Some women might be happy when their mother left after a week's visit, but not Greer. The taillights had barely disappeared when a wave of sadness washed over with as much force as a tsunami. Last night's vow to not cry anymore would take effort.

The no tears rule wasn't the only one she'd put in place. No more lunch meetings with Jackson. Her heart was in danger and it needed protection. The subtle moves he'd made had taken a toll on her resolve, and without Mom, she had no one to talk to.

After loading the dishwasher, she made a mental to-do list. Baking cookies for the dance, meant a trip to the grocery store. Chocolate chips. It didn't matter they weren't her favorite, cooking with Jackson had been fun. And when he'd wiped her lips, well, the slightest touch from him affected her in a way she'd never experienced. Why? Because he was off-limits? Only by her self-imposed rules and they could be changed. Why have this one sided argument? His life was here. Hers was in Atlanta.

She walked to the sofa, opened her laptop, and studied the requests. Six for a full detailed twelve month forecast. Fifteen short readings and three commercial. She'd start with the latter, then the regular and save the yearly inquiries for last. That left time to shop before getting Emma. Picking up the tarot deck from the coffee table, she shuffled the cards and turned the first one.

By noon, she'd emailed all the results. On a regular day, right now, she'd be with Jackson, searching for something to focus on other than his deep dimples, broad shoulders... Get a grip.

Why couldn't she stop thinking about him? That damn almost kiss. Get control. You're acting like a love sick school girl. She closed her eyes and blocked the thoughts. Cookies. Yeah. Concentrate on those.

Grabbing her shopping list from the counter, she picked up her purse and headed to the store. As she put the Lexus in reverse, across the street, sat the same silver car from the night before.

Odd. Or maybe not. No need to let her imagination get the best of her. Her plate was already full with big helpings of grief, parenthood, counseling, and lust. She should skip the side of paranoia.

Driving three blocks, a bright pink sign caught her attention. Without thinking she pulled to the curb, killed the engine and approached the grungy, unshaven man sitting next to a cardboard box.

Inside, four of the cutest fuzzy animal babies lay in a tangled heap.

Scruffy man rose from the lawn chair. "I can tell you need a kitten."

She leaned for a closer look and picked up a black one. Last year, after temporarily cat-sitting for a friend, Greer considered getting her own. She'd not thought of that in a while, but perhaps a kitten would be a nice distraction. "He's cute, or is it a girl?"

The man reached into the box, chose the remaining black kitty and raised its tail. "Boy. The rest are girls. They're a lot happier if you get a pair. Take two and I'll throw in a sack of litter."

"I'd better not. I don't even know why I stopped." Instead of putting the fur ball back with the others, she reached for the girl, and hugged them close. They didn't squirm to get away, just purred against her as if they belonged there.

"Seven weeks old today. Already eating dry food and box trained. Be a nice surprise for your kids."

Couldn't argue with that. Emma would be delighted and Greer recalled all the conversations she'd had with Nova's cats. They were good companions.

The dude continued his sales pitch. "Research shows people with pets live longer."

Who was this guy? He needed to be in marketing.

"They're great company for single parents."

She jerked her head toward him. "What makes you think I'm a single parent?"

"No ring and you didn't correct me when I mentioned your kids."

"You're observant."

"Yeah, I am." He nodded and gazed over her shoulder. "Just like I noticed that silver Chevy followed you here."

She turned toward the familiar vehicle with the dark windows and decided enough was enough. She'd give the occupant a piece of her mind. With kittens in tow, she started across the street. But before she took three steps, the driver pulled from the curb and sped away.

Returning to the bearded guy, she held the animals toward him.

He threw his hands in the air and backed away. "Sorry, lady. All sales final. No returns."

"What? I didn't agree to take them."

"You left the sales area, so they're yours."

She tried to replace the felines, but he stepped in front of her.

"Hey! You distracted me with the car."

"Yeah, about that. Attack cats might be what you need. You recently breakup with a guy?"

"No, and I don't think these qualify as body guards, but nice try." She side stepped, but he moved with her.

He cocked his head. "Wanted by the FBI?"

"No."

"Having an affair?"

"None of your business, but absolutely not."

"Then why are you being followed?"

A shiver ran up her spine. Valid question. Why would anyone tail her? They wouldn't. But she was in Ava's car, and the resemblance to her sister was uncanny. However, any detective worth their fee should know about Ava's death. She stepped around Cat Man.

