Never Tired of Mr. Leon's Love

Lucy's coughing fit finally subsided as she accepted the water from Cillian. She downed it in one swift gulp. She then shot him a mock accusing glare. "This is all your fault. I wouldn't have choked if I hadn't been talking to you!"

Looking at her playful stare, Cillian could not help but feel a tad sheepish. He averted his eyes.

The rest of the dinner passed in peaceful silence, with both of them finishing their meal without further incident.

After dinner, Lucy rose to clear the dishes, but Cillian stopped her. "Leave the dishes to me. You head upstairs, relax a bit, and maybe take a nap-whatever you like."

Lucy touched her cheek, feeling a bit guilty. "I can't let you cook and clean. I'll be totally spoiled at this rate."

With a resigned shake of his head, Cillian insisted, "You shouldn't be dealing with water and soap. That'll roughen your hands, and not even the best hand cream will be able to fix that." Lucy always marveled at how thoughtful Cillian was. He was the epitome of a caring guy.

As she was about to compliment him on being such a wonderful person, something yanked at her pant leg. Glancing down, she discovered a charming munchkin kitten with its stubby legs. After its little tug, the kitten sprawled out, claiming Lucy's shoes as its new resting spot.

Lucy's high heels were a precarious perch for the adventurous kitten that had clambered onto her shoes. Unable to reach the ground with its front paws, the kitten let out a couple of distressed meows. The sound tugged at Lucy's heartstrings.

She bent down, scooped up the little furball, and gazed into its eyes with warmth. "What brought you to me, you little troublemaker?" she cooed.

Just then, the little girl called Britney burst from her room. "Lucy, there you are with Little Milton! I've been searching everywhere for him. He seems to really like you, even though he's usually so shy around people."

Lucy was taken aback, holding the kitten that seemed anything but shy. She had assumed from its antics that it was a real cuddle bug.

Noticing Lucy's fondness for Little Milton, Britney's eyes twinkled mischievously. She dashed back to her room and returned with something in her hand, which she pressed into Lucy's.

"If you're fond of Little Milton, take him for a stroll. He's been super restless, probably because I skipped our walk today."

Lucy examined the leash in her hand. "Is that okay?"

Britney nodded enthusiastically. "Absolutely, I trust you!"

With a smile, Lucy secured the leash on Little Milton and waved goodbye. "Off we go, then!"

Behind her, Britney called out, "Enjoy your playtime!"

The Charleston evening was just settling in at 5:30 pm, the sky still tinged with light. A refreshing breeze made it perfect for the joggers out and about. Lucy enjoyed the comfortable weather.

She was one of the few who ventured out with a pet at that hour. She guessed most owners had already taken their furry friends for a morning stroll.