Page 33 of The Christmas Lodge
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“Sounds good, Brenda,” Lacy said into her cell phone. “Keep me posted, okay?”
After Brenda promised to do so, Lacy ended the call with her assistant and pocketed her phone, turning back to scan the shelf in front of her. She’d spent the rest of the afternoon after the conversation with Colette running errands—touching base with Brenda and some of her clients, ordering some more cleaning supplies and paint at Mitchell Hardware, and now picking up some items at the local grocery store. Despite keeping busy, the conversation at the bakery had played over and over in her mind, hovering in an endless loop behind her forced busyness.
“Can I help you find anything?”
Lacy jumped a little at the unexpected voice and whirled to see a worker watching her. Lacy mustered up a smile.
“No, I’m fine, thank you.”
“If youdoneed anything…”
“I’ll be sure to find you,” Lacy promised.
The worker smiled, then drifted away and Lacy turned back to the shelf of beauty products in front of her. The selection was much smaller than back in St. Louis, and her usual brands weren’t present. Picking a can of hairspray at random, she tossed it into her basket, then threw in a tube of mascara and a bottle of facial cleanser before making her way up to the front and getting in line at one of the cash registers. Christmas music played over the store’s speakers, and someone had put up a tree near the sliding front doors. Some of the tension that had sat with her all day eased a little as she let herself take in her surroundings.
By the time she paid for her items and stepped out into the cold, however, the tension had returned. Suddenly, the thought of returning to her room at The Snowy Pine, cozy as it was, held little appeal for her. On impulse, she turned and began walking in the direction of Derek’s shop. She knew it was ridiculous to even walk in that direction, but she couldn’t deny that a part of her hoped he would be in his shop working and ask her to stay and talk. And if he did, she knew she would accept.
As she approached Winter Run Racing in the fading evening light, she saw that a light still burned within the shop. She cupped her hands around her eyes and peeked through the massive front window, but didn’t see Derek in the main room of the shop, although a dogsled with tools strewn about it still sat in the middle of the floor, as though he had just paused his repairs for a quick break. Before she could talk herself out of it, she tested the doorknob on impulse. When it twisted with ease, she pushed open the door and stepped inside, walking toward the back of the room where light spilled under the crack of a closed door. As she approached, she heard the soft yips of several dogs.
Pulling the door open a crack, she was met by the sight of an enormous room filled with kennels, but not like any kennels she’d seen before. Mouth opening a bit, she ventured inside, swiveling her head to take it all in. Large kennels, larger than any she’d seen before, lined the walls, each holding fluffy dog beds, dog toys, and soft blankets.
It’s like a posh hotel for dogs, she marveled to herself, taking it all in.
Dogs flopped on their beds, nuzzled into blankets, chewed on bones, and yipped at each other—all clearly at home and comfortable as could be.
Just then, Derek entered through a door at the back of the kennel room, carrying a large bag of dog food on his shoulder. He paused mid-step as he saw her, and Lacy was suddenly aware of how crazy she must look. After all, she’d let herself into his shop and wandered at will.
I look like a stalker, breaking and entering like this, she groaned inwardly.
To her relief, Derek grinned at her, not seeming too alarmed by her presence.
“Just couldn’t stay away, I see,” he teased, slinging the bag off his shoulder and setting it on the ground.
“I’m here for the dogs,” she teased back, entirely relieved that he hadn’t kicked her out on sight or probed more deeply into her reason for showing up unannounced. She wanted to talk about it, but she wasn’t sure where to begin.
“In that case, let me introduce you.”
Derek sidled over to her and pointed to the gorgeous husky in the kennel nearest her. “That magnificent fellow is Bartholomew.”
“Bartholomew?” Lacy sputtered and laughed at the same time.
“But we just call him Bart,” Derek said blithely, refusing to be baited as she dissolved into laughs. “And in the next kennel we have two sisters—Lucky and Daisy.”
“They’re so cute,” Lacy breathed, crouching down to study them. The two sisters were curled up around each other, their sides rising and falling as they slumbered peacefully.
“And you’ve already met Missy,” Derek continued, leading Lacy to the next kennel.
Missy jumped up against the kennel’s bars and Lacy unlatched the door, taking the puppy into her arms. Missy covered her in kisses as Lacy snuggled her close.
“Who’s a good girl? Are you a good girl?” Lacy asked, cooing into the puppy’s fur.
“She’s a handful,” Derek said with a smile, his eyes soft, “but she is indeed a very good girl.”
“Of course she is. Aren’t you, baby? Yes, you are.”
Derek laughed as Missy wriggled out of Lacy’s arms and trotted back into her kennel to begin chewing at a squeaky toy with intense energy. He closed the door behind her. “She’s like this about 90% of the time.”
