Love at Christmas Inn Collection 1 by Tanya Stowe et al

Author:Tanya Stowe et al [al, Tanya Stowe et]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Haven Group
Published: 2016-12-18T05:00:00+00:00

3

Jayson glanced up to see Emmy striding down the carpeted aisle toward the stage front. She was all legs and waves of sun-kissed blonde hair—longer and lighter than he remembered—as she unknotted the scarf around her neck and shrugged off a snow-white winter jacket. Time had been good to her, and Jayson stood mesmerized as she closed the distance between them.

“Better draw in that tongue and close your mouth, boss, before you choke on sawdust and paint chips.”

Manny’s comment brought Jayson back. He rubbed his palms along the front of his jeans, brushing off the sawdust. Emmy’s foot barely touched the bottom step stage right when a string of barks rang out from behind the curtain, startling them all.

“Max, is that you?” Emmy didn’t miss a single beat.

“No, Max!” Jayson cautioned as a clatter ensued, the result of a stack of cut two-by-fours toppling over when the forward and back wave of a massive tail displaced them. The mastiff romped into view, accompanied by the methodic thump of his ginormous paws galloping over polished wood.

The dog barreled toward Emmy, and she held her position as if playing chicken with a freight train. Her onyx eyes danced with delight. “Oh, it is you, sweet thing!”

“Max, no. Down!” Jayson ordered frantically, but his warning went unheeded as the oversized canine pushed past him. He lurched into motion, rushing to catch up. “Emmy, watch out!”

“Nonsense. Max won’t hurt me.” Emmy dropped her purse and backpack and fell to her knees with her arms held wide. She braced herself for impact, and recovered quickly to give Max’s belly a good scratch. Though the dog dwarfed her, she showed not even an ounce of fear. On the contrary, laughter bubbled up as she gazed lovingly into the mutt’s eyes. “Oh, sweet Max. Can I have a hug?”

Immediately, the mastiff placed his front paws atop each of Emmy’s shoulders and pressed his massive jowl to her cheek in an impossibly gentle show of affection. His tail thumped wildly, strong enough to rattle the floor.

“Oh, you remember after all these years,” Emmy murmured. She leaned in close to wrap her arms around the dog who quaked with unbridled excitement. Her fingertips failed to meet, so broad was his girth. “Yes, I remember you too, you big, loveable sweetheart.”

Jayson shook his head as the scene unfolded, while Manny belly-laughed at his side. Just as he remembered, Emmy proved full of moxie.

“You’ve got your work cut out for you, boss,” Manny murmured when he finally caught a breath. “She’s a firecracker, for sure. I hope you’re ready to sail this storm.”

Jayson ignored the comment. There’d be plenty more from Manny before this show was over. He shook sawdust from his hair and stepped forward as if in a dream. Watching Emmy with Max, he felt as if time rewound to the afternoon they’d first found the dog together. Jayson had just gotten his driver’s license and offered to drive Emmy home from a morning practice for the spring musical at Hope Creek High.

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