He removed his hounds tooth Crimson Tide cap and ran his fingers through his long white hair. "Wait. Let's make a deal."

She eyed him. "What kind of deal?"

"You take the cats, and I'll give you the license number of that car so you can check it out."

She mulled the proposal in her head for a minute. Could a regular citizen find out, or would a call to the FPD be necessary? Was she convinced someone was watching her? Okay. An eerie feeling had plagued her for a few days and she had seen the same car on her street more than once.

Distracted by a kitten licking her finger, she stared at them. They were precious and Emma would be happy. And if there was one thing Greer was sure of, it was the desire to bring joy into her niece's life. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'll take them."

Even though the guy was a point below her trashy taste in men, he wasn't bad looking when he smiled. "Thanks, lady. Let me get that litter and number for you."

She opened the trunk of her car, and in a few seconds, he laid the bag inside, took a pen from his pocket, and jotted on the sack. "Thanks a lot."

"You're welcome—I guess."

Pet ownership changed plans. Instead of grocery shopping, she drove the half hour to Spanish Fort and angled the Lexus into a parking space at PetSmart. With one hand, she hiked her purse over her shoulder and with the other, clutched the new family members to her chest.

Beds, feeding dishes, food, litter box, were just a few of the items needed. She'd also make appointments for shots and flea treatments. An infestation of any kind turned a potential home buyer off in a hurry.

Once she accomplished all that, she'd head home and get the surprise set up in the laundry room. Later, she and Emma would shop for kitten toys.

On the way to the car, Greer counted the silver Chevy's in the parking lot. Six from her vantage point. There must be hundreds in Fairhope and thousands in the eleven mile distance between Fairhope and Spanish Fort. Seeing two in the last twenty-four hours didn't mean she was under surveillance. That was ridiculous. She wasn't even sure if the one from yesterday was a Chevy. Cars looked the same. Besides, there were plenty of reasons for a driver to pull over.

Buckling her safety belt, she glanced at the passenger seat where the black balls curled in their new bed. "Do y'all think I'm being paranoid?" They didn't move. She picked one up and dangled it in midair. "Did you hear me? Am I crazy town or what?"

The cat yawned.

"And I'm talking to a cat. I have boarded crazy train."

Kitty ran her tongue across Greer's finger in response.

Two hours later, she stood at the kitchen sink and gazed into the backyard where Emma and best friend, Katie sat at a small picnic table and pretended to drink tea from pink plastic cups. They'd spent thirty minutes getting into costume. Hats, feather boas, tutus, strings of colored beads, and long, dangling earrings. Each held a cup in one hand, pinkie extended for effect, while the other clutched a kitten.

Emma fluttered her lashes, bright teal eye shadow blinking like a neon bar sign. She puckered her painted red lips and planted a tight smooch on the kitten's mouth. Katie put her drink on the saucer and twirled a strand of pearls around her finger, then threw her head back and laughed as if Emma had told a joke. Over-dressed and weighed down with Maybelline, they resembled two miniature hookers.

Bedazzled with rhinestone bracelets around their necks, and bows on their tails, the kittens didn't fare much better.

Tears filled Greer's eyes and for the first time, she realized how it felt to be a mother. No words to describe it other than her heart expanded...bigger...fuller....softer. As if fluffed up like a feather pillow and set out in the sunshine.

Her cell phone rang and jarred the daydream away. She sucked in a deep breath. Even the sight of his name excited her, and as much as she wanted to see him and talk to him, she should ignore the call. No question. She'd turned over a new leaf. Stay away from temptation. Hell, he'd probably delivered sermons on that subject. She slid the touch screen to answer and placed the cell to her ear. So much for avoiding sin.

"Hey. What are you doing?"

"I thought we might grab a burger."

Crap. She'd not even gone one day without seeing him. "What did you do before I invaded your life?"

"I don't know what that means, because I don't consider you an invasion. If you don't want to go, just say so."

Anger edged his tone, and the last thing she wanted was to make her only friend mad, but the bond she and Emma had formed with him wasn't healthy. "I'm sorry. That came out wrong. I'm already intruding enough with our lunch meetings."

"Some other time, then."

