Puppy Love and Mistletoe

by Merrillee Whren

  Amelia ran her finger across the globe until it rested on Germany. “The blue color shows the Atlantic Ocean. You either have to fly or take a ship to get to Germany, which is right here.”

  “It’s far away, isn’t it?” Lily wrinkled her nose.

  Nodding, Scott picked up the globe and carried it to the closet. “Now we’d better finish eating, or our food will be completely cold.”

  After Scott returned to the table, Lily talked about everything from taking trips to what she liked best about school. She barely touched her food.

  “Okay, young lady, it’s time to quit talking and start eating.” Scott gave the child a no-nonsense look.

  Lily made a face but took a big bite of her bread. Amelia didn’t mind Lily’s talkative nature. Amelia had hoped the little girl might give a clue as to the circumstances surrounding her and Scott, but none had come. Amelia wondered whether she could ask without being impolite. Polite or impolite, the opportunity to learn more about their situation never presented itself.

  When they were done eating, Amelia helped clear the table and do the dishes, always keeping Jet’s whereabouts at the front of her mind. While Lily kept the conversation going, Jet lay on the floor near the back door.

  Grateful and amused with Lily’s loquacious manner, Amelia welcomed the child’s chatter. She wondered whether Scott did, too. Amelia wasn’t sure what to say to him. Without Lily, would the room be silent?

  As soon as the cleanup ended, Lily raced into the living room, with Jet close on her heels. She retrieved several boxes from the closet. She placed them on the table, then dashed back to usher Amelia toward the table. “Which game would you like to play?”

  Amelia checked for Jet, who had settled under the table again. With her mind at ease, she looked down at the little girl. “I think you should choose.”

  Lily scrambled to open an odd-shaped box and proceeded to put out all the pieces of the game, which included a spinner, a plastic squirrel, and imitation acorns. Lily giggled with delight when she won the game. They worked their way through several more games until Scott announced Lily’s bedtime.

  “But I don’t want to go to bed. There’s no school tomorrow.” Lily stuck out her lower lip as she frowned at Scott.

  “True, but it’s still bedtime.” Scott stood and motioned to the stairs. “Now off you go. When you’re ready for bed, you can come back down and say good night.”

  “Okay.” Lily pouted all the way to the stairs, then took each step as if carrying a huge weight on her back. Jet followed behind her.

  Amelia stood beside Scott as he monitored Lily’s progress to the second floor. “Does she always resist bedtime?”

  Scott turned. “Not most of the time, but she’s excited because you’re here.”

  “I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”

  “You didn’t.” Scott gave her a lopsided grin. “Lily likes to make any excuse not to go to bed. She’s gotten better about bedtime. It was a real battle when she was three and four. So this is nothing.”

  Amelia wanted so badly to inquire about why Lily was his charge. What was their story? Instead she pressed her lips together in a tight smile to keep from asking the question as she nodded. If he wanted to give the details, he would.

  “I hope Lily’s behavior hasn’t put you off.” A little frown creased Scott’s brow.

  Amelia shook her head. “Oh, no. I think she’s adorable, and she must keep you on your toes.”

  Scott laughed. “She does, and sometimes she’s not so adorable.”

  “That’s kids in general.”

  Before either of them could say another word, Lily bounded down the stairs, Jet her ready companion. Her pink fuzzy slippers matched her pink princess pajamas. She held up two books. “I’m ready for my story time. Can Amelia read me a story?”

  Scott glanced Amelia’s way with a look of hesitation.

  Hoping to put his mind at ease, Amelia reached out. “Sure. Which one would you like me to read?”

  “This one.” Lily pushed a book at Amelia.

  Amelia took the book and studied the cover. “Amelia Bedelia.”

  “I thought it was a perfect book for you to read, ’cause your name’s Amelia.” Lily hopped onto the couch and patted the seat next to her, while Jet curled up under Lily’s feet, which stuck out from the couch. “You can sit here, and Daddy can sit beside you.”

  Trying to stifle a smile, Amelia looked over at Scott as she sat beside the little girl. “What’s your other book?”

