He could feel her nervousness, sense an innate deeply masked fear of him, yet she stood toe to toe and threw back his challenge in his face. Not many women had the gall to do that. Maybe nurses were tough creatures after all.A quiet mewing caught his attention. Intrigued, he glided toward the small living room couch and peeked over. The sight of a mother cat nursing her two baby kittens set a small grin to his face. The girls, she called them. So protective of a little ready-made family of cats. If a woman can be that caring and devoted to a small furry animal, perhaps she could and would care for his brother with the same determination and compassion. The thought alone eased tension from his shoulders and spine. Perhaps this would work after all.No sooner had the thought hit than he quickly dismissed it. Women were lazy and liked creature comforts and a man to care for their every need, using their wiles and bodies to gain power, money, and position. But when times got hard, they would quietly stab you in the back and move on to another gullible soul without a shred of remorse.
