Trouble in Paradise

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Book: Read Trouble in Paradise for Free Online
Authors: Robin Lee Hatcher
Tags: Fiction, General, Romance
worry.”
    Don’t worry. Easy for him to say.
    “I’ll run into town as soon as the hardware store opens in the morning. With luck, Ed will have the part in stock. Plenty of old stoves in this valley.”
    “You don’t have to do that. If you just tell me what I need—”
    “Glad to do it.” He patted her shoulder and smiled. “And since you’ll be busy cleaning my house all this next week, you sure aren’t going to have time for it.”
    Her heart started doing a little soft-shoe routine in her chest, then burst into overdrive. Her body felt too warm, the heat radiating from the place where his hand rested on her shoulder.
    “Nearly forgot what brought me over.” He straightened, removing his hand. “I was thinking this afternoon about you being in this cabin all by yourself and wondered if you might like some company.”
    Was he saying he wanted to be with her? Her pulse quickened even more.
    “I’ve got some sheltie pups that are just weaned and thought you might like to have one.”
    Of course. He was offering her a pet to be her companion, not himself. How could she have thought otherwise? Even for a millisecond. Worse. Why had she wanted to think otherwise?
    “You like dogs, don’t you?” he continued, oblivious to her thoughts.
    “Yes, I like dogs.”
    “Good.” He stood. “I brought one with me, just in case.” He headed for the truck.
    Shayla’s sister Anne was the classic beauty in the family. If it was beautiful Anne living in this cabin, Ian wouldn’t be bringing her a puppy for company. He’d be bringing flowers.
    She clenched her teeth. She had to get off this pity-me kick.
    Ian opened his truck door and reached inside. A few moments later, he returned to where she sat, carrying with him a little orange-and-white ball offur with big golden-brown eyes and a shiny black nose. Shayla couldn’t help laughing as she accepted the quivering, tail-wagging, whimpering pup, her disappointment instantly forgotten.
    “Oh, she’s adorable.” She met Ian’s gaze. “Is it a she?”
    “Yup.”
    “What’s her name?” She rubbed her cheek against the puppy’s soft coat.
    “That’s up to you. She’s yours if you want her.”
    “I probably need my head examined, but yes, I want her. How could I give her up after seeing her?” The puppy licked the tip of Shayla’s nose, and Shayla laughed again. “Is this how you find homes for all your puppies, Mr. O’Connell?”
    “Hey, whatever works.”
    She looked at him, feeling his warm smile all the way down to her toes. “That’s dirty pool.”
    He shrugged even as his grin broadened. “So shoot me.”
    “Don’t tempt me.”
    But shooting him was the last thing she wanted to do.
     
     
    They made a cute picture, the tiny sheltie and the curly-haired woman. Ian liked the way Shayla’s dark blue eyes sparkled with pleasure. He’d bet she was the type to stop and smell the roses.
    Although he knew he should head back to the ranch, he settled once again onto the steps. “So what’re you gonna call her?”
    “I don’t know.” She held the puppy at arm’s length and studied her. “What are her parents’ names?”
    “The mother is Paradise Belle. Her sire, Lakeside’s Shadow Boy, lives up in the Coeur d’Alene area.”
    Shayla’s eyes widened. “This isn’t just any puppy, is it?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “I mean those are fancy-sounding names for regular pets.” She frowned, her gaze suspicious. “How much are you selling the rest of the litter for?”
    He got up. “The usual.” To avoid more questions, he headed for his truck to retrieve a temporary supply of puppy food and dog necessities. “Feel free to bring her with you tomorrow. No point leaving her alone all day.” After leaving the supplies on the deck, he got into the pickup, held his arm out the window, and waved. “See you in the morning.”

Chapter Four
     
    B leary-eyed from a sleepless night—thanks to the cries of a puppy separated from its

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