’t matter that she was scared about what had happened, she was still pissed off that her fiancé would treat his assistant in so shabby a manner.
    “Shame on you for being such a dick to Aiden.”
    Gabe frowned, but refused to be baited into an argument.
    “Oh, you are not giving me the silent treatment.”
    Pepper had left the car running while she walked Aiden to the door, but now she turned it off and pulled the keys from the ignition. “We’re going to sit here and have a moment.”
    Gabe turned to look at her, and for a split second his eyes flashed with an anger she’d never seen before. It actually gave her pause for just a moment, and she wondered if this was the right time or place. But as quickly as that gleam appeared, it fizzled out and Gabe was Gabe again. “Darling, don’t do this. Not now.”
    Pepper deflated like a three-day-old helium balloon. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to. But you’ve got me pretty worried and scared.”
    Gabe reached for her hand and held it between his two. “I’ve told you, I’m perfectly all right. Aiden panicked and acted before I could get him to see things clearly. Please, let’s just go. I’m exhausted.”
    Pepper raised her eyebrow, but conceded. She started the car again and drove them home.
     
    * * * * *
     
    “What is all this?” Gabe stood inside the doorway, looking around at the feline prison set up in the living room and the cat trees peppering the landscape of the rest of the main floor.
    “Oh, uh,” Pepper stammered, “I kind of forgot to tell you I made some changes.”
    For the first time since he deplaned, Gabe smiled and Pepper was relieved to see how it erased some of his weariness. “You told me you were thinking about getting a cat, but what did you do?” He chuckled as he strode to the fenced area and looked down at the mewling kittens. He caught the clasp in the one section and opened it, so the kittens could scramble out.
    Pepper wanted desperately to talk about what had happened in Japan, but she couldn’t bring herself to pounce just then. There was something ridiculously relaxing about kittens. The inky, black one she called Smudge was rubbing against her leg, so she reached down and pulled him into her arms, cuddling him against her chest. He chased the ends of her hair with his little paws and she needed to pay attention so she didn’t drop him on his head. Once she looked away from Gabe and into the bright green eyes of her charge, she felt herself calming down.
    Gabe snuck a glance at Pepper. “Tell me more about these little fellows.”
    Pepper sighed and let her anger slip away. “They’re all boys. No other girls in this house. I’m the Queen.”
    Gabe chuckled and sat down on the couch, bringing Wolfie, the white, brown and gray tabby with the bright blue eyes onto his lap. Out of nowhere, Crank, the brown and gray striped tabby, scaled the back of the couch and sat on its edge looking at Gabe. He was a beautiful creature, but his attitude thus far had been pretty crabby. He didn’t seem to like to be petted anywhere, held, or loved up. He slashed and bit at Pepper’s fingers whenever she tried to give him any