One Sweet Christmas by Beverly Taylor

Author:Beverly Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Brown Girls

CHAPTER TWELVE

She paused at the kitchen door to help Cristina take off her boots. Her glasses had steamed up in the warmth and without thinking, she slipped them into her pocket.

“You’ve been gone all this time for that?” It was Dominique, her nose wrinkling fastidiously as she saw Doggie.

Cristina sprang to his defense. “He’s beautiful.”

“We’d better fix him up a bed,” Christopher said diplomatically. “DeeDee, you must know where there’s an old rug or blanket.”

Dominique’s gaze traveled from the gaunt black creature lying on the floor to Cristina and Kacie.

Kacie was still struggling with the zipper on the little girl’s boots. Their two faces were close together, each rigid and bright-eye, each identically heart-shaped.

For a moment, Dominique’s eyes went blank with shock, then they narrowed speculatively. It was at this moment that Kacie chanced to look up, perhaps subconsciously aware of the other woman’s regard.

Their eyes met and clashed.

There was no mistaking the message in Dominique’s expression. She had seen the uncanny resemblance between Kacie and Cristina and was busy drawing her own conclusions.

Kacie felt her nerves tighten with panic. She had already made an enemy in Dominique. How would the other woman use this new discovery? Not to Kacie’s advantage, of that she could be sure.

Christopher came back into the study carrying a woven basket and a frayed blue rug, both of which he arranged in the corner by the fireplace. Dominique opened her mouth to speak. Kacie found herself frozen with fear, quite unable to do anything to stop the other woman. Dominique said, her husky voice caressing the word, “Christopher—”

“Yes?” He glanced up. Dominique was still wearing the cocktail dress, its soft chiffon folds swathing her voluptuous figure, but her eyes, Kacie thought dispassionately, were as cold and hard as the diamonds she wore. When she spoke, her words were such an anticlimax that Kacie felt almost dizzy with relief. “You are going to keep that dog?”

“Yes, Dominique. At least until its owner turns up, which seems doubtful after all this time. Cristina’s been wanting a dog for some time.” He eyed Doggie philosophically. “Well, she’s got one. Not quite what I had in mind, admittedly, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he makes up in devotion what he lacks in breeding.”

DeeDee Connery came in with a dish of food and water, which Doggie demolished in a few swift gulps. “Give him some more in a couple of hours,” Christopher suggested. “The vet warned against over-feeding at first.”

The dog then hobbled over to the bed, sniffed it all over, circled a few times and collapsed with a theatrical sigh, his nose on his paws. His tail gave a couple of thuds, as if he sensed everyone’s attention on him.

“I’ll run up, take a quick shower and change, Dominique, and then I’ll meet you in the living room shortly. I don’t think I finished that drink, did I?” Christopher gave Dominique an intimate smile, which somehow excluded everyone else in the room.

“I’ll pour you a new one, just the way you like it.

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