Page 60 of The Christmas Wife

"Did you hear that?" I stiffen.

She freezes and her gaze widens. "Was that?—?"

"Max." I’m already moving. I grab her by the waist, lift her and set her aside.

She squeaks. I jump to my feet, race toward the back door. I grab the handle and the door swings open. "I swear I shut it."

Footsteps sound behind me. I turn. "Stay inside," I stab my finger at her.

"Like hell, I am." She pauses, chest heaving. Her beautiful tits rise and fall. I glance at them and my belly hardens.Shit, not the time to get distracted.

"Get back in," I growl.

"No way." She folds her arms over her chest.

More barking, this time farther away. "Fuck." I pivot, race down the steps. She follows. "Stay behind me," I growl at her over my shoulder.

Amelie juts out her chin, then nods.Thank Fuck.If she’d tried to disobey me, I’d have bodily hauled her inside and tiedher up. I shake my head, dislodging the image. Hell, if she doesn’t bring out the caveman in me. I turn, then bolt across the back garden. The light from the patio streams out. I race toward the shed, the direction from which I’d heard the barking. It’s silent now.Fuck, fuck, fuck.My heart begins to race and my pulse rate ratchets up. I slow down as I near the shed. I hear movement behind me, then she pulls abreast. "Is there someone in the shed?" she whispers.

I train my gaze on the darkened shed. The hair on the back of my neck prickles. The knot in my stomach grows. I reach the side of the shed, press myself against the wall. Amelie follows my lead. I turn, place a finger to my lips. She swallows. I hold up my hand.Don’t move,I mouth the words.

She bites the inside of her cheek, then nods. I point to myself then at the door of the shed; she jerks her chin. I turn back toward the door.Shit, wish I had some kind of weapon.I bite back a laugh as I think of her spatula. I bunch my left fist at my side. Of course, the finger on my right hand is hurt, so I won’t be much use if there is, indeed, someone inside. A whine sounds from inside the shed so I move toward it.Wait, wait.There’s no other sound inside. If there’s someone in there… Well, I’ll have to deal with it. I slip in through the crack between the door and the frame. There’s a shuffling sound, then a low bark. "Max." I feel my way across the wall, hit the switch. The lights blaze in the space. I glance around, draw in a breath.

"Oh, my God," Amelie breathes next to me.

"I told you to stay outside," I remind her.

She ignores me, takes a step forward. "Wes… Your… your clocks."

My stomach knots and a hardness winds itself around my chest. "Fuck, bloody, fuck." Almost every clock in the place has been smashed. I move forward and my loafers crunch on the glass. Shit, should have changed into my boots before I rushedout, but fuck that. I stalk forward to my table. A shuffling sounds from underneath it. I pull back the chair and a growl rips out of me.

"What happened? Where’s Max?" Amelia rushes forward. I plant my body in between her and the dog, but she’s already there. "Oh, no," she cries out, "Max."

I sink down to my haunches, reach for Max. He whines, shrinks away.Fuck."Something—more likely, someone—scared him."

The poor pup is shaking. My gut tightens and my pulse pounds behind my eyes. "I am not going to let him get away with this," I swear.

"Who? Who could do this?" Amelie’s voice is low.

"I don’t know, but you can bet your ass, I am going to find out." I lean forward, lay my hand on the side of Max’s head, "Shh, it’s okay, little guy. I’m here now. We’ll take care of you, hmm?"

Max whines, folds further into himself .

"Fuck," I swear aloud and he flinches.

"You’re frightening him."

"Don’t be silly," I growl.

Amelie squats down next to me, loses her balance and grabs at my thigh to right herself. Pinpricks of heat vibrate out from her touch. I glance at her hand, which seems too delicate, too fragile against the broadness of my leg. She leans forward, on her knees, holds out her hand. "You okay, baby?" she croons.

Max blinks up at her, then whines.Is he playing it up for her? No, he’s hurt, but why the hell did he back away from me? And why is he shuffling forward toward her?She caresses the side of his face, rubs her palm over his flank. He whimpers, then crawls toward her. She lifts him up, carefully, and cradles him. "You poor thing, are you hurt? Don’t worry, we’ll take care of you now." She turns to me, "We need to take him to the vet."

I place my hand in front of the mutt’s mouth. He blinks, then licks my fingers. "Let’s go." I rise to my feet. She follows, cuddling the dog close to her chest. His little body trembles.Why the hell didn’t he want to come to me?I frown, looking from the dog to the tiny woman who rocks him, making soothing noises in her throat. A strange feeling coils in my chest. Jealousy? A little… That the dog preferred her over me… Not that I blame him. Given a choice I’d have laid my head on her breast…and done more than just cuddle, of course.Enough, motherfucker.Best get them both out of the shed, at least. I step over the glass. "Watch out," I caution her. She glances down at the glass, places a foot between the shards. "You’re in your socks?" I swear.

"Yeah… I didn’t have time to get my shoes."

More glass shards crunch under her feet. I growl, "Fuck that." I turn and sweep up both woman and dog into my arms. She squeaks, "Put…me down." Max continues to shake.

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