Page 55 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Seven

Their relationship was…odd. She didn’t like him. He bullied his staff, thought he could change Mac’s restaurant to fit his own vision, and didn’t believe in Christmas. Or dogs. He was cold and a bit arrogant.

Yet, she was aware of a simmering electricity underneath the surface as they traded barbs. Her body definitely recognized he was an attractive man. All that graceful polish and those gorgeously sculpted features were impossible to deny. The body under those classic suits seemed lean and muscled. Even more intriguing?

She’d caught the flash of a tattoo above his wrist, glimpsed as he shot his cuffs.

Jameson Franklin didn’t seem interesting enough to get a tat. She wondered what it said or if it meant anything to him?

Devon wondered why she cared.

Shaking off her thoughts, she made a quick stop at the animal shelter to check in. The loss of Judith had thrown everyone into panic mode, and they were short staffed. Foot traffic was extremely low at her shop in the afternoon, so shetexted Pandora to hang out an extra hour. Might as well see if she could help out.

The sound of sharp barking hit her ears at the same time the smell of disinfectant drifted to her nostrils. The animal shelter was small but mighty, housing an array of cats and dogs who desperately needed homes. Various kennels were set up, with personal touches to try and make the animals calm, including toys, bones, old blankets, and some pillows. A few couches were set up in the play room where they could socialize when the weather was bad.

Vishya waved at her from the front desk. The older man had moved to Cape May five years ago and been a life saver for Judith. He was retired, widowed, and thrilled to spend most of his days helping with the animals. He wore his usual bright floral shirt that strained a bit at the belly and faded jeans. Usually, his face was wreathed in a smile but today he looked a bit drawn and worried. “Hi Devon. Judith is still at home.”

“I know, I figured I’d swing by to see if I can help out with anything.”

Gratitude skittered across his features. “Appreciate it, but dealing with the gala is our number one priority. You’re a savior.”

She waved the comment away. “No, you guys do the real work. Is anything wrong or is it just general stress? You look worried.”

He glanced back and rubbed his head. “Got a new dog and he’s a challenge.”

Sympathy flickered. “Biter? Aggressive?”

A short laugh escaped his lips. “Nope. The opposite. He’s terrified of the other dogs and causing a ruckus. I feel so damn bad—I haven’t seen a case like this in a while.”

“Abused?”

“Probably, we don’t know much. Found him abandoned out near Ocean Drive. Someone called it in saying a monster was sighted.”

Devon frowned. “Monster? I don’t get it.”

“He’s a bit…large. Was happy around people, a real love, but the moment he got here and saw other animals he went into panic mode. He can’t stay at the shelter and all of our fosters are full. I need to find him a place ASAP with no other animals. At least, until I can figure things out for where to place him.”

Her heart ached. She shifted back and forth on her feet. “Can I meet him? Maybe I can call around and find him a temporary home.”

Vishya’s dark eyes lit up. “I’d really appreciate it. I’ve exhausted all my contacts and so has the rest of the staff. His pic on social media has been met with crickets, not that I’m surprised. Come on, I’ll show him to you quick.”

Devon followed him back, and she greeted the other volunteers that had stopped in for the day to help with paperwork or cleaning the kennels. She passed a row of pups and the cat house until Vishya opened up the side door. “We’re keeping him in here temporarily so he has no access to the others. But he can’t stay in here—it’s the meet and greet room.”

Devon walked in, expecting a dog shaking in the corner.

Instead, the biggest dog she’d ever seen in her life cocked his head, gave her a hard three second stare, and rushed toward her.

“Bear, Bear—no, ah crap,” Vishya yelled, trying to block the progress.

But nothing was stopping Bear from getting to her. In seconds, he’d knocked her back, tail wagging, massive head bumping against her in sheer affection. She caught her breath and her balance, and began laughing. “Does he think he’s aChihuahua?” she asked, petting him while he drooled all over her pants.

“Yep. Again, he’s a people person. Pretty young, too, that’s why he’s so active. A real love but sloppy with manners.”

“I’d say sloppy period.” Her hand came away covered in dog hair, but between his wriggling butt, and large adoring eyes, in a few moments Devon was madly in love. His fur was chocolate brown with some scattered white streaks. “What breed is this?”

“English Mastiff. Hard to place. Very narrow niche of lovers for this breed.”

“Why, his size?”

Vishya nodded. “Yep. Expensive as hell. Huge food bills, vet bills, and space issues. They shed a ton and drool consistently. Plus, their life span averages about six years. Most people don’t want to get attached.”

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