Free Undercover Love (The Women of Manatee Bay, Book 2) by Jessica Nelson

Katrina’s voice intruded on her thoughts.
    “Hey.” Warmth blossomed in her chest. “Are you and Alec finished?”
    Katrina smiled. “He’s in there wheeling and dealing. I thought I’d wait for you to look around.”
    “You are the best person in the world.” Rachel hooked her arm through Katrina’s and steered her toward the reception desk. “I’m thinking of getting a kitten.”
    The elderly woman behind the desk looked up and smiled at them. “Cats make wonderful pets. Follow me.” She stood and led them to a hallway. “When you’re done looking, go through that door and it’ll lead back to the reception area.” She smiled again and backed through the door.
    Concrete stretched before them. Dim lights illuminated the rooms on either side of the narrow walkway. Cats meowed plaintively in their cages and Rachel’s heart did a little jump. The poor things. There was the smell of cat, too. A heavy, musty scent that wasn’t as disgusting as she’d thought it would be.
    The smell reminded her of childhood. Of an innocence that had faded long ago.
    “What kind do you want?” Katrina peered to the left.
    “A non-hairy one.” Rachel walked to the right and skimmed the cages. “And preferably a kitten.”
    Katrina pulled Rachel’s sleeve and beckoned to a cage. Inside sat a monstrously fat feline with long hair and slitted eyes.
    “Ugh.” Rachel pulled away. “Not on my list.”
    “But look at the date. They’re putting her to sleep tonight.”
    “You don’t know that.” Rachel found a cage filled with three kittens. That was more like it. They fell over each other, nipping each other’s ears and letting out little growls.
    “After eight days, all unclaimed adult animals are put to sleep.”
    “Then you adopt her.” She glanced at the obese ball of fur. “She looks evil.”
    Katrina made a face. “Don’t be weird. It’s a cat. I just feel bad she’ll die. I wish there was something I could do.”
    Rachel watched the kittens but couldn’t shake the pity. “Why don’t you tell Alec to suggest to the shelter that they become a no-kill facility?”
    Katrina’s face brightened. “That’s a great idea. Since he’s one of their donors, maybe they can somehow consider it.” She hugged Rachel. “I’m going to go see if it’s possible. Be right back.” She hurried down the hall to the exit, her heels clacking against the concrete.
    Rachel sighed and turned back to the cages. Did she really want a hairy, stinky pet? Responsibility and commitment. That’s what it would mean. While she was debating the thought, a gray-haired guy clomped down the hall towards her. She smelled him before he turned into the room. Greasy sweat.
    Nose wrinkling, she backed up.
    “Hey.” He nodded at her then grabbed a cage off the shelved wall.
    The one with Miss Prissy-evil-slanted-eye cat.
    Before she could stop herself, she lunged forward. “Excuse me.” She saw her fingers, manicured and pristine, touching his overalls. His clothes weren’t exactly dirty. The shelter was professional and though the man wore a clean looking uniform, his odor overwhelmed her senses. She yanked her hand back and cleared her throat.
    “Yes ma’am?” His dark brown eyes held her gaze questioningly. The cage in his hand rocked back and forth and Rachel heard a deep growl, followed by a hiss.
    She swallowed, discomfited by the interest growing inside her. “Do you know anything about this cat?”
    The man cocked his head. “Not much, except she’s scheduled to go down.”
    Go down? That was a nice way to phrase death. Her head suddenly felt like it was going to explode. Calm down, she told herself. This wasn’t Scooter. Of course animals had to be put to sleep. It was far from murderous, and in Scooter’s case, it had been the only kind thing to do.
    Still, her eyes stung and she blinked. “Is the cat sick?”
    The man’s lips pushed forward, like he was thinking hard. “Nope. Not unfit,