Page 109 of Christmas at Sturcombe Bay
She smiled in delight. “Oh yes — I was really hoping you’d say that. You really seemed to hit it off.”
“Why’s he here?” Shelley asked.
“People have found him a bit of a challenge. He’s just short of ten months old, and he’s already been rejected twice.”
“Oh . . . ! He’s just a puppy.”
Marion nodded. “He’s a typical Dane — big and bouncy and rather clumsy. But he’s very affectionate — he just wants to be loved. And he isn’t doing very well in kennels since the last time he was brought back. He’s not eating very well, and he’s starting to shut down. So — he’s your choice?”
“Yes.” Shelley spoke before Alex could open his mouth.
He smiled down at her. “I thought you were going to be the sensible one?”
Her eyes danced. “Whatever made you think that?”
Marion rose to her feet. “Come on through and I’ll bring him out.”
“I didn’t think they let people take dogs at Christmas,” Shelley murmured, glancing up at the sign above the desk.
“Ah — I exercised my famous Canadian charm and managed to convince her that I’m a responsible person.”
A bubble of laughter rose to her lips. “Of course.”
They followed Marion into a room behind the office, with a long sofa and a couple of floor cushions, and a box of dog toys.
“This is exciting.” Shelley was almost bouncing as she settled on the sofa. “A Great Dane. They’re gorgeous dogs.”
Alex smiled. It was easy to guess that it was the backstory about the dog being rejected which had hooked her.
“He’ll be a challenge,” he reminded her.
She quirked an amused eyebrow. “Oh, not like flying a fighter jet at Mach two, or buying a hotel, then?”
The barking from the kennels was going crazy, then the door at the back of the room opened. A large grey head with melancholy dark eyes peered cautiously round, then quickly retreated.
“Come on, boy,” Marion urged gently. “There’s someone here for you to meet. You remember Alex?”
The dog’s head appeared again, drooping and sad. Marion managed to coax him inside, but he tried — not very successfully — to hide behind her. His tail was clamped firmly between his legs, and Alex could see that he was trembling.
“Oh, sweetheart!” Shelley slid down onto one of the floor cushions and held out her arms. “You’re beautiful.” She spoke lightly, as if to a human baby. “Come and have a cuddle.”
The huge dog gazed at her for a long moment, uncertain. Then as Marion unclipped his lead, he bounded forward, all giant paws and gangly legs and floppy ears, and scrambled ontoShelley’s lap as though he was a tiny puppy. He tucked his head beneath her chin and whimpered softly.
“Oh, you big soppy. You’re just a baby, aren’t you?” She was laughing, wrapping her arms around him, tears in her eyes as she stroked his long sleek grey body.
Alex laughed. If ever there was a case of love at first sight! “Well, sensible or not, it looks like the decision’s been made. Where do I sign?”
* * *
Alex pulled the car into the car park outside the small block of holiday flats.
“Here’s your new home, Sweetie,” Shelley murmured.
He laughed. “You can’t keep calling a dog that size Sweetie.”
“Why not? He doesn’t look like a Tyson.”
He glanced back over his shoulder at the giant pup lying on a blanket on the back seat, watching them both with wary eyes. “No, I suppose not.”
