Divine Phoenix(Divine Creek Ranch 10)(56)

He wanted to remove every hindrance to Lily coming to a place where she could finally commit her heart. Actually, her heart wasn’t the main obstacle. He understood that the tattoo was a big hindrance for her. But the notion that she had to change herself for him was his main obstacle now.

He knew remodeling the house was a big dream, but would she still feel the same if she knew how he felt? With regard to the night before, everything had been fine that morning. She hadn’t made a big deal out of his laid-back reaction to her needing to keep things casual.

He got up from his stool and walked to the bulletin board and stood looking at the sign. He heard the doorbell jingle out in the showroom as he pulled the pushpins from the corkboard. He took down the blue printed sign and tore it in half and then in half again.

“Well, it’s about time!”

He turned at Tabitha’s words, just in time to catch her as she threw her buxom body into his arms. “What—”





Chapter Thirteen




“It’s about time you came to your senses, Clay Cook!” She clung to him like a sticker burr as she laid her freshly glossed lips on his in a hard, deep, smacking kiss. Clay froze, his eyes went wide, and his sinuses reacted violently.

“Tabitha!”

She clung to him with her arms wrapped around his neck. “Oh, Clay! I knew if I just gave you time, you’d see reason. I saw how she threw herself into Del’s arms. She should be ashamed. I’m here for you. I’ve always been here for you!” She pecked his face over and over until it felt like he’d been painted with sticky finger paints.

“Tabitha—” The burning in his nose was ferocious, and he knew the sneezing and waterworks were only seconds away.

“It’s all right! I forgive you!”

“Tabitha, stop! Please!” His handkerchief came out just in time. “Achoooo!”

“Oh, you poor baby!” Tabitha patted his shoulder and ruffled her sweater, sending more cat hair flying into the air. “Let me help you!” She pulled her Kleenex from the sleeve of her cat hair infested sweater and patted the tears on his face and tsked. “Oh, it’s okay, Clay! I forgive you! Don’t cry!”

I’m dying! Kill me now!

Tabitha continued patting his face with her Kleenex, succeeding in plastering more cat hair to the lip gloss she’d “smooched” all over his face. Her lack of personal boundaries was disturbing. Was she going to spit on her Kleenex next to wipe the lip gloss she’d gotten all over his face? A chill went up his spine at the thought.

He remembered the inhaler and nasal spray Emma had given him and went to his workbench, sneezing his head off. The wheezing had begun, and he was relieved he had the inhaler to rely on.

Tabitha continued fluttering around him as he pawed through the drawers in the workbench. “Tabitha, stop. I’m having an allergy attack.”

“Oh.” Tabitha flapped her hands and sounded concerned as she continued patting him and trying to touch his face. “You should go to the doctor again. That Emma Guthrie doesn’t know what she’s doing. She didn’t cure you at all last time. You should go to my doctor. He could tell you what you’re allergic to so you could avoid it.”

Clearing his throat, Clay replied, “I know what I’m allergic to, Tabitha.” He tried to rein in his responses because he didn’t want to bite her head off. That wouldn’t help anything.

“Well, what is it you’re allergic to?”

He took a deep breath. “In a word, Tabitha? You. You have several cats. You always have cat hair on your clothing. I’m really allergic to cat hair and cat dander.”

Tabitha looked as though he’d Tased her. “Me? You’re allergic to me? Oh, no! What do we do?”

Clay shook his head. “It’s fine as long as we keep each other at arm’s length. I can deal with it.”

Tabitha seemed to mull that over and with a trembling lip said,

“What if I got rid of the cats? Would that make it better?” She reached for his shirtfront, but he held his hands out to stop her.

“It would. But I don’t expect that from you. Just…keep your distance.” The cat hair tickled around his nose where it had stuck, and he sneezed again.

“But I can’t do that, knowing how you feel now. I’d give up Mister Willy and Missus Pookie for you, Clay.”

Clay held up a hand, realizing she didn’t understand and wasn’t going to take the hint. He could hear the wheezing in his upper airway as he spoke. “Tabitha, listen to me.”

“Okay.” She ruffled and overlapped the front of her cardigan again, bringing on another flurry of sneezes.