Page 12 of After the End
As soon as he climbed out of the pickup, Ellie hooked her hand in the crook of his arm, walking beside him as they headed for the house. “Spill!” she ordered. “Why’s a deputy coming here? Did they discover your double life as a jewel thief?”
He smiled down at her. The mental image of Lemon in that crate weighed heavily on his mind, but being with Ellie always lightened his mood. She made everything a little bit more bearable.
“Not jewels.” He pulled the cord to unlatch the front door and held it open for her. “Dogs.”
Instead of going inside, she stopped and stared at him. “You’re a dog thief?”
“Not yet.” On the short drive from Mrs. Johnson’s house, he’d gone over every possible option. This was the one with the highest chance of success. “After tonight, though…”
“You’re going to steal a dog?” She still wasn’t moving, so he took her hand and tugged her into the house.
“Dogs.”
“You’re stealing multiple dogs.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It’s Lemon and her puppies.”
“Lemon?” she repeated, her forehead wrinkling in thought. “Oh! Mrs. Johnson’s dog. Well, she used to be Mrs. Johnson’s dog.” Her expression turned sad at the reminder. She’d grown close to their elderly neighbor before Mrs. Johnson had passed away. “Why are you stealing Lemon and her puppies?”
“The son is selling them to Martin Leek.” The words tasted bitter in his mouth.
Judging by Ellie’s disgusted face, she felt the same way. “The puppy mill guy out by Liverton? Oh, no. That repulsive lizard isn’t getting Lemon and her babies.”
Exactly.George smiled at her. Ellie proved every day how perfect she was for him. “Want to help?”
She didn’t even hesitate for a second. “Of course.” Her face lit up. “I have the perfect burglar-wear!”
He laughed and pulled her close, leaning down for another kiss.
Ducking away, she teased, “Don’t you want to hear about my perfect dog-napper outfit?”
George reached out to catch her around the waist, but she slipped free, giggling. “Afterward,” he said.
When he moved closer, she stepped back, her expression joyful and a little wicked. Immediately, his heart reacted…as did another body part. As he stalked her, she shifted back until she was pressed against the wall. Diving in, he brought his mouth just a breath away from hers…and then stopped.
“What’s your news?” he asked teasingly.
“My news can wait. Kissing first,” she ordered, grabbing the back of his head. Yanking him closer, she kissed him, and his lips turned up in a smile. He loved when Ellie showed him she wanted him as much as he wanted her. The kiss heated, and George stopped smiling as his need intensified, and he pressed his body against hers.
His dog-napping plans were temporarily pushed aside by more immediate thoughts—all of them involving Ellie.
* * *
George waited at the edge of the trees, watching the house. All the windows were dark.
“Now?” Ellie whispered, leaning against his side. She was shivering, but he was pretty sure it was from excitement and nerves rather than cold. The summer night had a cool edge, but Ellie’s “burglar-wear” consisted of a black turtleneckanda black hoodie, so she was well-protected against the chill.
George considered her question. He wished he could hear better, but the wind, although light, was constant, and the steady drone covered any possible sounds from the Johnson house. Everything had been dark and still for a half hour, though. “Yes. Stay here.”
“No. I’m going with you. We already had this argument,” she hissed, straightening away from him so she could plant her hands on her hips.
He nodded, conceding reluctantly. He didn’t expect trouble, since Larry seemed like the type of guy who’d call the cops rather than pull—or even own—a gun, but George knew he could easily be wrong. Stealing the dogs had been his idea, and he hated that he might be leading her into danger. It was too late now, though. Ellie was fully committed. Giving the house a final appraisal, he slipped out of the trees and across the backyard. Ellie stayed right behind him. He could hear her footsteps, but they were faint, and he felt a rush of pride. He’d been teaching her tracking and how to move through the wilderness quietly without leaving a trail, and she was proving to be an excellent student.
With one eye on the house, ready to yank Ellie into the shadows if there was any movement, George crept around to the far side of the deck. He stopped abruptly, and Ellie bumped into him. Automatically reaching back to steady her with a hand on her hip, he scanned the area between the side of the deck and the house.
