0373779089 (R) by Linda Lael Miller

Author:Linda Lael Miller [Miller, Linda Lael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HQN Books
Published: 2015-09-28T21:00:00+00:00

11

Charlotte felt a warm glow of mingled anticipation and gratitude.

It was wonderful to sit around the kitchen table with Aunt Geneva again, having a cup of coffee and chatting about ordinary things. Mutley sat at Geneva’s feet, gazing up at her in adoration, and Can-Can was glued to her lap.

Mrs. Klozz was bustling about, as usual, and she’d waved away Charlotte’s initial suggestion that she join them.

“You two need to catch up,” Millicent had said, busily pulling a pan from the oven. “Mrs. Andrews down the street lost her husband last January, and this will be her first Christmas alone. I’m hoping a brief visit and this cake will cheer her up—and, besides, she seems thinner than she should be. Don’t you think so, Geneva?”

Geneva had nodded. “Why don’t you invite Doris to join us tomorrow for Christmas dinner?” she asked. “Don’t fret about her weight, though. She’s always been on the skinny side, in my opinion. Nervous type, you know.”

Charlotte had smiled into her coffee cup. She certainly wasn’t in any immediate danger of being on the skinny side, she thought. Not with Millicent doing the cooking.

The next second, a deep voice said from the doorway, “I’ll deliver the cake and the invitation if you can take care of this little guy for a few minutes.”

Charlotte swiveled in her chair and saw Jax standing there, still in his coat and scrubs, accompanied by the cutest puppy she’d ever seen.

The dog scampered straight over to Charlotte.

Mutley seemed pleasantly intrigued by the new arrival, while Can-Can hissed indignantly, hunkered down in Aunt Geneva’s lap and went right back to sleep.

Charlotte, incapable of resisting, promptly picked up the eager puppy, noting his hopeful eyes and the bright red bow on his collar.

“Well,” she said, laughing as the critter licked her face. “Hello, there, handsome.”

Over the pup’s head, Charlotte met Jax’s eyes. He looked as hopeful as the dog, and a lot more uncertain.

Clearly, the adorable little furball was a gift—for her.

The last thing you need is a puppy, argued her sensible side.

True enough. But this guy was beyond cute, with those big brown eyes, floppy, oversize ears and assorted spots—he wasn’t a purebred—and he was so busy licking her face that she gave up and let him do it. “Who would you be?”

Jax relaxed visibly. “His name’s Felix,” he said, still cautious. “You could change it, if you wanted.”

She’d been right. He’d actually gotten her a dog for Christmas.

Incredible.

And, somehow, so very sweet.

Jax turned to Mrs. Klozz, who was taking in the scene with a tinsel-bright smile.

“Which house belongs to Mrs. Andrews?” he asked, as calmly as if he hadn’t just brought over a delightful but awkward gift.

Mrs. Klozz, enormously pleased, patted his cheek. “That’s sweet of you, dear. Doris doesn’t really know me, so you can just wish her a merry Christmas from the family and tell her we’ll be having dinner tomorrow afternoon at around two, if she’d like to join us.” She paused thoughtfully. “She lives in the blue house on the corner, the one with white shutters.

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