  “It’s also a book about Amelia Bedelia, and it’s one I can read to you.”

  “Lily, don’t take advantage of Amelia. She’s our guest.” Scott frowned.

  Amelia looked up into his troubled blue eyes. “It’s okay. I don’t mind.”

  “If you’re sure.” He shrugged.

  Nodding, Amelia settled with Lily on the couch as she opened the first book. Amelia read, trying not to let Scott’s presence distract her as he sat on the arm of the couch and overlooked the scene rather than sitting beside her. Obviously, he didn’t intend to fall for another of Lily’s matchmaking attempts. Lily laughed at the story, and Amelia forgot about Scott as she got caught up in the tale and the little girl’s happiness.

  When story time ended, Scott stood and looked down at Lily. “Now it’s time for you to go to bed. And no excuses to stay up longer.”

  Lily hugged Amelia. “That was super. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.” Amelia tugged on the child’s pigtails. “You’re a very good reader.”

  Lily beamed. “You are, too. I like the way you make the different voices.”

  “Okay. Off with you.” Scott stepped in and gave Lily a little nudge.

  Lily reluctantly climbed the stairs with Scott. Jet pranced alongside them. Amelia took a deep breath as they disappeared from sight. What would happen after Lily went to bed? Amelia wondered whether Scott would volunteer any information about Lily and him. Did she dare ask?

  While the questions roamed through Amelia’s mind, Lily came bounding down the stairs, Jet right on her heels. “Daddy said I could say good night.”

  “Good night, Lily. I enjoyed our reading time.” Amelia hugged the little girl.

  “Me, too.” Lily clung to Amelia, then stepped back. “I wish you never had to leave.”

  Amelia winked at Lily. “I have to go home.”

  “Do you have someone at home waiting for you?”

  Lily’s question brought with it a sad reality for Amelia. Her apartment was going to seem rather lonely after spending time with Scott and his charge. “No, but it’s the place where I live.”

  Lily wrinkled her nose. “You can visit us anytime.”

  “Thanks.” Amelia didn’t dare look at Scott. She wasn’t sure what he would think of Lily’s invitation.

  “Do you have a church?”

  Amelia wondered where Lily’s question had come from. “Yes.”

  “My auntie Nicole says we should find a church. We should go to yours.”

  “You would be very welcome there. It’s the big brick one on Main Street.”

  “I’ve seen it.” Scott looked at Lily, then pointed to the stairs. “Now that you’ve said good night, it’s off to bed for you. I’ll be up in a minute.”

  “To hear my bedtime prayers.”

  “Yes.” He motioned again for Lily to get a move on before turning to Amelia. “I’ll be right back.”

  Amelia watched him tackle the stairs two at a time as he raced the giggling Lily to the top. This time Jet didn’t go with them. He sat at Amelia’s feet and stared up at her. She swallowed hard as she stared back. Why was he looking at her that way? What did he want? She prayed that Scott would be back promptly. She got her wish, but when she looked into those blue, blue eyes, she didn’t know which one made her more nervous—the dog or the man.

  “Hey, sorry bedtime is so chaotic.”

  “No problem. I understan
d.”

  Scott glanced down at Jet. “You need to go out?”

  The dog barked and raced for the door, his toenails clicking on the hardwood floor. Scott grabbed the leash from a hook in the kitchen and snapped it on Jet’s collar. Scott opened the door and stopped short. “Wow! It’s raining hard.”

  Amelia stepped closer and looked at the rain illuminated by the porch light. “I’m surprised we didn’t hear it.”

  Jet strained at the leash, and Scott let out a heavy sigh as he looked at Amelia. “Would you grab the umbrella from the closet?”

  “Sure.” Amelia found the umbrella standing in the corner and raced back to where Scott stood in the open door. “Here you go.”

  “Thanks.” Scott’s response came back in muffled tones as he closed the door behind him.

  Amelia watched through the window from the warmth of the alcove just inside the entryway. Scott held the umbrella at an angle in order to ward off the torrent. Seconds later he bounded back inside, with Jet leading the way. The dog wriggled from one end to the other and sprayed water everywhere. Amelia jumped back to avoid getting wet.

