Read Love To The Rescue for Free Online Page A
Authors: Brenda Sinclair
desk, and then headed outside.
He drove his black Ford F150 pickup home and pulled into his designated parking spot outside his townhouse. His home sounded eerily quiet when he entered. Before he fell into bed, totally exhausted, he gently kissed the one person in the world who meant everything to him.
Only one more shift and then days off. For the hundredth time today, his thoughts drifted to Amy MacArthur. The young thief who’d turned her life upside down had been claimed by his wealthy parents and placed in a local rehab center. The place had a remarkable reputation, and Kevin felt certain the kid would get the help he needed. If he’d even give the program a chance. The little shit seemed pretty rebellious, and his parents admitted he’d been totally out of control: skipping school, hanging with a bad crowd, involved in drugs and shoplifting. He hated the fact he couldn’t assure Amy that she had nothing to worry about. The kid wouldn’t be back. But he couldn’t discuss the case with his own mother if she were alive. Or a wife if he had one. Nobody. Never mind the victim. At least, not until his case went to court and only if it became a matter of public record.
“I guess only time will tell if this Blaine guy gets his act together,” he speculated aloud.
Just before he drifted off, he wondered if the gorgeous Ms. Amy MacArthur had been able to fall asleep yet.
****
Amy had tossed and turned in her king-sized bed until well past two o’clock in the morning, contemplating the pros and cons of dog ownership. Although she would never admit it to her friends, the idea of owning a dog had grown on her in the wee hours. And what better warning if that teenaged punk returned again to frighten her, or worse. In fact, an unexpected excitement overtook her as she showered and dressed this morning before she and Leslie left her house at ten o’clock on the dot.
Contributing to the conversation over breakfast proved extremely difficult. All Amy could think about was dogs! Now, an hour later, Amy pulled her Lexus into the Calgary Humane Society’s large parking lot. “We’re here.”
Leslie released her seatbelt, grabbed her purse off the floor. “Good. Let’s find you a new friend. Hopefully, one that growls really long, barks really loud, and has lots of sharp teeth.”
“Remember, I have to live with this animal, as well as keeping him around to scare off the burglars.” Amy frowned. “I don’t want a dog that frightens me, too.”
Amy hopped out of the car, and her mind wandered back in time. When her husband was alive, they’d come here one Thursday afternoon just to look at the dogs. But the two of them had loved to travel, and Allan considered it selfish and totally unfair to own an animal that would spend almost half its time boarded at the kennel. She’d agreed with him, sadly, but she’d also known he was right.
Amy hadn’t enjoyed a dog’s companionship in years. Not since she lived at home, attending high school. For as long as she could remember her family always owned a German shepherd, and she missed taking one of those special dogs for a walk after dinner every night.
Amy smiled, recalling one of Allan’s favorite jokes. Part of a Rita Rudner routine about being married for awhile, and she and her husband longed to hear the pitter-patter of little feet. They bought a dog—it’s cheaper and you get more feet. Allan laughed uproariously at that punch line; his sense of humor had kept her in stitches for the entire three years they were married.
And then he died.
She could count on one hand how often she’d really laughed since.
Now, here she was, standing outside the Humane Society building, happily anticipating the possibility of adopting a dog. Totally her decision, without anything standing in her way. She travelled out of town a couple of times a year to writers’ conventions or on an occasional holiday with Leslie. But certainly nothing like before when she’d
He drove his black Ford F150 pickup home and pulled into his designated parking spot outside his townhouse. His home sounded eerily quiet when he entered. Before he fell into bed, totally exhausted, he gently kissed the one person in the world who meant everything to him.
Only one more shift and then days off. For the hundredth time today, his thoughts drifted to Amy MacArthur. The young thief who’d turned her life upside down had been claimed by his wealthy parents and placed in a local rehab center. The place had a remarkable reputation, and Kevin felt certain the kid would get the help he needed. If he’d even give the program a chance. The little shit seemed pretty rebellious, and his parents admitted he’d been totally out of control: skipping school, hanging with a bad crowd, involved in drugs and shoplifting. He hated the fact he couldn’t assure Amy that she had nothing to worry about. The kid wouldn’t be back. But he couldn’t discuss the case with his own mother if she were alive. Or a wife if he had one. Nobody. Never mind the victim. At least, not until his case went to court and only if it became a matter of public record.
“I guess only time will tell if this Blaine guy gets his act together,” he speculated aloud.
Just before he drifted off, he wondered if the gorgeous Ms. Amy MacArthur had been able to fall asleep yet.
****
Amy had tossed and turned in her king-sized bed until well past two o’clock in the morning, contemplating the pros and cons of dog ownership. Although she would never admit it to her friends, the idea of owning a dog had grown on her in the wee hours. And what better warning if that teenaged punk returned again to frighten her, or worse. In fact, an unexpected excitement overtook her as she showered and dressed this morning before she and Leslie left her house at ten o’clock on the dot.
Contributing to the conversation over breakfast proved extremely difficult. All Amy could think about was dogs! Now, an hour later, Amy pulled her Lexus into the Calgary Humane Society’s large parking lot. “We’re here.”
Leslie released her seatbelt, grabbed her purse off the floor. “Good. Let’s find you a new friend. Hopefully, one that growls really long, barks really loud, and has lots of sharp teeth.”
“Remember, I have to live with this animal, as well as keeping him around to scare off the burglars.” Amy frowned. “I don’t want a dog that frightens me, too.”
Amy hopped out of the car, and her mind wandered back in time. When her husband was alive, they’d come here one Thursday afternoon just to look at the dogs. But the two of them had loved to travel, and Allan considered it selfish and totally unfair to own an animal that would spend almost half its time boarded at the kennel. She’d agreed with him, sadly, but she’d also known he was right.
Amy hadn’t enjoyed a dog’s companionship in years. Not since she lived at home, attending high school. For as long as she could remember her family always owned a German shepherd, and she missed taking one of those special dogs for a walk after dinner every night.
Amy smiled, recalling one of Allan’s favorite jokes. Part of a Rita Rudner routine about being married for awhile, and she and her husband longed to hear the pitter-patter of little feet. They bought a dog—it’s cheaper and you get more feet. Allan laughed uproariously at that punch line; his sense of humor had kept her in stitches for the entire three years they were married.
And then he died.
She could count on one hand how often she’d really laughed since.
Now, here she was, standing outside the Humane Society building, happily anticipating the possibility of adopting a dog. Totally her decision, without anything standing in her way. She travelled out of town a couple of times a year to writers’ conventions or on an occasional holiday with Leslie. But certainly nothing like before when she’d