Page 9 of Puppy Love & Snowflake Kisses
“Don’t you mean any more tickets?” It still irked her that he was always finding a reason to write her up.
He smiled again. “You shouldn’t have to worry about those either…as long as you lighten up on the gas pedal.”
“I don’t get it.” She studied him. “Why are you being nice to me?”
“Believe it or not, I’m not such a bad guy.”
She opened her mouth to disagree but ended up closing it without saying a word. She told herself it didn’t matter. They were never going to be friends. They’d had their chance many years ago. If it was meant to be, it would have worked out then.
“Well, uh… Thanks.” She didn’t know what else to say.
“You’re welcome. And have a good evening.”
She pulled out of the parking lot and found herself glancing in the rearview mirror. She saw Parker’s figure moving in the opposite direction. What was up with him? Why had he helped her out? She pondered those questions the rest of the way home.
Chapter Four
Christmaswaseightdaysaway.
The following day, business at the boutique had tapered off late in the afternoon, allowing them to close a little early. Thankfully, it was Friday, and Belle was on her way home. All she wanted to do was curl up on the couch with Odie and watch a feel-good holiday movie while the snow fell outside.
She parked in the driveway. When she reached for her purse on the passenger seat, she noticed the mess of napkins from the other day when Parker had pulled her over. She would clean them up later.
She got out and headed for the front door. When she stepped up onto the porch, she came to a halt. The front door was open a few inches.
Her heart lurched into her throat. Her mind raced as she tried to come up with a reason her front door would be hanging open. She was one hundred percent certain she’d closed and locked the deadbolt when she’d left after lunch.
Was there someone inside? She didn’t know what to do. If she called the cops and there was some reasonable answer for why her door was open, she’d look ridiculous. But if there was a criminal in her house, she didn’t want to face them alone.
As she contemplated her next steps, she tiptoed to the opening in the door. She peered inside but didn’t see anyone. She paused and tried to hear over the pounding of her heart. There wasn’t a sound coming from inside. There wasn’t even so much as a whimper from Odie. If someone was in the house, Odie would normally be barking his fuzzy little head off.
With that thought in mind, she pushed the door open wider. “Hello. Anyone here?”
She paused and listened again. Still no sounds.
Her heart was hammering, and her chest was tight as she took a step into the house. Normally, she took her snow boots off at the door but not today. If she had to flee, she wasn’t running out into the snow in her socks.
“Hello?” She held still, waiting and listening.
There was no sound. No footsteps. Nothing at all. Just the pounding of her heart echoing in her ears.
And then dread blossomed in her chest. It was a suffocating feeling that grew with each breath. Her house hadn’t been this silent since she’d brought Odie home.
Every day when she crossed the threshold, Odie would emit an excited bark. This evening, there was no bark, no yip, no nothing. Belle ran to his crate in the corner of the living room.
Before she even reached it, she knew it wasn’t good. The door was hanging open. She knelt down. The crate was empty except for Odie’s favorite toy—a stuffed lamb that he loved to squeak. Odie and Lambie were practically inseparable.
She straightened. “Odie! Here, boy!” She prayed that he’d come running to her with his little tail swishing back and forth. “Odie! Time to eat.” It wasn’t really, but she’d gladly feed him early if it meant finding him safe and sound. “Odie, please. Come here.”
The only sound was the winter wind whipping through the open doorway. Tears burned at the back of her eyes. What was going on?
There was absolutely no way that she’d left both the crate door and the front door open. No chance at all. Someone had been here. Her blood ran cold.
But who? And did they take Odie? Or had he wondered off on his own? It was unlikely. Odie didn’t like the cold. He’d much rather spend his time stretched out in front of the fireplace.
She continued looking around. It wasn’t until she reached the kitchen that she found her cabinet doors and refrigerator hanging open. But why?
When she went to close the fridge because it was a natural instinct, she came across a note on the kitchen island. The breath hitched in her lungs. It read:
