What in the world…it had something to do with the cat. Pierce had taken one look and had simply fallen apart.
Celine rushed back outside and deposited the cat on the grass. Then she dashed back inside where Kylie stood staring at Pierce, her eyes wide with distress. He still crouched on the floor, his body shaking.
Celine ran over to kneel beside him. “Pierce,” she cried out, touching his back. “What’s wrong?”
He didn’t respond and curled even tighter as if to get away from her hands.
Celine hopped up and reached for the phone. She needed help. She began to dial 911.
It didn’t take much for Celine to realize that Pierce had a severe phobia to cats. With the help of a paramedic on the phone she was able to calm him so the violent shudders ceased and his gasping breath grew deep and steady again. She’d grabbed the kitchen towel and with it she dabbed at the perspiration that had settled on his brow then she wrapped her arm around his shoulder.
It was only when Pierce was back to normal that Celine removed her arm. He lifted his head and looked at her with a mixture of gratitude and embarrassment. Then he asked for Kylie but Celine had whisked her away to the den and switched on the Disney channel, effectively removing her from the scene of Pierce’s distress.
“Thanks,” he said, his voice hoarse and strained.
Celine shook her head, still reeling from what had just happened. “No, Pierce. Don’t thank me. I almost killed you by bringing that cat into the house.” She felt so full of guilt her heart hurt.
He shook his head and gave her a reassuring smile. “No, you didn’t. And anyway, how could you have known?”
They were silent for a while. Then she asked the question uppermost in her mind. “Why are you so afraid of cats?”
“I think it had to do with an incident when I was an infant. My mother told me she had a pet cat before I was born and when she gave birth and took me home the cat seemed to go crazy.” He chuckled. “It must have pissed her off that she wasn’t the center of attention any more. Mom said she used to hiss at me all the time as I lay in my crib and once she even took a swipe at me. Scratched me on the arm.”
“What?” Celine said, indignant. “Didn’t your parents get rid of her?”
“Eventually they did but not before she did lasting damage. Since then I haven’t been able to look a cat in the eye without seizing up.”
“Oh, Pierce. I can’t imagine what that must be like.”
“Hey, it’s not that bad,” he said with a shrug. “I just stay away from them and all is well with the world.”
“Until today,” she said.
“Until today.” But he was smiling at her now, back to his old self, the confident green-eyed Pierce that she loved.
And after what had happened today she felt she loved him even more. She’d always seen him as so bold, powerful and invincible - the billionaire businessman, always in control. Now she’d seen another side to him, a side that was vulnerable, a side that needed her. She’d been able to take him in her arms and comfort him and her strength had been his. For once she’d felt that she’d been the one giving, not receiving.
A half hour later the three of them sat down to Pierce’s meal of macaroni and cheese from the box, fried chicken made by his own hands and a salad. He couldn’t take credit for the salad since Celine had been the one to rescue the lettuce, wash it and prepare it. After his ordeal Pierce had not been up to any more challenges in the kitchen.
After a surprisingly delicious meal considering that it had been made by a near novice, Celine found the kitten and boxed her up while still outdoors then she drove to the shelter where she handed her over to the care of the staff there.
That night after putting Kylie to bed Celine went back downstairs to check on Pierce. She was being something of a mother hen but she couldn’t help it. Today the protective instinct in her had been triggered and now it was working overtime.
She found him in his usual place of refuge, the den. “All is well?” she asked peeping in.
He was leaning back in the sofa, feet up on the ottoman and when he saw her he smiled. “All is well. Well in my world, at least.” When she hesitated in the doorway he waved her over. “Come. Sit.”
Celine smiled to herself. Giving orders, as usual.
Last time she’d been in this room alone with Pierce she’d sat on the seat farthest away from him. Tonight she went and sat on the sofa. He raised his eyebrows but said nothing. He simply scooted over to give her more room.
She relaxed in the couch and looked at him. He was dressed casually in gray sweatpants and a light cotton shirt. When decked out in his suits Pierce was immaculate but at home he was totally relaxed and casual. She liked that.
“Pierce, do you mind if I ask you something?” she asked.
“Sure. Go ahead.”
“Earlier today you mentioned your mother. Why doesn’t she come over to visit?”
“I wish she could,” Pierce said. “My parents decided to retire in Hawaii. I talk to them every few days but as you can imagine visits take some advance planning, particularly with my busy schedule.
“And your brothers and sisters. What about them?”
“No brothers, one sister. Happily married, living in San Diego with her husband and two kids.” He gave her a smile of amusement. “Anything else you want to know?”
She groaned inwardly. She’d been Miss Nosy Parker again.
“Don’t worry, I’m not offended. Flattered, actually. What makes you want to know about my family?”
She glanced at him then looked away again, a sudden shyness seizing her. “I just want to know more about you.”
He seemed pleased at that and her heart soared. She really did want to get to know Pierce and she had so little time. The end of the summer was fast approaching. When she left his home she wanted to take all these memories of him with her. “What were you like as a boy?”
He chuckled. “Very much a geek. I was the kid with the glasses who was always hanging around the computer lab begging to be allowed to create new programs.”