Page 38 of Here Comes Santa Paws

“What a sweet girl.” Maria smiled at Carol and held her hand out for a sniff.

Carol didn’t take her eyes off me as she moved her snout toward Maria’s hand.

“Let’s head this way. Once we get inside, I’ll take you to an exam room.”

Maria exuded a calm energy that hopefully helped Carol as much as it did me.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely.

Either Carol responded to my reduction in stress, or she was relieved we weren’t going in the front door because she let out a sound far too close to a resigned sigh.

Not for the first time, I wondered about her past. Was she someone’s pet before she arrived at the shelter? I figured shehad to be. Elias had told me that when he’d taken her to the vet after getting her, the vet said she was likely three or four years old and wasn’t microchipped but didn’t show evidence of having lived on the streets for long. I couldn’t understand why someone would let a dog like her go. What if they were looking for her and regretted not getting her microchipped. My gut dropped to my feet. What if someone claimed her?

I pushed that thought to the side. I was only fostering her until she found a permanent home. The purpose was for someone to find her or adopt her. Someoneotherthan me.

Once we reached the exam room, Carol squeezed between my legs and whined. I settled on one of the two chairs and rubbed her chest as she sat between my knees. Elias failed miserably at covering his smile.

Maria talked us through the exam, which I figured was for my benefit, not Elias’s. Carol’s vitals were excellent. Then she took Carol’s blood for a hormone test.

“I can do an ultrasound as well, so we can find out how many pups she’s carrying.”

Elias eagerly nodded. “Does that work for you, Roman?”

I appreciated that he asked, even though he had the ultimate call since she was a shelter dog. “Yeah. Let’s do it. Make sure there’s nothing wrong.”

Carol whined, and I scratched her ears.

“I know. You’re going to get an ultrasound, which is sort of like a gooey stomach massage. It’ll be, uh, nice?” I cleared my throat. I felt Elias’s stare on me, so I looked up. “What? I googled some stuff last night.”

He regarded me like I’d pulled a dozen puppies from a burning building. Jesus. It was just a little internet research.

Maria grinned as she looked between us. “A gooey massage. I haven’t heard that description, but I like it. I’m going to use it.Let’s get this over with so we can get her back home.” Her smile softened before she led Carol from the room.

I wanted to go with her, especially as Carol sent a mournful look my way.

Once the door closed, Elias let out a loud laugh. “She’s got you wrapped around her little paw.”

“She does not. I’m simply offering comfort to a creature in need.”

“I knew you were a teddy bear.”

I let out a low growl, not unlike the sound Carol made when upset. Elias must’ve thought so too because his grin turned shit-eating.

“You’re a big softie. And dare I say, a dog lover.”

“Knock it off.” My lips twitched.

“Maybe I should get you two matching sweaters for Christmas. Ones with each other’s faces on them.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Did she sleep in your bed last night?”

“No.” I ignored Elias’s skeptical eyebrow raise. It wasn’t a lie. I made her sleep on her bed. Did I move it into my room, next to my bed? Yes, but I wasn’t telling him that.

“Give it time.”

I bristled at the certainty in his voice. “She’ll find a permanent home soon. I’m not going to let her get too comfortable and make it even harder on her.”

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