Read Online Love Gone to the Dogs by Margaret Daley - Free Book Online

high above earth, her ankle all but forgotten. She wondered when she would plunge to the ground.
    Reality struck quickly when she experienced the urge to scratch, reminding her of what was important for the time being. Leah knew the drill when it came to poison ivy. She took all the precautions she could, and scrubbed herself raw. There was no way any of the plant's oil was left on her body when she was through, because she felt as if there was little skin left. That wasn't what she was really worried about, though—it was the damage already done before the shower that had her worried.
    With her hair wrapped in a towel and her body clad in a short terry cloth robe, she made her way toward the kitchen. A knock sounded at the front door. Backtracking, she peered through the slit in the blinds and saw Shane standing on the porch. A memory of the first time she had seen him flashed into her mind. So much had happened in twenty-four hours.
    This time she smiled when she opened the door. "Hi." Suddenly she felt awkward. At least she didn't look like Rocky the Raccoon.
    "Hi, yourself. Here's the medicine I promised you." He gave her a vial, his fingers closing around hers.
    She should pull her hand away, but she couldn't bring herself to. She stared into his dark eyes, everything fading from her consciousness but the fact that a handsome man stood in front of her. He began to bend his head toward hers. She held her breath, anticipating the feel of his lips on hers, suddenly wanting the feel of his lips on hers. Then she heard a bark, and the moment vanished. As though she had been caught doing something she shouldn't have, she snatched her hand away and glanced toward the street.
    Arnold came trotting up the middle of the road, with Princess by his side. A look of pleasure was plastered on his mug. His head was held high and his tail was stuck up in the air. Was it possible for a dog to be feeling his oats? Leah wondered, hiding her grin. Her fingers were pressed to her mouth.
    "Obviously he wants to assure himself that his line will continue," Shane muttered. He turned away from her. "Don't forget to have your ankle X-rayed if it continues to bother you, Leah."
    He jogged down the steps and across the yard. As the canine pair neared the driveway, Shane grabbed Princess and kept on moving toward his house without a backward glance.
    Leah picked up Arnold and stared into his pleased mug. "Your timing is excellent as always." As she took him into the house, she wasn't sure if she was glad her pet had picked that moment to come home, or upset that he had. She couldn't seem to make up her mind when it came to a certain doctor.
     
    * * *
     
    Shane paced from one end of his den to the other, nervous energy making his strides long and quick. He plunged his hand through his hair repeatedly until it looked as if he didn't own a brush. Halting, he stared at the entrance that led to the front door.
    He had almost kissed her—at seven in the morning, in full view of the Shiplocks. He was sure that both Madge and Ned were spying on them from their living room, where a telescope had been set up. The man had probably zoomed in for a close up. If Madge hadn't already sullied Leah's reputation, that scene on her porch probably would have done it. He didn't care for himself, but Leah didn't need to be the object of rampant gossip in Shady Oaks. She was new to town, and people sometimes thought the worst until they got to know a person.
    Besides, he didn't want to get involved. Hadn't he old himself that just yesterday? In less than a day the woman had twisted her ankle and contracted a bad case of poison ivy. She was a walking time bomb waiting to explode. At the very least she and her family were some doctor's retirement.
    When the phone rang, Shane swung around and stared at the offending contraption. He picked it up on the fourth ring and rolled his eyes when he heard Ned's voice. Of course, the busybody would call.
    "Shane, we've got to do