“I understand.” I reached over and squeezed Hannah’s hand.

“Let’s move on.” Audrey marched ahead, but it took me a good moment to unstick my feet from the floor.

Something in that cat’s eyes called to me, and I was afraid to look at any others, because I feared I already knew who was supposed to be mine.

Next, I met a big fluffy ginger tabby named Lightwood. He was eighteen months old, playful as hell, and the perfect candidate for what I was looking for. After him was Charge, another male. He was a little older and not quite as crazy as Lightwood, but we moved on and saw three more cats who fit my preferences before Audrey clapped her hands together.

“Well? What do you think? Anyone you want to open up and see?”

I glanced at Hannah and met Audrey’s eyes.

Audrey’s smile dropped. “Isaac—”

“Please,” I asked. “She’s beautiful, Audrey, and you know I could help her.”

She took in a deep breath so harshly that her nostrils flared. “Two minutes, and if anyone asks, you’re checking her over, understand?”

I nodded once.

Hannah bounced beside me. For someone who didn’t like cats until a week ago, she was all about Spring.

Audrey lead us back over and stopped in front of her cage. Spring was lying at the back, watching us intently. Reluctantly, Audrey undid the cage door and stepped aside so I could approach her.

“Hey, Spring,” I said softly, gently reaching my hand toward her. “Aren’t you a lovely thing?”

Audrey twitched as Spring moved.

“It’s okay.” I kept my voice low and my hand near the bottom of the cage. The last thing I wanted to do was spook her now. “Here. I’m a friend.”

I waited until she moved toward me. Every step was tentative and it took her a few minutes of silence, but she stretched her neck and sniffed my hand. After she’d had a moment to do that, I moved my finger and gently smoothed the side of her face. She had a beautiful, fluffy neck ruff, and my finger glided over her thick fur.

“My goodness,” Audrey breathed.

Spring didn’t move, but she allowed me to take my finger from her neck to her ear, then to the top of her head. She didn’t move into me, but I didn’t expect her to. Distrust filled her eyes, and I was careful not to maintain eye contact for a prolonged period of time.

I didn’t want her to think I was a threat.

I was able to move from her head to stroke her entire body. Audrey watched, shaking her head in wonder, while Hannah clasped my free hand tightly.

“I want her,” I said, stilling my hand while Spring sniffed me more. “She’s mine, Audrey.”

She hesitated for a moment. “I don’t know if I can.”

“Put her down as a foster with a hold on adoption until her issues are sorted out. But I’m telling you now—she’s mine.”