  After setting the umbrella down, Scott grabbed a towel from a shelf just inside the door and rubbed down the pup, then looked up at her as Jet sprinted toward the living room. “Sorry about that. I should’ve warned you.”

  “No problem. I didn’t get wet, but it looks like your floor did.”

  “Yeah. The hazards of having a dog.” Scott chuckled as he wiped the floor with the towel.

  Other hazards came to Amelia’s mind, but she wouldn’t think about those tonight. Her biggest worry now was getting home. How could she walk home in this pouring rain? “I guess I should be going. Could I borrow your umbrella?”

  Scott stood, still holding the towel as Jet scampered off. “You can’t go out in this rain, even with an umbrella. You’ll get soaked before you walk a block. Would you like me to call a cab?”

  Amelia chuckled. “Um, we really don’t have cab or Uber service here in Hallburg.”

  “I didn’t think of that.” Scott grimaced. “I’d give you a ride, except Lily has already gone to bed. You’re welcome to stay until the rain lets up.”

  Amelia let that statement roll through her mind while she stared at the rain pelting the window. She didn’t have a choice. “I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”

  Scott smiled. “You won’t. I’m sure the rain will let up soon.”

  Amelia nodded. Here she was stuck with a handsome man and a wayward dog. Two things that scared her. She had better learn to conquer her fears.

  Chapter Five

  The look on Amelia’s face told Scott she wasn’t happy about having to stay. Was it the dog or him that brought about her wary expression? He wanted to put her at ease, but he wasn’t sure how. If he tried to find out more about her, would he bring up unpleasant memories from her childhood? “You want to have a seat in the living room?”

  “Oh, sure.” Amelia took cautious steps toward the couch and sat there, her gaze trained on Jet, who had made himself comfortable on his bed in the corner near the front door. “Is that where he sleeps?”

  Scott nodded. “Unless he winds up in Lily’s bed.”

  “You let the dog sleep with her?”

  Scott took in her incredulous tone as he followed her into the living room. “It’s not a matter of letting her. It’s a matter of not knowing what happens in the middle of the night while I’m sleeping. I think Lily sneaks him into her bed.”

  Amelia let out a harsh breath. “I guess Lily really loves her dog.”

  “Yes, and I have you to thank for saving him from the cold. You don’t know how much I appreciate that.”

  “It was nothing. I couldn’t leave him out in the cold.” Shrugging, Amelia laughed. “I didn’t have much choice. Seems that he adopted me before I had a say in the matter.”

  Should he tell her he was glad? That was probably better left unsaid, even though it was true. How was he going to keep an unbiased perspective about Hallburg’s budget when it might mean a cut in pay for Amelia or, at worst, the loss of her job? He had to keep a pair of hazel eyes and a pretty face from influencing his decisions, especially since he wanted to settle in this peaceful little town.

  “So he did.” Scott nodded toward the dog. “He’s a smart pup. Too smart sometimes.”

  “It’s better than having a dog without much sense. That’s how I got this scar. The dog that bit me was crazy.”

  Jet lifted his head off the bed, as if he knew they were talking about him. Scott hunkered down and ruffled the fur on the dog’s head, then turned toward Amelia. “I’m sorry that happened.”

  “Maybe Jet can teach me to not be afraid of dogs.”

  “He could. I’m sure.” Scott joined Amelia on the couch.

  Did that mean she was willing to spend more time with Lily and him? He shouldn’t let his interest in Amelia grow, but he enjoyed her company. Lily liked her, and so did Jet. Scott pushed those thoughts away. His job didn’t invite her company, and so many other things threw up a caution sign. He couldn’t entertain getting involved with her, no matter how tempting. With that in mind, he glanced toward the front window to see if the rain had slowed, but there was no sign of a letup.

  When he turned his attention back to Amelia, an uncomfortable smile curved her mouth. She had probably guessed he was checking on the rain. What could he say now? She didn’t want to talk about her past, and he certainly didn’t want to talk about his.

  “I hate to take up your time. If you have things to do, just ignore me.”

