Save Me, Santa: A Chirstmas Anthology of Romance & Suspense Read Online Free Page B

hasn’t taken her pill yet this morning.”
    Nick appeared in the bedroom door. “Her pill?”
    “She had a bad ear infection and she’s supposed to take her pills until they’re all gone. I think there are five or so left.”
    She pulled on jeans and a blue turtleneck and noticed Nick was still staring at her. “What?”
    “Do you happen to know the name of her vet?”
    She blinked. “No. Why?”
    “Where are the pills?” he asked.
    “On the kitchen counter. What does that have to do with anything?”
    But he’d already vanished. After ducking into the bathroom for a two-minute version of her morning routine, she hurried after him. She found him in the kitchen setting down the pill bottle, his mouth pressed into a thin line.
    “What’s wrong?”
    He shook his head. “Nothing. I’m just being paranoid. Come on, let’s go find Pogo.”
    Zenon was already on his leash, so she grabbed Pogo’s and her purse, and they sped down the three flights to the outer entry.
    Still no Pogo.
    “Find Pogo, boy,” Nick told Zenon, but although the Airedale sniffed like crazy, he never gave an indication of finding Pogo’s scent. On the other hand, scenting wasn’t really his forte.
    So they walked up and down the block, asking everyone they met if they’d seen a white dog, either wandering around lost or being carried off. No luck. They combed the surrounding blocks, as well, and came up with nothing.
    “I should call all the area vets, in case she was brought in hurt,” Emily reluctantly said when they finally gave up.
    “I’ll call animal control and the pounds,” he volunteered. But he looked distracted and antsy. Like he had other things on his mind.
    She suddenly realized he’d spent half his morning helping her, and he probably had plans for his day that did not include her, or searching for a lost dog.
    “That’s okay,” she said, reluctant to see him go—on many levels. “I can take it from here. I’m sure you have better things to do today. It was really nice of you to help this much.”
    “I don’t know about better,” he said. To his credit, he looked torn. “But I did volunteer to do the Santa bit again for the Orphans and Widows Fund.”
    She smiled through her worry. “Then you need to go. I can take it from here. Honest. Thanks.”
    “Don’t thank me,” he said with a frown. “It’s my fault she’s gone.”
    She shook her head. “There were two of us who forgot to lock that door.” Which made her think of last night and why they’d both forgotten. “I guess we were a little distracted.” She nibbled on her lower lip.
    He stepped in close to her and touched her cheek, sweeping his fingers back through her hair. “Yeah. No excuse, but a helluva good reason.” He put his lips to her forehead. “Last night was incredible. I’m sorry it ended like this.”
    Wow. That sounded final.
    The moment stretched.
    Well, what had she expected?
    Okay…
    “Me, too,” she managed, lowering her eyes so as not to give away the disappointment in them. “But don’t worry about it. I’ll find her,” she said, pretending to misinterpret.
    “Yeah, I’m sure you will.” He pressed a kiss into her hair as she studied her shoes and fought off the irrational hurt.
    Irrational because they’d both made it clear last night that they were all wrong for each other.
    She’d known exactly what she was doing, and had proceeded at her own risk. Who would have guessed she’d change her mind so thoroughly by morning?
    “Listen, Emily, I—”
    No, she really didn’t want to hear his brush-off.
    She stepped back from him and pasted on a bright smile. “It’s okay. I know you have to go now. Thanks again, Nick. For everything.” Unable to stop herself, she leaned up and brushed one final, light kiss over his lips. She drew in a last deep inhale of his musky, masculine scent, committing it to her sensory memory—to pull out on the dark, lonely, winter nights to come.
    Then, steeling herself, she