Page 40 of This Christmas

“Will do.” Aiden chuckled. “Welcome to Pride.”

“Thanks.” He smiled and honked when he spotted the truck and Tom, who was questioning the man who’d tossed the puppy out.

Tom nodded, and Joe watched in his rearview mirror as he pulled the man out of the truck and cuffed him.

After hanging up with Aiden, he called the vet and agreed to stop by when he got into town.

The clinic’s waiting room was small and clean, with holiday garland twined around the reception desk and a few stockings hanging at the front desk.

The vet tech took one look at the bundle in his arms and gasped. “Oh, poor baby,” she murmured, taking the pup gently from him. “We’ll get him cleaned up and checked out right away.”

“He was dumped on the side of highway,” Joe explained, signing the intake form.

“Aiden called and told us you would be stopping by,” she said, not taking her eyes from the dog.

“I just want to make sure he’s all right. He’s scared and maybe a little underweight,” he added.

Then the vet stepped out and saw him and the dog and rushed over. “My son called me and told me you were on your way in.” She smiled up at him as she took the puppy from her staff member.

“Your… Aiden is your son?” He chuckled seeing a little resemblance now.

“Small towns.” She smiled. “I’m Amelia Brogan and you must be Pride’s newest resident, Joe…”

“Dalton,” he supplied.

The woman had sharp eyes and a soft voice. “We’ll keep him overnight and get him cleaned and warmed up. We’ll update him on shots and make sure he’s healthy. I’ll probably take him home to watch him overnight,” she said. “Aiden tells me you plan on keeping…”—she glanced at the puppy’s privates and smiled—“him. Do you want us to call you with updates?”

“Yes, please,” Joe said without hesitation. He gave the technician his contact information.

“Do you have a name picked out for him yet?” she asked.

“Not...” He rubbed the back of his neck, feeling oddly shy then suddenly blurted out, “Olaf.”

The technician chuckled. “We’ll keep Olaf safe. You may be able to pick him up tomorrow. I’ll keep you posted.”

As he drove away from the vet’s office, he felt the strangest pull in his chest, like leaving a piece of himself behind. The little guy had already worked his way into his heart.

He decided to keep the dog to himself for the time being. Ally had enough on her plate. He didn’t want to show up with a stray animal and add to her worries. Besides, he’d have to ask her brother and his wife if having a dog in their house was okay.

By the time he reached the lighthouse, the sky was streaked with the last blush of sunset, and the ocean was a deep slate gray beyond the cliffs. Warm yellow light spilled from the house windows, and Joe just sat there for a moment, watching the place.

He’d texted Ally from the vet’s and told her that he was back in town and would be there soon.

When he didn’t go into the house fast enough, she walked over to the window and waved at him.

Right.

He remembered that she would have known the instant he’d driven into the driveway, thanks to the new security camera that had been installed.

When he stepped inside, the homey scent of garlic and rosemary and the wonderful smell of roasted meat hit him. It smelled delicious, especially since he’d skipped lunch. Charlotte’s laughter echoed in the house, followed by Ally’s softer laugh.

They must have heard him because Charlotte came running out of the kitchen.

“Joe!” Charlotte rushed over to him, her ponytail bouncing as she wrapped her arms around his leg. “You made it just in time for dinner!”

“I’m glad I didn’t miss it.” He crouched down, giving her a grin. “It smells amazing in here.”

She puffed up proudly. “I helped.” She took his hand in hers and tugged him toward the back of the house. He followed her into the kitchen and stopped.