“Hey, what are you still doing here?”his brother Michael asked.
Justin shrugged on his coat.“I was just about to leave.Unless there’s something you need.”
Michael shook his head.“I’m good.I wonder how things are going for Parker.I know Belle’s out of her mind with worry about her dog.”
“I still can’t believe that anyone in Kringle Falls would steal a dog.”
“I agree.Whoever did it isn’t from Kringle Falls.”Michael nodded to the book in Justin’s hand.“Since when have you taken up gardening?”
“I haven’t.They gave me the wrong book when I was at the bookshop.”
“Uh-huh.”He made it sound like he didn’t believe him.“I also heard that Felicity is back in town and working at the bookshop.”Michael sent him a knowing smile.“She wouldn’t be the reason you’re hanging out there, would it?”
“No.”The answer came out too quickly and with a bit too much force.“I’m not hanging out there.You know I like to read.”
“I do.I just don’t know how you accidentally bought a gardening book.”Michael grinned as he walked away.
His brother was not amusing.Not in the least.With an inward groan, Justin grabbed his stuff, and in frustration closed the locker with a little more force than normal.
He headed outside to his pickup.It was a short drive to the bookshop.Then again, it was a short drive to anywhere in Kringle Falls.He should stop and get a coffee before heading over to the school to work on the set for the play.Thankfully, it was close to being finished.
But by the time he had the thought about the coffee, he was already past the Kringle Cup Café.He decided to grab the coffee after he exchanged the book on the seat next to him for the correct one.
He pulled into a parking spot a little way down the road from the bookshop.As he walked back, he glanced in the bookshop window.Staring back at him was the most adorable puppy.
Wait.What is a dog doing in the bookshop window?
Then he realized the lifelike puppy must be a stuffed animal.It had to be a part of the Christmas display with a miniature Christmas tree.
He looked away but caught movement out of the corner of his eye.The puppy was moving.That definitely wasn’t a toy.Since when did Connie have a dog?
He moved to the door that had a pine wreath adorned with white twinkle lights and a big red bow.When he opened the door of the bookshop, he braced for the puppy to come running over and jumping up on him like Colin’s dogs always did.But the dog didn’t come to him.Perhaps it was shy.
He walked toward the checkout counter as he continued looking around for the puppy.He bumped into someone.
“Sorry.”He turned his head and stared straight into the most beautiful emerald green eyes.“Felicity.”
She smiled, causing his heart to skip a beat.“It’s me.”
The fuzzy sensations she evoked in him made him uncomfortable.When he spoke, it came out grouchier than he intended.“Why aren’t you watching where you’re going?”
“Me?”The smile fell from her face.
Not wanting to continue this line of conversation, he said, “There’s a dog in here.Did you see it?”
“Of course, I did.”
He sighed.Why was it that every time he was around her, he either lost his ability to speak or he said all of the wrong things?
He swallowed hard and tried again.“Did Connie get a dog?”
As though the puppy sensed they were talking about it, the pup came running over.Felicity bent over and scooped it up into her arms.“Nope.”
“You got a dog?”He voiced his thoughts before he could stop them.The words just kept tumbling out.“You’re staying in Kringle Falls?Permanently?”
“Slow down.You didn’t let me finish.I’m dog-sitting Sunny until Merry Kringle returns from a meeting.”
“Oh.”That was a relief in so many ways.Realizing that Felicity was looking at him, he said, “That was very generous of you.”
