Regardless of his intentions though, she still couldn’t condone Ward’s actions. Though she couldn’t deny how him defending her so gallantly had made her feel.

Oh, for goodness’ sake stop it! She threw her head back against the cushion propped behind her and then heard a demanding cry.

A moment later, a light weight settled at the end of the couch where her feet were and made the journey up to her chest. A pair of speckled blue eyes met her gaze head-on and the cat tilted its head slightly as if to say, ‘What’s the problem now?’

Hannah raised her eyebrows. ‘I think you must sense when I’m in crisis since you always seem to turn up when I need a friend.’ Then, realizing she was going crazy, she shook her head. ‘Or maybe I am turning into a crazy cat lady.’ Her thoughts then turned to her next-door neighbour, thinking at this point she too could subscribe to the appeal of becoming a recluse.

The note that appeared before she’d headed off to the awards ceremony had not been from Ed, but a written apology from Bruno. The doorman was inconsolable that he’d allowed Rob to sweet-talk him into letting him upstairs, her ex insisting that calling ahead to announce his arrival would ruin the romantic surprise he’d planned.

While Hannah couldn’t deny that she was annoyed about it, Bruno was such a sweetheart that she could hardly be angry with him. So while Hannah was pleased that the ruckus with Rob hadn’t changed Ed’s mind about her, it didn’t help that her entire New York move had descended into complete disaster and her future still hung in the balance.

Feeling dejected and emotional, she pulled the cat closer to pet its ears and ran a finger down its silky back. For once it didn’t shrink away or baulk at the contact, and instead purred under her palm, pressing into it.

The simple show of affection was all it took for her to succumb, and she sat in the dark with the animal and allowed herself a little sob, as she contemplated the mess that was once again her life.

Chapter 64

WARD

Ward was sure that he was starting to wear a trench in the hardwood floors of his place from pacing back and forth. Pausing, he picked up his phone for the hundredth time and glanced at the screen.

Several missed calls – press, Johnny, a couple of nosy teammates, his mom – but nothing from the only person he wanted to hear from.

He went to his call log and selected the last person he’d contacted an hour ago … and then an hour before that. Not surprisingly, it went directly to Hannah’s voicemail – again.

He let out a growl of frustration and resumed pacing.