“This is the one, Daddy.” Callie looked up at her father. “She loves me so much she brought me a present.”

“Then I guess we better go talk to Miz Maudie about the adoption paperwork,” Kent said. “But you have to promise me to not beg for another one.”

Callie didn’t budge from her spot on the rug. “I won’t if you’ll make a playdate with April. She likes cats just like me. I want her to come see my room and play with the kittens with me. Promise me?”

“Heaven help me,” Kent groaned, but he promised.

“Miz Maudie isn’t here. She left for lunch,” Stella said, “but I can fill out those papers for you. April, you might come on with me, and I’ll show you where they are and how to get them done.”

“I’ll be right here playing with the puppies,” Vivien said.

Callie carried the kitten into the office right behind Stella. Kent had stepped to one side, but when April passed him, her arm brushed against his. Sparks danced all around the whole room, but she took a deep breath and gave herself a lecture.

This isn’t the first time you’ve been attracted to a man, so ignore the electricity between the two of you. Besides, this is not, absolutely not, something you should even think about. He’s a lawyer, and you work in an animal shelter. He’s only humoring his daughter, so if and when he ever calls to set up a playdate, tell him you have plans.

“Okay, the adoption papers are always in this drawer,” Stella said.

The squeaking noise the drawer made brought April back to the present. “Here, April.” Stella handed three sheets stapled together at the corner to her. “I’ll tell you what to write down. Once you do one, you will know how the next time.”

When April finished, she had Kent’s address and landline and cell numbers, as well as Callie’s full name, her birthday, and what she planned to name the kitten. She gripped the pen so hard that her fingers ached when she finished. But dammit, Kent was leaning over her shoulder while she wrote, and his warm breath on her neck sent shivers up and down her spine. And that wasn’t all—remnants of his aftershave lingered in the air, filling her nostrils with something woodsy with hints of cedar and ginger all mixed up together.

“Now, Kent, you and Callie sign your names on these lines.” Stella whipped the paper around to face them. “Then we’ll make a copy for you and put these in our files.”

“When are you going to call April?” Callie asked her father as she carefully printed her name.

Kent’s cheeks turned a little pink. “Well.” He drew the word out to four syllables.