Chapter Thirteen #2
“She can surprise you. After all, she already figured out how to ride the elevator.” Frustration rang out in his voice.
“I don’t even think she knows she’s in an elevator.” Felicity sounded breathless.
They stepped into the foyer of the first floor. He scanned the foyer and then the hallway. There was no sign of Sunny. Where was she?
“Do you see her?” he asked.
“No.”
“She must still be in the elevator.” He turned to go back upstairs.
“Wait.” Felicity walked toward the elevator.
What was she doing? The puppy was nowhere in sight. And yet he followed her because…well, he didn’t know why. Still, he kept going.
“Felicity?”
“Shh…”
Why was she shushing him? Did she spot the puppy? He hoped so.
She slowed her pace. He did the same. And then he heard a voice. Was that what she was listening to?
“Aren’t you a cutey,” a female voice cooed. “You must be lost. Your owner must be worried about you.”
Felicity stepped up to the open apartment door and smiled. “Sunny, there you are.”
He stepped up beside her, wanting to see the puppy with his own eyes. And there was Sunny enjoying the cuddles of their former sixth-grade math teacher.
“Felicity, I’d heard you were back in town. It’s good to see you.” Mrs. Wilson turned to him. “Justin, is this your puppy?”
“Uh, yes, ma’am.”
“Tsk. Tsk. You can’t let this puppy run around on her own. It’s dangerous for her on the elevator.”
He suddenly felt like he was back in elementary school. He opened his mouth to defend himself. After all, it wasn’t he who put the puppy down on the couch with the apartment door wide open. Although, he might have done something like that himself.
Instead of brushing off the blame, he said, “It was an accident. It won’t happen again.”
Mrs. Wilson hesitated as though considering his response, just like she’d done when he was a kid, and he’d forgotten his homework. “It takes time to get used to caring for a dog. I’m sure you’ll do better.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Mrs. Wilson handed over the puppy, who licked his cheek before tucking her head under his chin. If she thought a kiss and a hug were going to make him happy with her, she was completely wrong.
“Thank you, Mrs. Wilson.” Felicity smiled. “We really appreciate you finding Sunny.”
He remembered that smile. It was the one Felicity used in school to smooth things over when he was late with an assignment because quite literally one of his brother’s dogs ate his homework. Colin always adopted stray dogs and cats.
Mrs. Wilson smiled back. “It’s good to see you two together. You always did make a wonderful couple.”
She thought they were a couple? No! She was so wrong. “But we’re…”
Felicity planted an elbow in his ribs, stopping him mid-sentence. With another smile, she said, “We’re going to be late for work if we don’t get moving. Thanks again for the help.”
“Certainly. Just glad I was here. Keep her away from the elevator. It’s dangerous for pets.”
“We will.” As soon as Felicity turned around, the smile slipped from her lips.
They took the stairs up one floor to her mother’s apartment, where he once more handed over the puppy. This time he was relieved that Felicity didn’t put Sunny on the couch. He didn’t want to have to chase the energetic puppy a third time that morning.
“Now, how about that coffee?” Felicity asked.
He shook his head. “I’m already late for work.” Instead of rushing away, he found himself lingering at the doorway. He was already late; what was a couple more minutes? He glanced at her cute outfit again. “Shouldn’t you be getting ready for work? Or is that your new work outfit?”
Her cheeks grew rosy. “The bookshop doesn’t open until ten.”
How was it that he didn’t know that? Probably because he worked mornings, so he never had time to visit the bookshop until after his shift was over.
“I’ll, uh…stop by the bookshop to pick up Sunny when I’m done at work. Unless Merry finds someone to adopt her by then.” He could only hope.
“I don’t know if Merry works that fast. Besides, wouldn’t you miss this sweet face?” Felicity held up the pup so he could see Sunny’s warm brown eyes, which were full of nothing but mischief. He was certain of it. “Are you sure I can’t tempt you with a cup of coffee?”
He hesitated. His head said no. But his heart was saying something else. And he’d learned the hard way not to listen to his heart. It would lead him astray.
“Gotta go.” Then he strode away before he did something foolish.
He hustled down the stairs. Having Felicity watch the pup was not a good idea. How was he supposed to deal with seeing her all of the time, especially when she smiled at him like that? It was all he could do not to lean over and steal a kiss…just like he used to do a lifetime ago.
As he headed out into the brutally cold morning, he reached for his phone to call Merry.
He needed to know if she’d found a family for Sunny.
But then he noticed it was a little after eight o’clock in the morning.
He shouldn’t call her this early. He would try to reach her at lunchtime.
Yes. That would work. And hopefully, she’d have good news for him.