Here Kitty, Kitty! by Shelly Laurenston

twenty thousand extra there.”  He checked a few more things, then leaned back in his chair.  “She paid me back.”
    Kisa rushed in, “Champagne?”
    “Wine cellar.”
    “Chilled?”
    “Fridge in the basement.”
    “Thanks.”  She tore out of the room.
    Ban shrugged and turned back to Nik.  “Who paid you back?”
    “Who do you think?  And did you get your damn dog out of my backyard?”  Ban was the only tiger he knew who insisted on picking up strays, even dogs.  Not for a “munchie” either as their mother called it.  But for pets.  The local rescues loved him because he gave them money, helped during fund raisers, and came over to pet the cats and walk the dogs.  His brother was so weird.
    “Yes.  He’s back at my house.  And do you mean the delectable Ms. Santiago paid you back?  By the way, she can handle my puppy anytime.”
    “Angelina Santiago.  That name rolls right off the tongue, don’t it bro?”
    “I’m sure lots of things roll off the tongue when it comes to her.”
    “Sewing kit?”
    The brothers looked up to see Reena in the doorway.
    “Aunt Abby’s room, I think.”
    “Thanks.”  She disappeared.
    With a shake of his head, Nik turned and stared at his siblings.  “Let’s get this straight, shall we gentlemen.  You stay away from her.  She’s my guest.  I promised those dogs I’d take care of her.  So you two idiots back off.”
    Aleksei winked at Ban.  “I thought you didn’t want her.”
    Ban grinned back, and Nik felt his hackles rise in anger.  “Which means, big brother, she’s fair game.”
    Kisa rushed past the room, heading back where she came from.  “I took cheese and crackers too!”  Then she charged up the stairs.
    Nik didn’t know what the hell the women were up to, and he didn’t want to know.  Instead he focused on his brothers.  “She is
not
fair game.”
    “Oh, come on, Nik.  Ya can’t keep ‘em all.”
    “I don’t keep ‘em all.  And I’m not keeping this one.”
    “So we can get her when you’re done?”
    He knew his brothers would never go after his leftovers, but still…even the thought of it made him want to rip the hides from their backs.  And they knew it, too.  They knew they were getting to him.  That they were making him dangerously angry.  And they were enjoying every minute of it.
    Chap ter Seven
    Nik took the snifter of brandy Ban handed him and crashed down on his couch.  Ban joined him and Alek, and the three men dropped their big feet on Nik’s fifteen thousand dollar coffee table.  Cut from a solid piece of wood, Nik bought it because he liked it.  But he always knew that any furniture he brought into his home had to be sturdy enough to withstand the abuse of his entire family.  Like most cats, they enjoyed being comfortable.
    Alek glanced at his watch.  “It’s seven-o-five.  Where are they?”
    “What is your thing with time?”
    “I don’t like to be late, is all.”
    Ban glanced at Nik.  “Kind of uptight, ain’t he?”
    “Shut up, Ban.”
    Nik shook his head as he sipped his brandy.  He hadn’t seen her all day.  She’d been hold up in her room with his sisters for hours and, to his growing horror, he realized he’d begun missing her.  But that was her fault.  Sitting out by
his
pool, wearing those damn shorts, and looking like she truly belonged in his home.  More than any woman had a right.  Without meaning to, he swallowed his brandy with one gulp.
    Physical. 
There was nothing more to this than physical.  Angie Santiago was one hot piece of ass and all he wanted was to find out if her legs would look any better resting on his shoulders.
    The study door opened and Reena swept in.  She twirled once in the extremely tiny mini-dress she wore, then looked at her brothers.  “Well?”
    “Dang, girl,” Ban offered.  “You clean up nice.”
    “What does that mean?”
    Nik punched his brother in the head.  “He means you look nice.”
    “Well say that, then.