When he’s finished, Ralph doesn’t look all that happy. She’s got that adorable but pitiful mix of sadness and grumpiness on her face as she stares back at me like she knows how cute she looks but hates it anyway and is silently begging me to take the hat off.

I can’t help snorting at her, and although she kicks at the hat a few times with one of her back paws, I get the sense she was just trying to adjust one of her ears in it because she stops and turns to look at Declan.

He chuckles and climbs back onto the bed on Ralph’s other side so that she’s between us.

“I knew this was going to look great on you, Ralph, but I think you’re ready for Paris Fashion Week,” he says and reaches out to scratch her under her chin.

She starts to purr loudly and paces in circles beside him like she’s trying to find the perfect spot. Then she curls up beside him, her back resting against his chest, and Declan keeps petting her until her purring is so loud that it fills the room.

I stare at the two of them, unsure whether I should be offended or happy.

“You little traitor,” I say with a laugh and reach to pet her too.

This is totally unusual behavior for her, both the hat and the way that she’s cuddled up next to Declan.

Maybe she’s falling for him too. It isn’t that hard to believe—because she isn’t the only one.

I move closer to the two of them, sandwiching Ralph between us, and we continue petting her until she finally gets bored and jumps out from between us to trot off the bed.

“She has intimacy issues,” I joke, and Declan laughs.

“She probably has the right idea though. I’ve lost all track of how long we’ve been in here. You hungry?”

“Yeah, I could eat.”

“Then I’ll whip something up for us. Come on.” He climbs out of bed, pulling his pants back on.

My clothes are on the floor too, but I spot his shirt first and roll out of bed to grab it and throw it over my head. When he glances over and sees me in it, a beaming smile splits his face.

“As much as I love seeing you naked, I could get used to seeing you wearing that too,” he says as he saunters over to me and pulls me into him to kiss me. I linger in it for a few seconds, feeling every inch of my body responding to his kiss and touch, but pull back before we’re tempted to tumble back into bed. Declan smirks. “Right. We’ve got dinner to make.”