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were going to catch on to what they were.
    They were too young, stupid, and idealistic not to give themselves away.
    "How can I help you?" Marj asked.
    People were heading their way. "I'll let you know," Harry said.
    Feeling wary and puzzled, Marj put on a smile as Alice shepherded all the kids up to her table.
    "Time for the name drawing!" she announced.

    Marj put on a wide smile. "Sure."
    Harry brought the greyhound forward. It jumped up on the table for him, while Taffy followed and bumped his big head into the back of Harry's legs. Marj stuck her hand into the fishbowl and brought out one of the folded scraps of paper.
    "Dennis Cooper wins the prize!" she announced. "And our greyhound princess's new name is—Noel."

chapter 6
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    "Noel's a good name," Marj told the greyhound, which was lounging on the green-and-black plaid dog bed in one corner of her huge kitchen, Taffy lying nearby on the tiled floor.
    She poured herself a fresh mug of hot chocolate and sat at the table, her thoughts returning to earlier in the evening. "But I don't know why Dennis's mom wouldn't let me give him a kitten as a prize."
    They settled on ten dollars for naming the dog, instead.
    There'd been a scattering of applause, then everybody began to quickly pack up to go home.
    Alice looked very unhappy, disappointed that her effort in bringing the community together had been a lukewarm affair, at best.
    Before Marj could say anything to comfort her friend Harry took her by the arm, and said,
    "I'll help you with the critters."
    Marj was riveted by his gaze, which concentrated intently on her. She was drawn to his large, very masculine presence. Her throat tightened, heat pulsed through her, and she licked her lips. She found herself staring at his mouth and wanting very much to be kissed.
    Stunned, she pulled herself together enough to say, "Sure. Thanks."
    She moved in a daze as she put the kittens and puppies back in crates and took them out to her truck. Harry followed her out to the rapidly emptying parking lot, carrying the larger cage. Noel and Taffy trotted along behind them and hopped into the back of the cab.
    Then it was just the two of them, and Harry moved very close to her as she stood by the truck door, her keys dangling in her hand. Their breath frosted the winter-night air.
    He put his hand up to cup her cheek and ran his thumb across her bottom lip. The touch seared her, burning away any trace of cold. Their gazes locked. Her knees went weak, she dropped the keys, and his other hand settled on her hip.

    Harry started to pull her closer.
    And the Fennicks walked up behind them. Annette gasped, which drew Harry's attention. He glared, and Terry cleared his throat.
    "We have to go now," Terry said.
    Harry growled, then walked away with the Fennicks without saying a word.
    It took Marj a few seconds to get herself together. When she did, she wondered why the Fennicks had looked so disapproving. Maybe because Harry was supposed to be looking for their son? No doubt they wanted him to keep his mind strictly on business.

    They were right , she told herself an hour later in her kitchen. Harrison Blethyin did need to keep his mind on business first.
    "Too bad."
    Not only had she looked forward to being kissed, Marj also wanted to talk more with Harry.
    But he'd been swept off by the Fennicks before she had a chance to get a cell phone number.
    And the Fennicks didn't have a telephone. She and Harry needed to discuss when he'd look for the wolf, and how. Even more importantly, she was worried about Phil Fennick. Of course she wanted to help. Why had the Fennicks kept the news about their son quiet?
    Well, they were very private people, and they had called in professional help. But Phil was only sixteen, seventeen at most. Didn't the authorities have to be notified about a runaway minor?
    She knew a lot more about animals than she did about people. Maybe, sometimes, that wasn't such a good thing.
    A disturbing hint of longing