Snowy Christmas by Helen Scott Taylor

Author:Helen Scott Taylor
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Tags: pets, dogs, england, clean romance, holiday romance, sweet romance, christmas romance, family christmas

Chapter Nine

Marcus saved a small corner of cheese from his sandwich before he put the crumb-covered plate down for Peggy to lick. Then he crouched and placed the piece of cheese on his outstretched palm for Snow White. She stared at him from her spot under Emily's stool at the island in his kitchen. After a few moments' consideration, she walked across to him and took the cheese, her tail wagging.

"Good girl. Was that nice?" He stroked the little dog's ears with a huge sense of achievement at winning her trust. Although it seemed he'd won Snow White's affection and lost Emily's.

"Snowy allowed me to pet her," he said to Emily, but she sat staring into space and didn't respond. She was right there, but might as well be a million miles away. And she'd been like this ever since this morning. He kept going over what he'd said and done in case he'd upset her.

"Emily, have I done something wrong?"

"Pardon?" She dragged her attention back from wherever it had been, and he repeated his question.

"No. Of course not."

"Well, you're acting as though I have."

"Oh, Marcus. It's not you." She slipped off her stool, abandoning her untouched sandwich, and stepped into his arms. She rested her cheek on his chest and hugged him. "I'm sorry. I'm just feeling down today. It's my problem, not yours."

That didn't really help because as far as he was concerned, her problems were his as well. He didn't want her coping with troubles on her own. If she was hurting, he wanted to be there for her. He circled a soothing hand on her back and pressed a kiss to the top of her head. She'd become so important to him so quickly.

"Tell me," he whispered.

Emily heaved a sigh. "I have a couple of credit card debts, and the statements came in the mail this morning. They always get me down."

"Can you afford to pay them off?"

"I can afford to pay the interest. It's nothing to worry about, really. I'm making a fuss." She tried to pull away, but he didn't release her. It obviously wasn't nothing, or she wouldn't be so preoccupied with it.

"Do you want me to pay them off for you?" Even as he made the offer, he knew she would refuse.

"You don't even know how much they are." She glanced up at him incredulously.

"Show me the statements then."

She turned away, and he let her go this time. For a few seconds, she stood with her back to him, her head bowed.

"Okay," she said finally. "I'll get them." She hurried out of his apartment with Snow White behind her and returned five minutes later, some folded papers in her hand.

Sensitive to her strange mood, he kept things low-key. He moved behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist, his cheek rested on the side of her head as he read over her shoulder. Both statements were from major banks. He'd expected her to owe some horrendous amount, but the total of the two figures was little more than he spent and paid off on his credit cards every month.

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