Mistletoe Magic (Paradise Place Book 6)

by Natalie Ann

  She walked him to the door and he just decided to go with his gut, leaned in and lightly brushed his lips to hers. She returned the kiss but didn’t put her arms around him so he knew enough to not yank her in and lay claim to her like he wanted.

  Baby steps, he told himself he’d have to take, and he was fine with that.

  But when he got in his car, he realized, he’d never given her his cell number. Shit.

  Did he go back to the door or drive away?

  In the end, he figured he’d get her number from her case file on Monday and send her a text. No use rushing things and she’d said she was going furniture shopping tomorrow.

  Monday was soon enough. He hoped.

  5

  A Connection

  “Are you all settled into your house now?”

  Robin looked over at Cooper Winslow, one of the local vets that volunteered his time at the shelter. A new shipment of puppies were due in from Georgia today and he’d check them out, give shots, and make sure there were no illnesses present. She’d bathe and play with and photograph the new additions, then get them ready for the website and social media pages.

  “I am. I didn’t have a lot of stuff to bring over and ended up shopping for furniture yesterday to fill up some of the other rooms.”

  “I could have helped you move,” he’d said.

  Yep, he offered and she declined. Cooper was in his mid-thirties, she was sure, and he’d been nice since she’d started to volunteer here back in March. Sometimes too nice.

  She was pretty sure he’d like to ask her out. He was always talking about getting a drink but doing it in a way that didn’t put her on the spot. He knew she was divorced, but she wasn’t sure if he knew who her ex was.

  There was no way she was volunteering that information to anyone. Some of her and Alex’s joint friends sided with him over the divorce. No one would give details on what happened and she was fine with that, but plenty made comments on her being a gold digger and making out in the end.

  Their divorce had been sealed, something that everyone was in agreement with. Not just because no one in the family wanted it known what Alex had done but also because she didn’t want anyone to be aware of her wealth.

  Even her brother, Rick, had been shocked over the millions she’d gotten and she’d never been specific on the actual amount. He was more concerned she was going to be easy picking or prey for her money.

  Rick was six years older than her and always looked out for her like an older brother should. He never had a problem with Alex, or so he said, but when everything happened, he’d been livid and said he should have seen it a mile away. He blamed it on the fact he didn’t live around here and was going to move back home.

  She’d convinced him to stay there and live his life that he loved so much.

  “I appreciate it, but I had movers doing it all. So how many dogs are due in today?” she asked.

  “I think at least a dozen,” he said. “Maybe more. There are a few different litters and breeds.”

  “Maybe I’ll find the one I’m looking for to take home now.”

  That was what she was waiting for the most. To finally have her own dog. Someone to come home to and take care of. Cuddle with at night. Play with.

  She’d wanted one for years, but Alex was allergic, or so he said. He always had some excuse not to have any pets in the house. Then would say, “Don’t you get your fix at the shelter?”

  To avoid a fight, she’d just nod her head and hope she could talk him into it one day. It seemed like any time there were pet or family talks, they’d have a fight.

  Now she had no one to tell her no. What a great feeling that was!

  “I’m sure you’ll find one soon. You’ll know when it’s right.”

  “Yeah, I will,” she said, thinking of Brian now. How could she know this early? She wasn’t sure, but dang it all, she felt something for him that she never did for Alex.

  But she hadn’t heard a word from Brian since Saturday and then realized they didn’t exchange numbers. She could call his office to contact him and was thinking of it, but thought she’d give it another day at the least. He could get her number from his files too if he really wanted. If not, then her judgment was off again and that was too depressing of a thought.

  Less than an hour later, their delivery of puppies arrived. As always, they were barking and jumping, some whimpering.

  “Got a loud crew here,” the driver said.

  One by one, Cooper and she started to help bring the crates out. She might be little but she was strong.

  “What’s going on with those two in the back?” Cooper asked.

  “Brother and sister,” the driver said. “We tried to separate them, but they put up the biggest fit. The girl is the little one. Runt of the litter and she was almost screaming in fear. It was heartbreaking. I could hear her in the back. The brother was barking and scratching trying to get to her. I don’t know. Sorry, I know we are supposed to separate them, but I didn’t have the stomach for it.”

  “It’s fine,” Cooper said. “That might be a problem getting them adopted though if they can’t be separated.” He opened the crate and reached in for the male, leaving the female there until she started to cry and the male wiggled to get back, so he grabbed the female in his other hand.

  “What breed are they?” Robin asked Cooper. “Can you tell?”

  “Mix of lab and something else. Not sure what. Definitely chocolate lab which people love, but they can get big and not everyone wants two of them.”

  “Do you want me to clean them up while you take care of the others? Maybe I’ll separate them from the rest of the group and bathe them together.”

  “Sounds like a plan.”

  She reached for both puppies at once. They weren’t that big. Maybe six weeks or so. But the girl was definitely on the scrawny side.

