Page 48 of Chasing Shelter

The dog didn’t seem so sure about that and stayed exactly where he was.

There had to be a vet around where I could take him to get checked out. But first, I had to get him to trust me. “I know you’re scared. There probably haven’t been many people you could trust. I know how that is. But I promise I’ll never hurt you. And I won’t let anyone else either.”

The backs of my eyes stung with unshed tears. The only person who had been that for me was Linc. But he was gone faster than I could blink once he graduated high school. Sure, he’d called to check in, but I was basically alone, left to deal with our tyrant of a father on my own.

A little tongue lashed out against my fingers, and I blinked to clear my vision. “That’s it, buddy.” I forced down the tears and memories. “We’re in this together.”

The dog came out a little farther, just enough that I could pick him up. He whimpered again, and my heart broke. “It’s okay. I’ve got you,” I said, cradling him to my chest as I knelt on the pavement.

The sound of an engine had me looking up, but a window was rolling down before I could place the SUV. “What in the hell are you doing?”

13

TRACE

Apparently,my inner asshole came out when I was worried. I’d barked at Ellie as if she’d done something wrong. But why in the hell was she crouched in front of a dumpster? She could’ve been hit by a car coming through the alley or jumped by someone from behind. But as she straightened, waves of her multi-colored hair shifted, revealing thewhy. My jaw went slack as I stared at the…creature in her arms.

I was fairly certain it was a dog, but I wasn’t a hundred percent sure. It could’ve been one of those gremlins after it got wet. What if it bit Ellie?

“El, put the dog down.”

Those pale green eyes flashed. “He needs help.”

“And I can call in our K9 unit so he gets it, but you could get hurt.”

She rolled her eyes, and I had the sudden urge to take her over my knee. “He might not smell the greatest, but he’s sweet as can be.” The dog licked her chin as if to punctuate the point, and I couldn’t help but grimace.

“Ellie.”

“Chief.”

“Stop calling me that,” I growled.

Her lips twitched. “Want to give me a ride home so I can get my car?”

“Are you taking him to the shelter?”

Ellie looked at me as if I’d suggested running the furry little critter over with my SUV. “I wouldnevertake him there.”

“It’s a no-kill shelter,” I defended. “One of the best in the state.” I wasn’t a monster.

She rocked the dog against her. “He’s been alone for far too long. I’m not about to abandon him all over again.”

Ellie’s eyes glistened in the late-afternoon light, and I wanted to curse. “Get in.”

“Are you taking us to the shelter?” She sniffed.

“No, I’m taking you to the feed store. They’ve got tubs there where you can wash your dog, and we can get you all the supplies you need.”

Ellie stilled for a long moment. “Really?”

“Come on, you and the gremlin get in.”

“Gremlin?” she asked as she climbed into my SUV.

“You’re telling me you don’t see the resemblance? Look at those ears.”

Ellie smiled as she ran a finger over the pup’s ear. “Gremlin. Kind of fitting. Cute and fierce.”

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