Miracle On 5th Avenue (From Manhattan with Love 3)

“The green one? I’ve been looking everywhere for that!” She started taking off her coat and he reached out and stopped her.

“What are you doing?”

“I’m going to wrap my coat around him to give him extra warmth.”

“It’s not going to help him if you die of hypothermia.” Lucas unbuttoned his own coat and tucked the puppy inside. Immediately he felt the chill of its damp body soak through his sweater. “Let’s go.”

“So now you’ve ruined your cashmere coat and your cashmere sweater.” Eva peered anxiously at the puppy to check he could breathe. “Is this your way of making it up to me?”

“No. I have other ideas for that but we’ll talk about those later.”

* * *

The vet had already been called by Fliss and saw them immediately.

“Dogs can get frostbite, just like humans.” He examined the puppy thoroughly and the dog started to whimper. “This guy survived because he was left by the tree, which provided at least some shelter.”

“What about the blood?”

“He has a small cut. There was probably something with a sharp edge under the snow. Twig? Stone?” The vet gave him some shots and then glanced up as a young woman burst into the room. Her coat was open and she was wearing a bright red scarf around her neck. Her hair was silver blond and caught back in a ponytail. It was obvious from the vet’s relaxed smile that he knew her. “Hi, Harry. How’s Fliss? Did she get over the flu? She sounded better on the phone.”

“She’s good, thanks. Sends her love and wanted me to tell you that Midas is doing really well since his operation. She’s bringing him back for a checkup next week. How is this little guy doing?” She smiled briefly at Eva but then turned her attention back to the dog. “Fliss told me about your call so I thought I’d come down and see if I could help. Aren’t you a cutie…” She stroked the puppy’s ears gently and he instantly stopped yowling and pushed his nose into her hand. “You poor baby. You’re safe now. It’s lucky Eva found you. What were you doing in the park, Ev?”

“I was building a snowman.”

“No, I mean why aren’t you in Brooklyn? I assumed you’d be going crazy organizing Christmas events.” Harry kept her hand on the puppy’s head, reassuring him as the vet finished his examination.

“I’m working around here for a couple of weeks. Cooking, helping with Christmas preparations, that kind of thing. This is Lucas. Lucas, this is Harriet Knight. She is one half of The Bark Rangers.”

“The Bark Rangers?” He remembered where he’d heard the name before. “You’ve helped my grandmother out a few times.”

Harry unwrapped her scarf from her neck with her free hand. “We have?”

“Mary Blade.”

Harriet’s eyes widened. “You’re the Lucas? Lucas Blade, the crime writer? Fliss is going to be so mad that she didn’t come down here with me. She has all your books. She loves your work. She and Frankie are rabid fans.” She smiled at the vet. “Probably shouldn’t use that phrase here, should I?”

“Lucas Blade?” The vet glanced up briefly, surprise on his face. “I’m a fan, too.”

Harriet was still stroking the dog’s ears. “If I’d known, I could have bought a book for you to sign. I have no idea what to get Fliss for Christmas. She’s impossible to buy for. That would have been perfect.”

Lucas caught Eva’s gaze. “I’ll sign a book for you,” he said. “I assume Eva has your address?”

“She does. You’d seriously do that? Thank you. That’s so generous.” Harriet held the dog while the vet finished his examination. “Well?”

The vet checked the dog’s ears. “I don’t think he had been in the park for long. A few hours at most, I’d guess.”

Harriet smoothed the puppy’s head. “I’m going to take you home and give you a lovely warm bed, and tomorrow I’ll contact the animal adoption center.”

“You’ll take him?” Eva looked doubtful. “Fliss said you were already fostering puppies.”

“I am, but Fliss is home recovering from the flu so she can help me. And anyone who spent the night out in the park last night deserves some home comforts. I can tell you, too, that this little guy will be rehomed fast. He’s adorable.”

Lucas watched as Eva stroked the puppy’s head. The yearning look in her eyes tugged at something deep inside him.

After all the conversations they’d shared, he knew that the death of her grandmother had left a deep void in her life. She was looking for a way to fill it. She wanted love because she thought love was something beautiful and simple.

He knew better. Love was messy and complicated and full of pain. It had sharp edges and a dark side and he wanted nothing to do with it ever again. Which was why he hadn’t touched her since that first night. He knew now that she was vulnerable and lonely. It would be too easy for her to fall for him, and he wasn’t going to do that to her.