Chapter Ten
He couldn’t stop thinking about her.
And that was the reason Colin had been avoiding Holly. He just needed some space to clear his head. Because kissing her couldn’t happen again.
Still, he kept thinking of Holly. He pictured her with Tater Tot in her arms. She might not have figured everything out about the puppy’s care, but she wouldn’t stop until she knew what she needed to do to take care of the pup.
He smiled as he recalled their past. She could be as stubborn as he was.
He was pretty certain Merry Kringle had given Holly the puppy with the intent of her adopting him. Merry was known to be a bit of a matchmaker. She wasn’t particular about whom she paired up. It could be two humans or a human and an animal. She just wanted everyone to be happy and loved.
Merry must have been concerned about Holly now that she was all alone. Well, she did have parents…somewhere in this world. No one had seen them since Holly was a little girl. Holly might as well have been an orphan. It had been a good thing she had the most amazing grandmother.
His thoughts strayed to her apartment. She didn’t have so much as one Christmas decoration up. Maybe she needed a little help finding her Christmas spirit.
With the thought in mind, he drove home. After fussing over the dogs and checking on Cupcake and Jinx, he headed to Holly’s place. When he reached her building, he noticed someone exiting the soap company.
He was surprised to find the business still open.
He didn’t know why that should surprise him.
After all, it was only going on five o’clock.
He’d gotten out of work early because there were less appointments at this time of the year.
People were busy and didn’t have time for checkups.
It was fine by him. The New Year would be here soon enough, and those patients would have his calendar full.
He headed toward the shop. He noticed a sign in the window with the hours. It closed at five. There were still a couple of customers meandering up and down the aisles. Holly was behind the counter. She glanced up when he walked in. Her eyes widened, and then she smiled.
While she checked out one of the two ladies, he looked around. He was impressed with the small gift baskets. They were eye-catching with big red bows. He was certain his mother would like them. He made a mental note to come back and pick up one for his mother.
He still had his father to shop for, but he was thinking about getting him a saltwater fishing rod. Now that his father was retired, he was looking into getting a boat. Colin was proud of himself for having a good idea.
But there was one more gift he had to figure out. He’d gotten together with his brothers to do secret Santa. They drew names at Thanksgiving. He’d pulled his youngest brother’s name. He had no idea what to get Justin. He was still thinking it over.
“Sorry to keep you waiting.” Holly joined him.
He heard a whine. Colin turned to find Tater Tot tethered to the checkout counter. The pup was pulling on the line, trying to follow Holly over to him.
Her gaze moved to Tater Tot. “I didn’t know what else to do with him. I just couldn’t leave him home alone. He cries every time I walk out of the room. I can’t imagine what he’d do if he was left in the apartment all alone.”
“As long as he was crated, he’d be safe and get used to it.”
She sent him an I-don’t-believe-you look. “Are you looking for a gift for a special someone?”
He cleared his throat. “No. No one special. But I was thinking of picking out one of your gift baskets for my mother. I think she’d like it.”
A smile appeared on Holly’s beautiful face. “Can I help you pick one out?”
“Uh… Maybe later. I want you—well, both of you—to come with me.”
“I can’t. The shop is still open.”
He checked his smart watch. “According to the sign on the door, you closed eleven minutes ago, and there are no customers.”
“Well, um… Where do you want to go?”
“It’s a surprise.” He sent her a reassuring smile.
She hesitated. “I don’t know.”
“Arf! Arf!”
He glanced over at the pup. “I think Tater Tot wants to go.”
She rolled her eyes. “He would agree to anything that got him out of this shop.”
“I see. Well, then let’s go. Your carriage awaits.”
She laughed. “My carriage, huh?” She peered out the window. “I don’t see any carriage.”
He sighed. “Fine. It’s my pickup. But if you used your imagination, it could be a carriage.”
She laughed some more, and it sounded wonderful to his ears. “I don’t have that good of an imagination.”
He feigned a pouty look. “Does that mean you won’t come with me?”
“Arf! Arf!” Tater Tot kept pulling on his leash, trying to get loose.
Her gaze moved from Colin to Tater Tot and back again. “I shouldn’t. I have a lot to do.”
“But…”
She sighed. “But I suppose I have a little bit of time. Do you promise we won’t be gone long?”
“I promise.”
