page52 (2/2)

There wasn’t

“Unless you’d like to have an argue—and y” With that, he placed his palher than hers and shoved the door open “After you”

She couldn’t win this battle so she sighed her frustration and entered the building

“I need to make sure we don’t let the Colonel out,” she said when they stood in front of the door of her tenth-floor apartment She turned the knob and bent to extend her hand across the entryway

Foiled, the Colonel screeched, shredding Hope’s re nerves She scooted the feline back several feet, and Rafe followed her inside Without needing to be told, he closed and locked the door behind him

The Colonel turned toward Rafe and hissed

“Sorry” To avoid a catastrophe, Hope scooped up her pet “I warned you about her She doesn’t like anyone”

“We’ll be fine”

“You’re brave She also bites and scratches”

“All that?” He turned his gaze toward the animal “She doesn’t sound all that different from her owner”

Hope winced “Am I that bad?”

“All I’ is I’m not intimidated She can do her worst”

“We’ll see” All nors were at least wary of the Colonel Soood reason

He reached to pet the cat The Colonel pulled her paw back and struck “She is feisty”

Hope stroked the cat’s head to calm her down “I tried to warn you”

“I’m enchanted already”

“You’re giving me reason to question your sanity” She put down the Colonel, who dashed to the far corner of the rooyetic, so Hope was on a constant quest to keep the anilared at thee, and she appeared ready to pounce and attack “At least we knohere she is You sure you want to wait for me?”