Page 35 of Puppy Love & Snowflake Kisses
“Stop.” Parker reached out for her arm.
“No.” She pushed his arm away.
Cold dread inched down her spine and consumed her as she stepped toward her bedroom. The closer she got to the doorway, the worse the mess. Dread settled in the pit of her stomach. She couldn’t tear her gaze away from the destruction of her home.
It wasn’t just glass on the floor; there were clothes, books, and all sorts of things scattered over the floor. When she reached her bedroom doorway, she once more came to a stop. Her blood ran cold as her stomach took another nauseous lurch.
It looked like a tornado had blown through the room. Her bed was literally torn apart. The mattress was thrown against one wall while the box spring was against another wall. The quilt her mother had made her was twisted and tangled around the headboard. Tears rushed to her eyes as her throat tightened, holding back the rush of emotions.
She didn’t understand. Why was this happening? What did she do to this person for them to invade her home, take her dog, and destroy her sense of security?
Parker stepped up behind her. His arms wrapped around her chest and gently pulled her back until her head was resting against his broad chest. The heat of his body radiated to her, warming her.
“Wh-Why?” Her mind struggled to make sense of the mess before her. Then again, she wasn’t sure any of this was ever going to make sense.
“I don’t know.” His voice was soft and caring as he tightened his arms around her. “I will catch them. They left a lot of evidence behind this time.”
She closed her eyes, blocking out the damage. Her heart ached. Where was Odie? Would she ever see him again?
“Belle, I know it doesn’t seem like it now, but everything is going to work out.” There was a certainty to his voice.
She wanted to believe him, but when she opened her eyes, she was faced with the harsh reality. “You don’t know that.”
“I’ve never been so determined to solve a case in my life.”
She turned in his arms so she could look into his eyes. “Who does something like this?” Her voice cracked with emotion. “Why me? Why my puppy?”
“I don’t know.” Compassion shone in his eyes. “I…” His gaze lowered to her lips and lingered. “I don’t know.”
She accepted that. Neither one of them had the answers…at least not yet. But she believed they would catch the dognapper and get Odie back.
Her gaze took in the lines on Parker’s face and his bloodshot eyes. He was tired. And then there were the stitches and his black eye.
Of their own volition, her fingers reached up to his injured eye. She made sure not to touch the bruised skin. Her fingertips grazed his jaw.
Her gaze returned to his. “How bad does it hurt?”
“It’s fine.”
Fine wasn’t an answer. She felt guilty. “I’m sorry I got you involved in this.”
“You don’t have to be sorry. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But if it wasn’t for me, you wouldn’t have been injured.”
He shrugged. “It’s just part of the job. I’ll be fine.”
Her fingertips continued to trace the side of his chiseled face. It was as if she couldn’t help herself. She was drawn to him in a way that she’d never been attracted to anyone else. When her fingers neared his lips, she was tempted to trace them too.
He sucked in a deep breath. In the next breath, he broke their connected gaze. He released her and took a step back. He felt something growing between them. She could see it in his eyes.
He glanced down as he cleared his throat. “We should go back downstairs. We can sleep at my place.”
“No.” The answer was quick and firm. When he sent her a questioning look, she said, “This jerk has taken my dog. He’s destroyed my family heirlooms. He… I don’t know what he was doing in my bedroom. I’m not letting him run me out of my own home.”
Parker hesitated. “I understand.”
She led the way back downstairs. She had some fresh clothes in the laundry room. After she changed into an old, comfy T-shirt and a pair of sweatpants, she joined Parker in the living room.