  “I have nothing better to do than talk to you.” As soon as he made the statement, he wished he could snatch the words back. That had not come out the way he had intended. Nothing better to do. That sounded like being with her was way down on his list. Why did it matter? He wasn’t interested in developing a relationship with her. Or at least, that was what he kept telling himself.

  She gave him a halfhearted smile. “Well then, what should we talk about?”

  Not himself. That was for sure. “Tell me about your job with the city.”

  “The one you might cut?”

  “Let’s not go there.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t help worrying about that.” Amelia shook her head. “It’s not just your being here to tackle the town’s budget problems. It’s the mayor. He’s never been keen on the rec department. He thinks some things we do are frivolous.”

  “Like what?” Scott wondered whether he’d think they were frivolous, too.

  “Dances. We have five a year. Valentine Ball. Spring Fling. Fourth of July Frolic. Harvest Ball. Winter Cotillion. The Christmas one is coming up the first Saturday in December.”

  “Are they well attended?” Scott wondered whether Amelia had a date for the Christmas dance. He shouldn’t go there, but he couldn’t help thinking about it.

  “I’m not sure what you mean by well attended.”

  “How many people from the community are involved?”

  Amelia sighed. “Well, certainly not the whole town. We wouldn’t have room.”

  “How many?”

  “As many as the rec center gymnasium will allow according to the fire marshal. We always sell out.”

  “Is there a charge, and does it cover the cost?” Scott found it interesting that the rec center had its own gym.

  “Most of the time.” A little pucker formed between Amelia’s eyebrows. “Is that important?”

  “To the budget.” Scott joined Amelia on the couch. “What else does the mayor dislike?”

  Amelia appeared to be thinking as she remained silent. She took a deep breath. “Anything that costs money.”

  Scott laughed. “Then my job is going to be difficult.”

  “You can count on it. Let’s see if the rain has let up.” Amelia nodded as she got up and walked toward the window.

  “Sure.” Joining her at the window, Scott wondered if she was eager
to get away. “What do you think?”

  “I think its barely raining.” She turned his way. “If you let me borrow your umbrella, I can be on my way.”

  So she was intent on leaving. “I wish I could give you a ride or at least walk you home.”

  “I’ll be good with the umbrella. I live just a few blocks from here.”

  “Okay. I’ll get it.”

  Amelia continued to stare out the window. “Thanks.”

  Jet padded alongside Scott as he retrieved the umbrella and returned to the living room. “Here you go.”

  Amelia took it and smiled. “Thanks so much for dinner and the games. It was a nice evening.”

  “You’re welcome.” Scott opened the door and hoped she wasn’t feeling as awkward as he was. Would they see each other around city hall? Should he take Lily to Amelia’s church, or would she think he was stalking her?

  “Good night.” Amelia stepped out the door and opened the umbrella. “Thanks again.”

  “Sure.” Scott shooed Jet back into the living room as he stepped onto the porch, where he watched Amelia walk down the street until she turned the corner without a backward glance.

  With drizzle collecting in his hair, Scott stood there for a few moments and tried to decipher his feelings. He’d met Amelia less than forty-eight hours ago, so why did he have this strange sense of abandonment as she walked away? It had been too many months, more like years, since he’d enjoyed the company of a woman as much as he’d enjoyed Amelia’s presence in his home. He went back inside still trying to figure out his crazy thoughts.

  Jet whimpered as Scott closed the door. “Yeah, I know, buddy. She’s gone. You really know how to pick the good ones.”

  ****

  Sun shone through the window and warmed Amelia as she sat at her tiny, crowded desk. The bright sunshine belied the cold temperature outside. Rain and warmer weather had melted all the snow that had been on the ground when Jet had followed her home. Cold temperatures had returned, but no snow.

  Preparations for the Winter Cotillion were on schedule, everything except Jenna’s insistence that Amelia should get a date for the dance. Every time Jenna brought up the subject, she quizzed Amelia about Scott. Why did she have to be fascinated with a man who owned a dog and was in town for the sole purpose of making her job harder—if he didn’t eliminate it altogether?