With a sigh, he turned to put the feed bucket down outside the pen.No sooner had he placed the bucket on the floor than Cupcake ran up behind him.Her head hit him in the backside.He went flying forward with his arms outstretched.
He landed on the concrete floor.His head rammed into Jinx’s pen.With anughhe sat up.
He gave his head a quick shake before looking over at Cupcake.If a pig could snicker, she was doing it.She had merriment dancing in her eyes.
And then she eyed up the bucket.He moved faster than she did.He shoved the gate shut.Cupcake let out a frustrated sigh.
He eyed her over the gate.“Are you going to behave?”
Cupcake let out a snort.He wasn’t quite sure what it meant.
“If you behave, I’ll feed you.”
Her gaze moved to the overturned trough.He took his time opening the gate again, keeping an eye on her as he moved.Cupcake stood still, as though she knew if she moved, it would be that much longer until she got to eat.
He turned over her trough.She just watched him.And then he dumped the bucket into it.He knew from past experience to move posthaste after dumping her food, or he would get mowed down.Nothing stood between Cupcake and her dinner.
At lightning speed, he stepped outside the pen.He closed the gate and secured it.He peered over the gate and watched as Cupcake snuffled down her dinner.A smile pulled at the corner of his lips.Two months ago, she was emaciated, and he wasn’t sure she would make it.Now she was beginning to put on some weight.It was taking time, but she was beginning to look healthier.By springtime, he hoped she’d be ready to go live on a farm.
He turned to Cupcake and Jinx.“Sorry.I have to go.I’ll check in on you guys later.”
And then he headed outside where there was a light snow falling.He had been planning to start stripping the wallpaper in the dining room, but it had waited a couple of years now.It could wait a little longer.
Right now, he had a house call to make at his brother’s place.And that was to be followed by a stop at the pet store to see what was on Merry Kringle’s mind.Perhaps she’d found a stray animal out in the snow.The thought quickened his footsteps as he ran inside to collect his medical bag and be on his way.
Chapter Three
WhenHollyarrivedatPurr ’n Woof, she saw the Closed sign in the window.She wondered if Merry had gotten tired of waiting for her and left.When she tried the door handle, it moved, and the door swung open.
Holly stepped into the shop and closed the door behind her.“Hello?”
There was nothing but silence.
She stepped farther into the shop and raised her voice.“Hello?”
“Holly…” Merry walked toward her from the back.“I’m glad you’re here.”She waved at her to follow her.“We’re in the office.”
We?Who is we?Holly followed her.She had to say that her curiosity was piqued.
Holly came to a halt at the doorway.When she saw Dr.Colin Bishop, DVM, her heart lodged in her throat.In her childhood and teens, he’d been the boy-next-door.He was a few years older than she was, and she’d had the biggest crush on him.Of course, he never noticed that she hung on his every word.Nor did he complain when she would follow him around as he cared for his pets.
When he was a teenager, he’d mow her grandmother’s grass.In the winter, he’d shovel the driveway and sidewalk.He was somehow always around.
Even though she was too old to write letters to Santa by the time she fell for him, it didn’t stop her from wishing each Christmas that he would see her as a young woman and not the kid who used to follow him around.However, her Christmas wish never came true.
After he went away to college and then vet school, they’d drifted apart.When he returned to Kringle Falls a couple of years ago to open up his own veterinarian office, her life was busy working at the soap company.Each year, she took on more responsibility to lighten the load for her grandmother.Sure, they’d see each other in passing, but their interaction was never more than a hello.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat.“Hey, Colin.”
He glanced up from where he was petting a white puppy with large brown spots.When Colin’s brown gaze met hers, her heart launched into her throat just like it used to do when she was a teenager.A smile lifted the corners of his lips, and his dimples were on full display.She swallowed hard past the lump in her throat.
Colin was no longer a lanky teenager that she remembered.Now he was all muscle and attitude.His brown eyes turned dark as though camouflaging his secrets.
He was a man with a history she knew nothing about.And it made her wonder what had happened to him in the past fourteen years—not that she’d ever find out.
“Hi, Holly.It’s great that you’re fostering this puppy.”He sent her an approving smile.
What is he talking about?Her gaze moved to the puppy sitting on the desk.She was supposed to foster him?No.He had to be confused.
