Read Ellie's Advice (sweet romance) for Free Online Page B

their rescuer. Shel handled the pups gently, and looked up at Ellie. His hair was plastered against his forehead with sweat, and the rest of it curled up wildly, as disarrayed as if done on purpose. His face was grave with the intensity of what he'd done. "We must get them somewhere warm."
    "Of course." She hesitated. "I only live three blocks away. We could take a taxi if that's not close enough to walk."
    He hesitated only an instant, then nodded. "I think we can walk it faster, and we can keep them warm in my coat." He bundled the live puppies close, regretfully putting the others back in the sack. "I'll have to take these with me so a child doesn't find them."
    "Yes," she agreed, holding out her hands for the puppies wrapped in his jacket. The bundle wobbled slightly as the animals continued to fight . It was only this fight that had let them survive, so she couldn't begrudge their anger. The little creatures couldn't know they would likely be dead without Shel's help.
    He handed the living bundle to her, and she clutched it close. He pulled his shoes on quickly and clapped his hat back on his head, then picked up the sack of the poor dead pups. "Shall I carry them?" he asked, nodding to the squirming jacket she held.
    She shook her head. "I believe I'm warmer."
    He nodded. "Lead the way."
    They walked quickly from the park and down the street. She kept an eye out for a taxi, but the traffic was moving slowly this Sunday, and they likely could still walk faster even if they found one. After bit, she stopped looking.
    "I hope we're not going too fast for your health," he said awkwardly after a moment. He kept pace with her easily, and she wondered if she shouldn't be walking faster. But it would be dreadful to go so fast she tripped and dropped the small creatures, injuring them after they'd already survived so much.
    "I'm fine," she said a little breathlessly. "I hope you won't catch a chill!"
    He laughed awkwardly. "You must think I'm quite the impulsive fool for jumping in like that."
    She glanced at him, startled. "No! I could never think that. You were very brave."
    "Oh. Well." He didn't seem to know what to say now. And were his cheeks heating? " I wasn't brave. I simply can't stand to see something small and weak hurt. I suppose it's some instinct necessary for if I ever become a father."
    You mean you're not? Are you not married then, either?
    She pushed th e inappropriate thoughts away. Now she could think of absolutely nothing to say. Fortunately they arrived at her brownstone and hurried up the steps into the building. He was still dripping, but not as badly, and she didn't hesitate to hold the bundle out to him as she fetched her key.
    The neighbor's door cracked open and a pair of prying eyes gaze d at her judgmentally while she and Shel slipped inside her apartment. She turned on the kitchen light and moved quickly to the heater, to turn it up. Then she fetched him a fuzzy blanket to wrap the pups in. "Shall I warm some milk for them? They look far too young to be away from their mother."
    "Yes, I think you're right." He sounded more awkward than ever now. "I… you must know I would never have… invited myself in this way, if…"
    "Don't be silly." She waved a hand. "Mrs. Jansen will find something to gossip about me whatever I do — or don't do. And these puppies are far more important than what she thinks."
    She fetched a small glass bottle of cream from the fridge. It was fresh, brought in twice a week for cooking and coffee. Fortunately it was nearly full. She grabbed a small pot and poured some of it in to heat. "I'll have to order more cream from now on," she sa id without thinking. Her voice sounded so ridiculously light and happy.
    Am I? she wondered. Yes. I am. Happy because of the two puppies living, or happy because she was spending time with Shel Silverberg? Both. Both!
    She turned to him and smiled. "Unless you plan to take care of them instead?"
    "Um." He ran a hand back through his disheveled