  When Robin got to the back of the shelter she put the two of them in the large sink, giving them both rubs. They wouldn’t be able to get out, so she went and filled a bowl with fresh water and set it down, watching them go right at it until the bowl was empty.

  She didn’t want to scare them and turn the water on, so she put water in a bucket from another sink and then got a cloth and wet it, trying to give them a little sponge bath each.

  They were both squirming and wiggling around, but neither biting or whining. The female ended up peeing on her hand, making her laugh, but she was used to it by now.

  Once both dogs were cleaned up and smelling nice, she picked them up and brought them to the back on the artificial grass. She liked that option here. It was easier to just hose it down and not worry about mud and the dogs getting too dirty.

  When she came back in with the puppies, the little girl was sleeping on one arm, the boy almost lying on top of her keeping guard.

  Cooper went to reach for the male to examine him and that was when he started to bark, waking up his sister who began to cry.

  “They don’t like to be apart. They were fine in the back when I had them in the sink together, but I think they are worried we are separating them.”

  “Why don’t you bring his sister over and keep an eye on her while I examine the brother. Then we’ll switch. Hopefully if they can see each other they will be fine.”

  Which they were. Both were put back into a crate together to nap while she and Cooper dealt with the rest of the dogs brought in. As much as she wanted to spend time with the siblings, there were other dogs she had to deal with and pictures to be taken.

  Her phone went off later in the afternoon. She pulled it out of her pocket and read the text from Brian. I had a good time on Saturday. We forgot to exchange numbers so I had to wait until court ended to get yours in my office.

  That just warmed her heart, telling her that maybe he was thinking the same as she was.

  I had a great time Saturday too. At the shelter now and figured I’d call your office tomorrow if I hadn’t heard from you since I remembered I didn’t get your n
umber either.

  I’ll touch base with you later tonight. Need to run now. Didn’t want you to think I was ditching you, she read.

  No, she didn’t think that in the least. Or not much. Maybe it was a fleeting thought. There was a connection there and she felt it strong and knew he did too. Can’t wait to talk.

  When the puppy she was supposed to be cleaning splashed water up at her, she knew it was time to get back to what she was here for.

  At the end of the day, she walked by the brother and sister sleeping together in a little ball, and put her fingers in the crate to pet them. The female opened her eyes and licked her hand, the male doing the same.

  Yeah. When it was right, it was.

  6

  Hold Onto Someone

  At least Brian didn’t have to worry that Robin might be annoyed because it’d taken him more than a day to get back to her. He had planned on doing it earlier, but when he got into the office, Molly was marching in to give him some information he needed for his trial first thing.

  He’d gone home right after court Monday without getting Robin’s number, then Tuesday was more of the same with his mind in all directions, but he made sure he didn’t leave without it this time.

  It was Molly’s case, but she was still a bit green, and since she was his employee, he wanted to be there for the first few cases to make sure he was comfortable with her.

  The trial went well, they’d be back again tomorrow, but he wouldn’t stay all day. He just had too much to do on his own.

  But the minute he was back at his office, the first thing he did was pull up Robin’s personal information and send her that text.

  There was a knock at his door, so he lifted his head to see Molly standing there. “Yes?”

  “What has you smiling?” she asked with her head tilted, a serious expression on her face. He didn’t want to call it a resting bitch face because she’d never been a bitch to him, but she didn’t smile much either.

  “Nothing,” he said, tossing his phone on the desk. “Do you need something?”

  “Can you look these files over before court tomorrow? Are you going to be there again?”

  “Sure,” he said, taking them. “I’ll just stop in and then leave tomorrow. I’ve got my own court appearance in Colonie. You’re doing a great job though. You’ll be fine. You don’t need me there.”

  She nodded her head. “Thanks. That means a lot. So many think I don’t have what it takes because I’m quiet. I’m just more determined.”

  “Which isn’t a bad thing,” he said, glad he’d given her a chance. He couldn’t pay her as much as she might make in a bigger firm, but she’d get more experience with him. She wouldn’t do a lot of grunt work like she might for other attorneys, and she could potentially make more in her earlier years if she brought in the clients.

  He got back to work knowing there was only an hour left before the office closed for the day. He’d probably be here longer though. It’s not like he had anyone to go home to.

  Sure, he could bring work home and get it done there, but he had more at his fingertips here.

  Almost two hours later, he was locking up his office and driving home. He was tempted to stop at some fast food place and get a burger and then reminded himself that every time he did that he hated himself after.

  He wasn’t a fan of fast food as much as he was just lazy on some nights. Maybe he should do what Robin did and freeze some foods when he cooked. He could ask her the best way to do it.

  Of course that would mean time he didn’t always have either. Unless he just made more to freeze?

  Yeah, he was thinking like a wuss right now. Frozen food and cooking tips. Some of his buddies would be laughing their ass off.

  Not Troy though. Nope, Troy might be taking notes right with him.

  He thought of his best friend. The two of them had been part of the popular clique in school, but as Troy had often said, it was Brian that was the popular one, Troy just the sidekick.

