“Do you need to file a report?” I ask.
“There’s nothing illegal about being an asshole, or I would.” She shrugs. “I’ll be fine.”
I hesitate. If I had a woman like this one expecting my child, I wouldn’t dream of treating her that way. She squeezes my arm, and the blood rushes straight down. I swallow and think of the cold waiting for me outside. What kind of pervert gets a hard-on for a pregnant woman he just rescued from an asshole ex? Apparently, me.
“Well, Happy Christmas then.” I nod and push my cart away before I embarrass myself. Maybe I need something more substantial than wine tonight. I whittle down time, placing things I don’t need in my cart until the woman leaves. When her black SUV pulls out of the parking lot, I head to the front, assured the asshole blond wasn’t lurking outside in wait.
“Well, it’s a Christmas Eve to remember, that’s for sure,” the dark-haired cashier says. The white ball on the tip of her Santa hat sways as she shakes her head.
“I can’t say I’ve ever had one like it before.”
“You’re lucky then. The holidays always bring the crazy out in people.” She continues to ring up and bag my items with an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “It was nice of you to step in.”
“I was just doing what any decent bloke would do.”
“You’d think that. But I know better. That’ll be $56.78.”
I hand over my credit card and glance at the snow falling faster outside. Gathering my bags, I offer the tired cashier a smile.
“Happy Christmas.”
“Same to you.”
I crank the heat inside of the car, letting it warm up before I pull out of the parking space and ease onto the slick streets. I’m nearly home when a tiny shape darts out into the road.
“Damn it.” I can’t leave any animal out there. Pulling to the side of the road, I park and step out, scanning the quickly growing snowdrifts. A flash of brown and black catches my eyes. I follow the prints illuminated by my headlights. They step under a bench. I duck down cautiously, unsure of the animal’s state of mind. The tiny beagle peers up at me warily.
“What are you doing out here, bud?” I kneel down, ignoring the cold seeping into my trousers.
“Can you come here?” The pup cranes its neck and scoots forward. “That’s it. You don’t want to stay out here in the cold, do you? No.” I keep my tone even as I hold out my hand. The pup sniffs my fingers a few times before he licks them. “I’m taking that as personal approval. Let’s get you warm.” Scooping him up into my arms, I move back to my car. I don’t have anything for a puppy.
“Looks like we’re headed back to another store, but you’re worth it.” I lift him up before wrapping him with the blanket I keep in the backseat. “Huh, boy? I wonder who you belong to.” He has a collar but no tag to identify him. “I bet someone is worried a
bout you.” Unless he’s an abandoned Christmas gift. It happens more than people would imagine, but not until a little after the holidays usually.
“Neither of us will be alone for Christmas now.”
Chapter Two
Faye
I lower my head and ignore the flurries hitting the small sliver of skin left bare around my eyes. They’re melted as soon as they land by the heat of my skin and the tears I can’t stop shedding. I’ve had Monty for less than twenty-four hours, and I’ve already lost him. My chest aches as another sob builds. I’d been plastering the streets with lost posters for the past two hours, pausing only to thaw out in my car. I could call Warren, but the shame stops me. I don’t want to pull him away from the family or admit how incapable I am. One minute, Monty was chasing his tail, circling around my ankles, and the next, he streaked out of the gap in the door Preston created as he tried to shoulder his way in.
I might’ve caught him if Preston hadn’t blocked me with his massive frame. I’d never felt so powerless in my life. By the time I shoved him out of my way, my new puppy was long gone. The precious time I wasted going back to get my jacket and boots allowed him to run even farther. I couldn’t blame him for fleeing when Preston had been yelling like a maniac. Just thinking about the infuriating man had me seeing red. Taking a deep breath, I staple another poster onto a telephone pole and move back toward my car.
The muscles in my lower back throb and I feel chilled to the bone. I can’t keep this up much longer. It’s not healthy for the baby or me. But the thought of Monty out there alone is a physical ache I can’t ignore. Trudging back through inches of snow, I slide into my car and peel the gloves from my stiff fingers. Rubbing my palms together, I hold them up to the hot air shooting from the vents. I could try driving around, but visibility against the white snow still coming down was poor at best. I have to do something.
Sufficiently warmed, I pull out of the parking lot and onto the street, driving slowly as I circle the neighborhood watching for any signs of Monty. My phone rings, and I frown at the unfamiliar number. Answering via Bluetooth, I know I’m going to lose it if it’s a telemarketer.
“Hello?”
“Is this Faye?”
What is it with delicious-sounding British men tonight?
“You called me. Shouldn’t you know?”
“Right. My name is James, and I think I found your dog, Monty.”