Page 17 of Puppy Love & Snowflake Kisses
“And all of your electronics are here? Televisions, computers, that kind of thing?”
She nodded. “There are only two televisions: one in the living room and the other in my bedroom. I have one laptop. Wait.” She jumped to her feet and rushed upstairs.
She returned with a frown on her face. “It’s here.”
“Well, just give it some more thought. Maybe something will come to mind.”
“I hope so.” She took a bite of the pasta. After she swallowed, she said, “This is good. Like really good.”
He let out a laugh at her astonishment. “Thanks.”
“No. Thank you for making dinner. I really appreciate it.”
This was the friendliest they’d been with each other in years. He wondered how long it would last. He had no idea, but he would enjoy the peace while it lasted.
And so they ate in silence. Each of them was lost in their own thoughts. He was trying to figure out a way to find the owner of those fingerprints, but so far he didn’t have a plan.
After they finished eating, Parker started to clear the table, just like his mother had taught him and his siblings from an early age. Belle jumped up and helped him. As he carried the dirty dishes to the sink, he was relieved to find that Belle had a dishwasher.
Together, they cleaned up the kitchen. At last, they’d achieved a companionable silence. As he worked, he kept thinking about the motive for the break-in. Was there something on Belle’s computer they wanted? He doubted it. She worked in a boutique. It wasn’t like she had top-secret plans or anything. So, then, what were they after?
Chapter Seven
Shecouldn’tsitstill.
Her thoughts were racing. Where was Odie?
Later that evening after going to her room to get some distance from the handsome sheriff, Belle made more phone calls. She wasn’t able to reach Merry Kringle, which she found odd.
She was hoping someone would provide her with another clue, but no one heard or saw anything. Every person she spoke to promised to call her if they thought of anything that would help find Odie.
Belle headed back downstairs. Parker was sitting on the couch working on his laptop. He glanced up. For a moment, their gazes connected, and her heartbeat sped up. She dismissed her reaction to him. She told herself that she was imagining it. There was no way he was attracted to her.
As though he, too, felt the awkwardness of the moment, he glanced away. “I like your tree.”
She could have merely said thank you and continued on her way, but he was going above and beyond to help her, so she decided it was only right for her to make an effort too. She stepped closer to the unlit Christmas tree. It just didn’t feel right to turn on the lights when Odie was… Well, when he could be anywhere. But he had a fondness for the Christmas tree and would lie near it a lot of the time.
“It’s a special tree to me.” After the words crossed her lips, Belle regretted them. She hadn’t intended to get too personal with him, but it was too late to take the words back now.
“The ornaments look unique.”
“They are.” She couldn’t really convey its specialness without plugging in the twinkle lights. She moved to the tree where she bent over to put the plug into the outlet. When the white lights came on, she straightened. “My great-grandmother started collecting ornaments. The pink and blue ones were hers.” And then Belle pointed to a couple of crocheted angel ornaments. “Once upon a time they were white, but they’ve aged into more of an antique white.
“So the tree is like a history of your family?” he asked.
“I never thought of it that way, but yes.” She turned her attention back to the tree. She liked the way he’d described it. “The beaded ornaments were made by my grandmother.”
The colorful beads were in the shapes of bells, Christmas trees, snowmen, and many other shapes. Each one picked up the light and made the tree practically glow.
“And what about the white ones with the painted designs?” Parker continued to stare at the tree.
No one had ever taken such an interest in her Christmas tree. His genuine curiosity touched a spot deep within her. She chose not to give that too much thought.
She stepped forward and picked up one of them. She held it in her palm. “These were hand-painted by my mother.”
He leaned in closer for a better look. “Your mother was very talented.”
After he finished looking at it, Belle held it in front of her face for a better look. He was right. Her mother had taken the time to paint the finest details. It was what made them stand out.