  It didn’t matter in his eyes, because no one was as loyal or trustworthy as Troy Walker.

  Troy took over his father’s plumbing and heating business way too young when his father died suddenly. He’d never wanted to go to college, but he visited Brian often.

  And when Brian was having fun and hooking up with women in college, his buddy was going through some serious relationships. They never lasted; most thought Troy was boring. But Brian just called him steady.

  Steady was a good thing any day in his book. Too bad he never found a steady woman himself.

  But then Troy and Meena became an item and all that attention his sister got over him growing up for her outrageous looks and behavior seemed to blend into adulthood, him losing the one steady person in his life.

  His best friend was going to be with Meena now and not with him. And when he thought of all of that, he realized he was being a baby again.

  Even more so, his family told him that.

  A temper he didn’t often show was exposed when he found out about that relationship. His first instinct had been to protect her. Then he realized he was trying to protect his baby sister from his best friend.

  But here he was, going home alone when his buddy was going home to his wife.

  Maybe his day would come...if he could find someone perfect for him.

  Lady luck had been slipping through his fingers way too fast in his life.

  But maybe now he’d get a little bit of sticky syrup on his digits and be able to hold onto someone. Hold onto Robin?

  One date shouldn’t make him think that way, but the truth was, he’d had a tiny crush on her from the first time he’d met her.

  Which was a no-no since he was her lawyer. He’d dated clients before—more than he should have—when they were done with his services. Most of the time he wondered if it was a thank you in their eyes, or a way to land a man, or maybe a rebellion against the husband they’d just left. All things that had crossed his mind over the years.

  And he learned to keep his distance from them again. From any clients.

  Yet here he was maybe falling into old habits.

  He got home, parked in the garage, and walked up the stairs to his room to shower and change. He’d already removed his tie hours ago when he was walking out of the courtroom. He was definitely jealous of his buddies that wore jeans to work daily.

  Once he was in shorts and a T-shirt, he made his way to the kitchen trying to figure out what to eat. Looked like bacon, eggs, and toast. Good enough.

  When dinner was done and cleaned up, it was almost seven and he decided to give Robin a call.

  “Hello,” she said on the first ring. He liked that when some women might wait to answer.

  “How was your day at the shelter?” he asked, getting comfortable on the couch and putting his feet up, crossing them at the ankles.

  “Great. Puppies come in on Tuesday and Thursday and the shelter is open for adoptions on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. So I got to spend the day cleaning and playing with puppies.”

  “What happens at the shelter on Monday and Sunday?” he asked.

  “Cleaning. Stocking, shopping, paperwork. All sorts of things. I’m there Tuesdays and Thursdays. Once a month I’ll help out on a Saturday but not normally when people are coming in to adopt. I just like to clean and play with the puppies.”

  “Your alone time with them?” he asked.

  “Yeah. It is nice on a Saturday to see how excited people are to pick out and bring a puppy home, but then it can be a little sad if one is passed up. It doesn’t happen a lot, but can.”

  She had a tender soul. “Are you going to have a lot of pets now that you’ve got your own place? An emotional decision rather than a thought-out one?” he asked.

  Robin laughed and at least she wasn’t insulted over the question. Once the words were out of his mouth, he started to wonder if he shouldn’t have voiced them.

  “No. I’m practical. I can’t help every animal even if I’d love to see the
m all get a great home. And speaking of that—I’ll sound the opposite of that when I tell you something.”

  “You found your puppy?” he asked, starting to laugh. “Not letting any moss grow under your feet.”

  “No, I’m not. In a lot of ways,” she said with a little giggle.

  He could take that a lot of ways and chose to take it that the two of them might be starting something. “So, what did you get?”

  “A brother and sister. I couldn’t say no. They were just glued to each other. You can tell the girl was the runt of the litter and the brother wouldn’t leave her side. Not sure why it was just the two of them left and I didn’t ask.”

  “What do they look like?” he asked.

  “Hang on. I’m going to send you a picture. I’ll get them after work tomorrow. I bought everything I need today for them. It’s going to be hard to leave them all day long, but they will be crated and fine. Once they are big enough, I’ll bring them to doggy daycare. And when I volunteer it’s not all day anyway.”

  He waited and heard his phone go off, then looked at the picture of the two brown dogs. It was easy to see which one was the male and which was the female. The male was almost standing over his little sister.

  “Very cute,” he said. “Got names picked out yet?”

  “Luke and Leia.”

  “Star Wars,” he said.

  “That’s right. They are both fighters and siblings and it seemed fitting.”

  “Kind of like you,” he said.

  “I thought that. I mean no one would think I was much of a fighter. Not really. But it did remind me of my brother Rick and me. He’s older and so protective of me.”

  “I was the same way with Meena. I think it’s a big brother’s job and right to do that.”

  “I think so too. So how was your day?” she asked.

  “The same old same old. Court in the morning. It’s Molly’s case, but since she’s new I like to keep an eye on her. She’s good and will be fine. I got home less than an hour ago and made breakfast for dinner.”