Page 21 of Puppy Love & Snowflake Kisses
What was she supposed to make of him? Which one was he? The grumpy, strict sheriff or the man who made her smile and took time to talk to her?
If Odie were here, he’d let her know his thoughts about Parker. Odie had a good sense of people. And she missed him so much.
“I’ll get you back,” she whispered into the night, hoping her pup sensed how much she loved and missed him.
Chapter Eight
Itwasalongnight.
There was a lot of tossing and turning.
Once Belle finally fell asleep, she’d slept deeply. There was no energy for dreams. She wouldn’t have slept that soundly if it weren’t for Parker. And it bothered her that he could make her feel secure in her own home. She’d always prided herself on being able to take care of herself.
Saturday morning, she’d slept later than she’d wanted. She rushed through her shower and dressed. As she applied her makeup and pulled her hair back into a ponytail, she realized Parker most likely had already left, and she… Well, she would figure out some way to find Odie. There was no way her puppy disappeared without a trace.
And then a thought came to her: she’d stop by Purr ’n Woof. Someone who steals a dog would need some puppy food. With the thought in mind, she soundlessly rushed to the stairs.
When she reached the first floor it surprised her to find Parker on the couch working on his laptop. He was wearing gray sweatpants with a long-sleeved T-shirt. His stockinged feet were resting on the coffee table. His hair was mussed up, as though he’d dragged his fingers through it many times. She wondered what he was working so intently on.
“I didn’t think you’d still be here,” she said.
He briefly glanced over his laptop at her before returning his attention to his computer. “Trying to get rid of me?”
Maybe.“I just thought you’d have to work.”
He continued to type something. Without looking up, he said, “I’m off this weekend, so I’m all yours.”
Wait. Is he serious? No.Her heart beat faster. She didn’t know if her body’s reaction was good or bad. “Well, I’m headed out as soon as I get some coffee.”
“Mind if I grab a quick shower?”
“Uh. No. Not at all. The bathroom is at the top of the steps. There are towels in the closet. And I even saved you some hot water.”
“That was mighty kind of you. I won’t be long.”
He closed his laptop and set it on the coffee table. He got to his feet, grabbed his duffel bag from next to the couch, and headed upstairs.
Wordlessly, she turned and headed for the kitchen. She glanced at the clock on the wall and realized the pet store didn’t open for another twenty-one minutes. She sighed. So much for her quick escape.
She moved to the kitchen counter. She grabbed a red cup from the cabinet and placed it on the coffeemaker. After filling the reservoir with fresh water, she dropped in a new pod and started the coffeemaker. Then out of habit, she moved to the fridge and reached for the dog food. With the food in hand, she straightened. It was then she realized she was about to feed Odie—her sweet puppy who was no longer there.
With a groan, she returned the food to the fridge. Her stomach growled a complaint. While she had the door open, she glanced around at the various food items, but she didn’t have much of an appetite. All her stomach needed was some coffee. Instead, she grabbed the creamer from the fridge door and then closed it.
She’d just finished fixing her to-go coffee cup and took a big gulp, when Parker entered the kitchen. His hair was still damp from his very quick shower. He wore a navy-blue T-shirt with the sheriff’s office logo on the left chest. The sleeves hugged his muscled biceps while the shirt struggled to cover his broad shoulders. She swallowed hard.
Catching herself staring, she turned her attention to putting the creamer back in the fridge. The coolness of the fridge washed over her heated face. She took her time glancing around the shelves.
When she at last straightened and turned, she said, “Well, I should get going.”
He arched a brow. “Aren’t you going to eat?”
“Maybe I already ate. You don’t know.” She drank some more of her coffee.
“I’m a sheriff, remember? I’m trained to be observant.” He nodded toward the sink. “There are no dirty dishes. No crumbs on any of the counters. And your stomach is rumbling.”
The heat rushed back to her cheeks. She didn’t know he could hear it. “I’ll be fine. I’ll, uh…grab something in town.” She started out of the kitchen, then stopped and turned back to him. “Thank you for dinner and for helping with Odie…”
She couldn’t bring herself to thank him for sleeping on her couch. It would make her seem weak, like she couldn’t take care of herself. And she could. She’d done just that since her parents died. Yet, last night when she’d drifted off to sleep, she’d slept soundly because she didn’t have to worry about anyone coming back to finish the job they’d started.