Now he sounded hurt. Crap. Maybe he'd had a bad day and needed a distraction. For once, she could offer him the same support he'd given her. "Don't hang up. Why don't you bring burgers? Emma has new kittens and I'm sure she doesn't want to leave them."

"Great. I know how you like yours, but what about Sweet Pea?"

"She has a visitor, so get two small cheeseburgers, dry, no veggies and fries. I have drinks."

"Be there in twenty minutes."

He clicked off. Greer pressed the phone to her chest. She sucked at making resolutions.

By the time he arrived, she'd touched up her makeup, redone her hair, and changed into a fresh shirt. One with less cat hair.

Standing in the doorway, early evening light bathed him in amber glow. He looked like a ticket to eternal damnation and she wanted to book that trip. He embodied every secret fantasy she'd had. A man like him could make her forget all the high school guys who'd considered her weird, the college jocks only interested in getting into her pants, and all the bad boys she'd settled for because she didn't want to risk heartbreak.

"Gonna invite me in, or leave me standing here?"

"Huh? Oh. Sorry. I lost my train of thought. Sure, come in."

To her relief, he didn't question what thoughts were going on in her head, and that was a good thing. Because she'd hate to tell him.

He put the bags on the counter. "So kittens, huh? What brought that on?"

"I had a moment of weakness. Emma and her friend Katie have them in the backyard."

He grinned and headed that direction and Greer followed. When he pushed the door open, Emma yelled and ran toward him, jewelry, curls, and feathers bouncing. Stringing her words together, she tried to tell him everything at once.

"Father Jackson! Look at my new kittens! Aunt Greer surprised me. One's a boy and one's a girl." She pointed behind her. "That's my friend, Katie! She's going to sing in the talent show." She shoved her pet toward him. "You want to hold her?"

He took the animal, held it in one hand and stroked it with the other. Damn, he had nice hands. Greer's pulse kicked up as another wicked idea popped into her head. Pressing fingertips to temples, she massaged the notion away.

Jackson handed the pet back to Emma. "What'd you name it?"

"See this little white spot on her toe? That's how you can tell she's the girl. Her name is Medusa. Aunt Greer told me a bedtime story about her. She was ugly, but then beautiful, and she had snakes for hair. If you looked at her, you'd turn to stone."

He faced Greer standing in the open doorway and the corner of his mouth curled.

It was difficult to keep pure thoughts in the presence of those killer dimples.

Emma put her hand on his cheek and turned his face back to her. "Yeah, and we named the boy Mordecai, because that goes good with Medusa and it's from the Bible."

Jackson swallowed hard. "The Bible, huh?"

"Yeah, we looked it up and everything. Aunt Greer said he had a strong moral code, and the king favored him. Do you like it?"

"I do. Are you going to call him Morty?"

Emma fell into a giggling fit. "No. Not Morty! Mordecai."

"Mordecai, it is. I brought you girls' burgers, so you should come inside and eat."

Greer stepped away to get the food ready and when she turned around, Jackson stood so close, heat radiated off his body in a steady stream. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know you were there."

He pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear and let his fingers linger. "Greer."

He spoke her name as if it were a prayer. If he made a move on her, she'd be a goner. She stared at a button on his shirt. "What?"

"I need to tell you something."

Oh, God. She knew what was coming. The longing looks. The almost kiss. The way he touched her hair. All the signs were there, and even though she wanted him, he deserved better. A woman who could help in his career instead of hurt it. Who loved this city as much as he did. A person who wasn't trying to figure out her new life, but was stable and confident.

"Yeah, I need to talk to you, too. I think we should stop meeting for lunch. You're getting too involved with us, and that's not good. It'll make things harder for Emma when we leave. I appreciate all you've done, but I can't let it go on. I still want you to take her to the dance. If you will."

His expression broke her heart. For a fleeting moment, she wished to take it all back and tell him the truth. She was beginning to care for him. The worst possible thing that could happen if he knew it or not.

He reached for her, but she took another step back, so he dropped his arms to his sides, but before he spoke, his phone chimed. When he checked the message, he paled.

"I have to go." He walked away, but stopped and turned back to face her. "This conversation isn't over." Then he stepped outside and slammed the door behind him.

Watching his truck disappear, she never remembered being more alone.

---------------------------------

So Greer is definitely being followed.

By Halley, maybe? Who knows :P

What text do you think Jackson received that made him leave so suddenly?

Til next time,

x zuz