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Ipurposely let the puppy get away from me knowing eventually I’d have no choice but to venture out to Sheriff Wades place rather than going home. Now that I’m here, with him, alone in his truck, I’m having my doubts.
The roads are icy, visibility is poor and as I see the lights of his front porch growing closer, my nerves have taken over as I pet the puppy in my lap.
“What’s his name?” Colter’s strong voice breaks the silence and I struggle to catch my breath.
“Who?” I finally say.
His masculine chuckle is warm as he shakes his head and stops the truck. “The pup.”
“Oh.” Duh. “She. It’s a she. And she doesn’t have one.” I wouldn’t even know where to begin to think of a name for her. I’d never thought of owning an animal before, being responsible for another life hasn’t been a thought on my mind.
Except when it comes to intimate dreams of Sheriff Colter Wade.
“Well, what is it?” He asks again.
“I don’t know. I only found her today.”
“Christ, Oaklynn. All this for a dog? You could have died.” He scolds and it’s not the first time I’ve done it to myself either. I knew chasing her was a bad idea as soon as I put her back on her feet in the snow. I should have gone home or stayed where I was.
But I’m a foolish girl.
“It was stupid.” I mutter as he opens his door, slamming it shut behind him as he rushes around to my side. I can see his mouth moving as he says something, but I haven’t a clue what.
The squeak of his truck door has the puppy barking and jumping in my lap as he steps forward. “Enough.” Colter barks and she calms down and whines at him. “Grab snowball.” He instructs and before I can say or do anything, I’m in his arms, puppy, blanket and all, and he’s rushing up the steps to his door as icy snow pelts us, soaking my skin and clothes through the blanket.
The cold penetrates my bones and I begin to shiver as I try to cuddle closer into Colter’s chest. The door slams shut behind us but he doesn’t stop moving until he’s seated me on the couch and places another blanket across my lap.
“Thank you.” My teeth chatter so hard my jaw hurts.
I watch, fascinated as Colter sheds his layers by the door quickly before coming over to the hearth, near wear I sit and begins to ignite a blazing fire. Filling the room with warmth.
“So what are you going to call it?” He says as I stare into the flickering flames, entranced by their beauty, while he sets about making a pot of coffee.
“Her.” I correct him again. “And I’m not sure.” I stare down at her dark eyes as she looks up at me, her soft tongue poking out to lick my chin. “But she’s not a snowball.”
His laugh warms me up quicker than the fire does. “Fair enough, she’s too dark to be one anyway. Where’d you find her?”
“Under a stoop as I was leaving Ms. Sawyers house. There were no others and I didn’t see any tracks that her momma was coming or going, so I took her.”
“Drink this,” he hands me a steaming cup of coffee before sitting on the table in front of us.
“No need to defend why you grabbed her Oaklynn, you did the right thing. She likely would have died otherwise.” Just as the words pass his lips, the wind howls and the sound of a branch breaking off a tree can be heard, as if to prove his point.
“Now, little ball of fluff,” taking her from my arms, Colter holds her up to examine her. “She looks like a Shepard.” She begins to wiggle in his hold, trying to lick his face. “A vet exam will confirm that. How about Marble?”
My nose scrunches and when his gaze wanders to me, he raises a brow in question. “Marble? Like the toy?”
“Marble like the design. Because she’s so many shades of brown, she looks like a marble.” His grin and wink are adorable.
“I like it. She almost looks like marble cake.” Her head tilts to the side and it’s almost as if she understood the reference. “Marble,” I whisper and run my hand through her soft fir. “Could I get her a bowl of water?” I almost forgot where we were for a moment and my shyness begins to return.
Putting Marble on the floor, he stands and grabs my hand, pulling me to my feet. We’re so close I can feel the heat emanating from his body as he stares down at me. “Anything you want, Oaklynn,” his hand brushes the damp hair back from my face, “and it’s yours.”
I get the feeling he means more than the bowl of water. Nodding my head, I feel uncertain about the look in his eyes and rush to the kitchen for the water. His footsteps can be heard retreating down the hallway and Marble padding along behind him.
Taking a deep breath, I’m reminded of my wet clothes as I open cupboard after cupboard before finding a large enough bowl for the dog. After filling it, I place the bowl on the ground in the kitchen for her to find when she comes back in.
“Here,” startled by the close proximity of Colter’s voice, I jump, and he grabs my hips from behind, pulling me back into his chest. I can feel his strong heart beating against my shoulder. Every puff of air as he exhales. And when he gently slides a hand down my arm, across my quivering belly and whispers in my ear, “you need to change into this,” before placing a long shirt in my hand and backing away, I can’t help but feeling disappointed that he doesn’t try for more.
