Read Online A Little Christmas Jingle by Michele Dunaway - Free Book Online Page B

abuse.”
    â€œStill, I’m not sure if it’s best that we blur professional lines.”
    He leaned against a table, assessed her with those all-seeing eyes. “Do you always do what’s best?”
    â€œClearly not as I’m running a shelter with no permits.” She sighed and scratched the head of a two-year-old tabby.
    Angela poked her head around the corner. “There you are.”
    Kat jerked her finger out of the cage and put a startled hand on her chest. “You’re still here?”
    â€œI wanted to make sure Pebbles was ready for her cremation. And I wrote the sympathy card and put it in the mail.”
    The clinic had a policy of sending cards. It was the least they could do. “That’s sweet of you for taking on that job for me.”
    â€œNo problem. You can reward me with a big Christmas bonus. Did she eat?” This question was directed at Jack.
    â€œNot that I know of.”
    Angela gave Kat a pointed look. “Lunch was hours ago.” As proof, Kat’s stomach rumbled. “See?”
    Caught, Kat gave a weak chuckle. However, it cut the tension and lightened her mood. “I am hungry.”
    â€œYou need to eat. Let me take you somewhere,” Jack inserted.
    Angela beamed. “Great idea. I’ll hold down the fort until you get back. You need to get out of here for a while. Besides, you have remote access.”
    â€œI can monitor Jingle’s machines and watch him via my phone,” Kat explained. “I do need to stop by my house and feed my cats.”
    â€œSo go,” Angela urged. She made a shooing motion and shot Kat a pointed look. “Go hug your kitties so you’ll feel better. I’ll be here.”
    She hesitated. “If you’re sure …”
    Angela practically pushed Kat out the door. “Go. I got this. And remember what I told you earlier.”
    â€œWhat did she tell you earlier?” Jack asked.
    â€œNothing important,” Kat fibbed, allowing Jack to lead her toward an exit. She followed behind, noting his broad backside and the way his blond hair curled at the nape. She had an urge to touch those strands.
    He assisted her into the SUV, her hand warming under his touch as he propelled her upward. He climbed into the driver’s seat and leaned over to touch the clasp. “Buckled up?”
    She nodded, wanting to trust him. But trust had failed her before. “Yes.”
    â€œThen let’s do this.”

Chapter Five
    Ten minutes later Jack easily found Kat’s apartment, for when she’d said the one with the Christmas lights, she hadn’t been joking. The brick two-family building across from the park was completely covered. Blinking multicolored strands hung from the flat roofline and lined each window and door. She had a set of lighted white reindeer and one of those inflatable Santa Claus figures in the postage-stamp-size front yard.
    While the neighboring buildings on each side also sported strands of lights, Kat’s outshone both.
    He parked in the alley, behind her two-car garage, and followed her through the well-lit yard to the back door. Christmas lights adorned the backyard trees as well as the garage.
    â€œYou in a contest?” he asked.
    She laughed, put the key in the back-door lock. “No, but I just love the lights and decorations; it makes even a bad day like today a little brighter this time of year. I can hang more decorations here than at the clinic, so I admittedly go a bit overboard. I love that people slow down when they drive by.”
    She tugged the door open and turned off the first alarm as they stepped onto a small landing. Stairs led downstairs to the basement and also upward. “I’m on the second floor.”
    They passed the door to the first-floor apartment, and Jack tried not to stare too hard at her backside. “So do your tenants like all the lights?”
    â€œWell, they don’t mind, and their kids always