Like Cats and Dogs by Kate McMurray (scary books to read TXT) 📗

by design. She was already stressed from having to push through the slow-moving crowds of tourist families gawking at the buildings and lights around them, worried she’d be late because people needed to walk five-abreast on the sidewalk.

When Lauren had first seen the website for the symposium, she’d thought learning more about how cats behaved might better inform some of the decisions she made for how the café was run, but now that she was here, she felt outclassed by the audience. Nearly everyone around her had Dr. or DVM on their badges, and she was here as just the manager of a cat café.

She hadn’t felt this silly or out of place in a while.

“There’s an empty seat over there,” said a voice to her right.

She turned and saw a handsome man—a veterinarian named Michael, according to his name badge—and smiled. “Thanks.”

“Here, come with me.”

So Lauren followed Michael to a pair of empty seats at the end of one row about eight rows back from the dais.

“Thank you for helping me find a seat. I was a little overwhelmed.”

“No problem. I’m Mike, by the way. I work at a vet clinic uptown.”

“Oh. Nice to meet you. I’m Lauren.” She deliberately withheld her credentials, because he would likely mock her, the way Caleb had when they’d first met.

Caleb had some grudging respect for her work now and he’d probably be impressed she was attending this symposium. But she didn’t want to push it too far with this stranger.

“Did you know,” said Michael, pointing to the program in his hand, “that in ancient Greece, a symposium was an event at which a bunch of men sat around drinking and talking. I guess we’ve evolved if a woman as pretty as you is allowed in.”

Lauren didn’t know what to do with that. He’d found her a seat; she didn’t owe him more than her thanks. So now he was hitting on her? Okay. She smiled, hoping the lecture would start soon. “I didn’t know that,” she said. “About the word symposium, I mean.”

“I was a classics major in college for a semester before I decided to switch to biology so I could find a job after I graduated that didn’t involve asking if you want fries with that.”

“So not only did you switch majors, but you did many years of extra schooling to get that job?”

Mike shrugged. “I liked school, what can I say?”

Well, he was annoying her now. Caleb had his faults, but his arrogance didn’t approach the smug look on Mike’s face as he grinned at Lauren.

Ugh. What the hell was up with this guy? And why couldn’t she get Caleb out of her head?

Thankfully, some music began to play and the panel for tonight’s discussion walked out onto the dais and sat behind a table. Lauren kept her gaze forward, focusing on the speakers, trying to ignore Mike.

He behaved until the talk ended.

She stood and was about to make a beeline out of the ballroom when Mike said, “This hotel has a really nice lounge on the top floor. It rotates, actually. Excellent view of the city. Can I interest you in a drink?”

It wasn’t even that Mike had behaved poorly. She just got a vibe from him she didn’t like. She opened her mouth to tell him she was seeing someone, but was she? She hated having this secret, ill-defined relationship with Caleb. On the other hand, there was no reason Mike deserved the truth, and Lauren’s thoughts were clearly tied up with another man, even if they weren’t officially seeing each other.

“You okay there?” Mike asked. “Just a drink. Not a marriage proposal.”

“Listen, Mike, it was great talking with you, but—”

“Lauren?”

Lauren turned and, as if she’d conjured him, here was Caleb. “Oh. Hi,” she said.

“I thought that was you.” Caleb planted himself beside her and thrust his hand toward Mike. “I’m Dr. Caleb Fitch. I’m a veterinarian in Brooklyn.”

“Right. Nice to meet you.” Mike shook Caleb’s hand.

“What are you doing here?” Lauren asked.

“Jenny Cartwright was a classmate of mine in vet school,” Caleb said, hooking his thumb back toward the dais. Dr. Cartwright had been one of the panelists. “I came to see her and offer moral support. You?”

“Professional development,” Lauren said, feeling a little embarrassed. She definitely didn’t belong here.

“Yeah, Jenny’s research on feline behavior is really interesting. And good for her. I wanted no part of more academia when we graduated, but she thought research was more interesting than actually practicing veterinary medicine.”

“Are you guys friends?” Mike asked.

“Neighbors, in a way,” said Caleb.

Lauren tried to mentally transmit to Caleb that she didn’t want him to say she managed a cat café, and then she felt stupid because she should take pride in her work and not feel like she didn’t belong here. She did belong. She’d understood every word of the presentation and also found the research interesting.

“So, about that drink,” Mike said.

Caleb put an arm around her, which surprised her. It felt heavy around her shoulders.

“She’s going to have to give you a rain check,” Caleb said. “She’s coming out with me now.”

Caleb’s tone was forceful and a bit possessive, leaving no room for argument.

Mike held up his hands, likely recognizing he’d just lost this territorial dispute. “All right. See you around, Lauren. Nice to meet you both.”

Once Mike took off in another direction and Caleb started to steer her toward the exit, she said, “Well, that was beastly of you.”

Caleb frowned. “Was that inappropriate? I just thought—”

“I was working out how to politely turn him down, so it’s fine, but you might as well have just peed on me for how much you acted like a caveman there.”

Caleb took his arm away. “Oh. I’m sorry. I wasn’t even thinking. You know I don’t think I own you or anything, right? I just didn’t like that guy.”

“I know. Me neither. Let’s just get out of here.”

***

The spike of jealousy that had pierced Caleb’s chest when he’d seen Lauren talking to that Mike guy in