Page 15 of Puppy Love & Snowflake Kisses
His gaze lifted and met hers. “You sound like you don’t want me around. Should my feelings be hurt?”
Was that a teasing tone in his voice? As a little smile played at the corners of his mouth, she realized he was just having a little fun.So, he isn’t a total grouch. Interesting.
She tried again. “Don’t you have work to do?”
He shook his head. “I have the night off. So, I’m all yours.”
Belle stifled a gasp as her heart skipped a beat.All hers?Surely, he hadn’t meant those words the way they sounded to her ears.
She also got the feeling he wasn’t going anywhere. She didn’t know how she felt about that. This whole evening had her struggling to keep up with the unexpected.
She crossed her arms and looked at him. “Is there anything I can say to change your mind?”
“No.”
She was too tired to argue with him. “Fine. I’ll make up the guest room.”
“That won’t be necessary.”
Her eyes widened. “Why is that?”
“Because I’ll sleep right here on the couch.”
Her gaze moved from him to the couch, with its lumpy cushions, before returning back to him. “Trust me, you’ll be more comfortable in a guest room.”
“I don’t doubt you’re right, but I’m not here to get a good night’s sleep. I’m here to protect you. I want to be down here where I can stop anyone who breaks in.”
It had been a long evening, and she was too tired to argue with him. “I’ll get you a pillow and a blanket.”
As she walked away, she didn’t know how she felt about having the sheriff under her roof. Knowing her luck, he’d find something else to ticket her for, but she couldn’t even begin to know what it might be. Besides, the tickets were the least of her worries. She just wanted to know where Odie was and if he was okay.
She grabbed a blanket from the linen closet and a pillow from the guest bed. When she ventured back downstairs, Parker was no longer in the living room. She wondered where he’d gone. Maybe he came to his senses and left.
Then she heard a noise in the dining room. “Parker?”
“Yeah, it’s me.” He appeared in the doorway. “I was checking the other windows to make sure they were secure.”
“And were they?” When he nodded, she said, “I’m going to make some phone calls to let people in town know that Odie is missing. Maybe someone has seen him.” She doubted it because she was sure one of her friends would have already contacted her, but it was worth the effort. She just couldn’t sit around here doing nothing.
“Have you eaten dinner?” he asked.
She shook her head. She didn’t have a chance before her evening went totally off the rails. “I don’t really have an appetite.”
“Are you sure?” His concerned gaze searched hers.
She nodded. “But feel free to help yourself to anything in the kitchen. I’m just going to go upstairs and make those calls.”
When she reached the steps, she paused to glance back toward the kitchen. She couldn’t see Parker, but she could see the refrigerator door was open. It was so odd to have him in her house and she hated that it made her feel better to have him there. All she wanted was to wake up from this nightmare and find Odie next to her.
Her gaze moved to Odie’s spot on the couch. It was so sad to see it empty. Tears burned the back of her eyes. She blinked repeatedly. She wasn’t going to fall apart again.
She had work to do. She was going to make sure that everyone in Kringle Falls knew her furbaby was missing. Hopefully, someone would have a lead for her to follow.
As she started up the stairs, she heard what sounded like the clanging of pans coming from the kitchen. Apparently Parker had taken her at her word when she’d told him to help himself. She wondered what he was making. She was tempted to turn around and go investigate, but her concern for Odie kept her moving toward her bedroom. She’d check in on Parker later.
For living alone, the kitchen was well-stocked.
Parker stood in front of the stove, stirring the red sauce he’d made to go with the rotini pasta he’d just drained, oiled, and set aside. He’d made a marinara sauce because he couldn’t find any meat to put in it. That was fine with him. He loved marinara. Now he had to hope that Belle liked it too. She might not have an appetite, but she needed to eat something.
