Read Online Once Upon a Christmas by Lauraine Snelling, Lenora Worth - Free Book Online Page A

we’ll go home now.” He picked up the pace, heading for the parked truck.
    “Did you drive?” She turned and walked with him.
    “Yes, the truck is in the parking lot by the pier.”
    “Well, I guess we’ll see you later then.”
    “I’m serious. I really need some help, you know any good day care places?’
    “You mean now?”
    “You wouldn’t ask if you saw my house.”
    Blythe thought of her morning’s plan and gave up with a sigh. “I can manage a couple of hours. Why don’t you drop me at my house, I’ll put Harley in and follow you?”
    “Blythe, I cannot begin to tell you how grateful I am.” The look on his face confirmed his statement.
    Amie whimpered as he swung his backpack off his shoulders. “Mommy coming?”
    “No, baby, Mommy isn’t coming. We’ll get you home and…”
    “I want Mommy.”
    The plea tore at Blythe’s heart. Did the mother die or—or what?
    “Did you bring any other clothes?”
    “Not here.” He flipped up the bar on the kiddie seat. “Here you go.”
    “I wet.” She wrinkled her nose and shook her head.
    “I’ll fix that when we get home. Get in the car seat, please.”
    Matty leaped up on the seat. Amie shrieked and stumbled backwards, her cries echoing in the vehicle. “No, no, doggy bad. No!”
    Do I take the dog or the child? Fearing to make the child worse, Blythe took hold of Matty’s leash. “Come, Matty, there’s a good girl.”
    “She’s afraid of dogs, too. Right now, she’s afraid of everything.” Thane glanced over his shoulder to make sure Blythe heard him as he held the little girl close. “Easy, Amie, it’s all right. Blythe has Matty and all you need to do is get in your chair so we can go home and clean you up.”
    Still sniffing, she finally did as asked, rubbing her eyes. “Mommy.”
    The whimper burrowed into Blythe’s soul. Danger! Danger! This little one wanted her mommy and it wasn’t her. She planned never to sign on to mommyhood. How long would Thane have the child and what happened to her mother? And while off to a rocky start, this relationship had been a possibility…a now dimming possibility.
    Thane put Matty up in the back, behind a screen. “Now you stay, hear me?” Matty thumped her tail.
    Telling Harley to stay is like telling Christmas not to come. Blythe reached down and stroked his head.
    “Here, can you two share the front seat?”
    “Of course.” She motioned Harley to jump up to the floor, which he did just fine. Except he then scrambled up on the seat before she could climb in. He grinned at her, tail thwacking the console. “Down, Harley.” She pointed to the floor. He looked down and then away, as if to say, you can’t mean for me to sit down there. “I do mean it.” She tugged on his leash. “Moving him is like shifting a concrete block.”
    “Get him out and I’ll hold him until you get in, then he’ll have to stay on the floor.”
    Blythe nodded. They could have been halfway home by now. She tugged on the leash. Harley planted his feet. “Harley, come.” He wagged his tail and doggy-grinned.
    Thane stepped around Blythe, scooped up the dog and set him on the ground. “Hand me the leash.”
    Blythe did so, climbed up in the SUV, leaning her knees toward the middle so Harley had room on the floor. Once inside, he looked at her like she’d betrayed him. Good thing it’s a short trip home. He’s not going to like being left, either, but what can I do?
    Once he was home and engrossed in destroying a new chew bone, she returned to the truck, to hear Amie crying again. Matty whimpered from the back but before they made it to Alhambra, the dog broke into a howl. Amie looked over her shoulder, her cries cut off like someone threw a switch.
    “Matty, that’s enough.”
    Blythe watched Thane’s jawline turn white.
    The dog howl wound down to a whimper. The child sniffed and muttered, “Bad doggy.”
    “This scene would win funniest home videos.”
    “Thank you very much. I’m glad you