She eyed him up, as though trying to decide if she could trust him. Then she said, “If you want to get Tater Tot, I’ll run in back and get my boots and coat.”
“Sounds like a plan.” He set off toward the pup, who went into a string of excited barks.
At least someone was happy to see him. He wondered if he’d ruined their friendship with the kiss the other day. He hoped not. He enjoyed every moment he’d spent with Holly.
Tater Tot jumped all over him as he worked to free his leash from the leg of the counter. When he finally picked up the pup, Tater licked Colin’s face from forehead to chin and everywhere in between.
He carried Tater to the door. When the pup started to squirm, he said, “Calm down. Your momma will be here soon—”
“His what?”
He looked up in time to see Holly frowning at him. “You, uh, heard that?”
“Yes. And you’re wrong.” She crossed her arms as she continued to frown at him.
“I’m not his mother. Not even close.” She flipped off the light, pushed the door open, and stepped out into the winter evening.
The cold breeze carried her soft voice back to him.
“I no longer have any family. I’m alone.
And that’s the way it’s going to remain. ”
Her words were like a punch in the gut. He felt her loneliness in that admission. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and assure her that she didn’t have to be alone unless she wanted to be.
She didn’t say anything further as she proceeded to lock the front door.
When she turned to go to the left, he said, “Wrong way. I’m parked over here.”
Her head swung around. “Oh. Yeah.”
He walked over and opened the passenger side door for her. Once she got in, he handed her the dog. After closing the door, he strode around the front of the pickup and got in the driver’s side.
He started the engine and cranked up the heat. When he glanced over at Holly, she was staring straight ahead. “Holly, you forgot your seatbelt.”
“Oh, yeah.”
After she clicked her seatbelt into place, he put the pickup in gear and pulled out. They didn’t have far to go. Kringle Falls wasn’t that big. But they did have to go to the other side of town.
It was okay. They didn’t have to talk. He could do silence. Wait. No, he couldn’t. He enjoyed their conversations.
“So, the dogs are missing Tater Tot. They were wondering if he could come over for a play date.”
She didn’t say anything.
“I, uh, meant to stop by yesterday, but things were busy at the clinic. It’s like the Kringle Falls furry population all had accidents.
Let’s see, there was a dog that ate two Christmas ornaments.
Luckily, they weren’t glass. Can you believe that?
He’s still under observation. We’re hoping it’ll pass, but we don’t know. ”
“We had a cat that thinks it is Houdini. One moment the cat was on the exam table. The next moment, the cat had disappeared. We had to chase him throughout the office. At one point, we lost sight of him. The next thing you know, we find him sleeping on my desk chair.” He chanced a quick glance at Holly, who was staring down at Tater Tot and petting him.
“And then we found three newborn kittens abandoned by the door. Luckily a patient’s parent stumbled upon them before they froze. They are now fed and warm.”
“How do you do that?” she asked.
“Do what?” He put on the turn signal.
“Take care of animals that other people are willing to discard? Not exactly the kittens but the other animals that are injured and stuff.”
He shrugged. “I guess I see what other people can’t or aren’t willing to see.”
“And what’s that?”
“That behind their growls and cowering is fear. I know that in their flaws, their strength and beauty shines through.”
When he glanced over at Holly, her mouth gaped. It took her a moment to find her voice. “You are very special. All of the animals that pass through your life are very lucky to have known you.”
He shook his head. “I don’t deserve your kind words. I don’t do anything special.”
“But you do.” She was quiet for a moment, as though searching for the right words. “You do more for them than some parents do for their own children.”
Ouch. He didn’t see that coming. Even when they were kids, she rarely mentioned her parents. He had no idea what he was supposed to say in response. And so, he chose not to say anything at all.
A couple minutes later, they’d arrived at their destination. He hoped this outing would lift Holly’s spirits.
Holly looked around. “The Wagner Tree lot. Why did you bring us here?”
He turned off the engine before turning to her. “I thought that would be obvious. To get a Christmas tree.”
She looked puzzled. “You already have a tree.”
“Not for me. It’s for you.”
Her eyes lit up. Then she shook her head. “I don’t think so. You’ve seen my place. It’s not exactly ready for Christmas decorations.”
“There’s nothing wrong with your place.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’re just being kind.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll find a tree to fit in the corner of the living room.”
She shook her head. “No.”