Here Comes Santa Paws (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

17. Roman

Chapter 17

Roman

Carol whined from where she was sprawled out across the back seat of Elias’s SUV. I shifted in the passenger seat to look at her.

“I don’t want to go in there either, but it’ll be over soon. We’ll get through this.”

Elias stifled laughter from the driver’s seat as he turned off the engine.

My attention snapped to him. “What?”

“You two are adorable. Do you hate going to the doctor too?”

I glared at the veterinary office through the windshield. “It’s not my favorite. What? Do you love going to the doctor?”

“No, but I don’t need to give myself a pep talk in the parking lot about it.” He patted my arm and gave me a soft smile. “I get it. It doesn’t help when the animal is anxious. How about you keep her company while I check her in to minimize how much time she has to spend in there? They’ve got a side door they can bring us through.”

My shoulders relaxed. I knew asking him for help was a good idea. “Okay.”

“Back in a jiff, Mama.” He kissed the air in her direction before climbing out of the car. Carol watched him go. She seemed to be softening toward him. That made two of us.

“He means well.”

She let out a low rumble.

“I know he’s overly cheerful and a pain in the ass, but he’s not so bad.” A damn good kisser too. I didn’t mind his hugs either. I appreciated the comfort he’d given me last night. I wasn’t used to someone else coming to my aid like that, but it was…nice.

She huffed and stood, circling. I awkwardly reached up and patted the top of her head when she dropped her face onto my shoulder. I wrinkled my nose at her gnarly breath.

Elias returned a few minutes later with a middle-aged woman with long dark hair pulled into a ponytail. She laughed at something he said, and Elias’s hands moved expressively while he spoke. I exited the car when they came around to the passenger side.

“Roman, this is Maria. She’s going to take us through the side door.”

I shook her hand and thanked her. After politely returning the handshake, she turned her attention to Carol as I clipped the leash to her harness and led her out of the car.

“What a sweet girl.” Maria smiled at Carol and held her hand out for a sniff.

Carol didn’t take her eyes off me as she moved her snout toward Maria’s hand.

“Let’s head this way. Once we get inside, I’ll take you to an exam room.”

Maria exuded a calm energy that hopefully helped Carol as much as it did me.

“Thank you,” I said sincerely.

Either Carol responded to my reduction in stress, or she was relieved we weren’t going in the front door because she let out a sound far too close to a resigned sigh.

Not for the first time, I wondered about her past. Was she someone’s pet before she arrived at the shelter? I figured she had to be. Elias had told me that when he’d taken her to the vet after getting her, the vet said she was likely three or four years old and wasn’t microchipped but didn’t show evidence of having lived on the streets for long. I couldn’t understand why someone would let a dog like her go. What if they were looking for her and regretted not getting her microchipped. My gut dropped to my feet. What if someone claimed her?

I pushed that thought to the side. I was only fostering her until she found a permanent home. The purpose was for someone to find her or adopt her. Someone other than me.

Once we reached the exam room, Carol squeezed between my legs and whined. I settled on one of the two chairs and rubbed her chest as she sat between my knees. Elias failed miserably at covering his smile.

Maria talked us through the exam, which I figured was for my benefit, not Elias’s. Carol’s vitals were excellent. Then she took Carol’s blood for a hormone test.

“I can do an ultrasound as well, so we can find out how many pups she’s carrying.”

Elias eagerly nodded. “Does that work for you, Roman?”

I appreciated that he asked, even though he had the ultimate call since she was a shelter dog. “Yeah. Let’s do it. Make sure there’s nothing wrong.”

Carol whined, and I scratched her ears.

“I know. You’re going to get an ultrasound, which is sort of like a gooey stomach massage. It’ll be, uh, nice?” I cleared my throat. I felt Elias’s stare on me, so I looked up. “What? I googled some stuff last night.”

He regarded me like I’d pulled a dozen puppies from a burning building. Jesus. It was just a little internet research.

Maria grinned as she looked between us. “A gooey massage. I haven’t heard that description, but I like it. I’m going to use it. Let’s get this over with so we can get her back home.” Her smile softened before she led Carol from the room.

I wanted to go with her, especially as Carol sent a mournful look my way.

Once the door closed, Elias let out a loud laugh. “She’s got you wrapped around her little paw.”

“She does not. I’m simply offering comfort to a creature in need.”

“I knew you were a teddy bear.”

I let out a low growl, not unlike the sound Carol made when upset. Elias must’ve thought so too because his grin turned shit-eating.

“You’re a big softie. And dare I say, a dog lover.”

“Knock it off.” My lips twitched.

“Maybe I should get you two matching sweaters for Christmas. Ones with each other’s faces on them.”

“You’re ridiculous.”

“Did she sleep in your bed last night?”

“No.” I ignored Elias’s skeptical eyebrow raise. It wasn’t a lie. I made her sleep on her bed. Did I move it into my room, next to my bed? Yes, but I wasn’t telling him that.

“Give it time.”

I bristled at the certainty in his voice. “She’ll find a permanent home soon. I’m not going to let her get too comfortable and make it even harder on her.”

Instead of getting upset as I’d expected, Elias looked at me with sympathy. That was worse than pity. He gripped my thigh, and I didn’t brush him off.

“Roman, I’m not asking you to change your mind, but if you do decide to keep her, it’s okay. It’s not a sign of weakness to let an animal companion into your life.”

I frowned. “Is that what you think this is? I’m worried about looking weak?”

“Why else would you be so hesitant to consider adopting her?”

“I’m not equipped to give her a good, reliable life. She deserves someone more affectionate and stable.”

“You spooned her yesterday. In your bed. Newsflash: you’re affectionate.”

I dismissed that. “I don’t plan to stay here forever. It’s unfair to her if I keep picking up and moving places.”

I’d said the words more bluntly than necessary, given whatever was happening between us, but he needed to be reminded of the reality. We both did.

A crease formed on Elias’s forehead. He opened his mouth, and I braced for his questions about my plans to move. I wasn’t built to stay in one place.

“Dogs can be moved. I’m sure she’d be as cozy as a bug in a rug riding shotgun in your truck. You can take her with you. Animals are amazingly resilient, and as long as you do your best to keep a routine for her, she’ll be fine, no matter what you do.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but he held up his hand and cut me off.

“Again, not trying to convince you because no pet deserves to be placed in a home where someone has to be convinced to want them.”

Fucking ouch, but point taken.

“But moving isn’t a dealbreaker. I can give you tips. Again, not trying to twist your arm, just giving you information to make an informed decision.”

When he’d first approached me about fostering Carol, it was all about her needing a temporary home. How had the conversation changed so quickly to whether I’d keep her?

There was a light rap on the door before a cute twink in scrubs with messy blond hair entered the room.

“Elias, hi. I heard you were here. How’s it going?”

Who the hell’s this guy?

“Hey, Frankie. Good, thanks. How are you? Good festival season?” Elias’s voice was friendly as always.

I tried to decipher if there was more there, but I couldn’t tell.

“Great. I was thinking of hitting up trivia at the White Elephant next week. You ever go to that?”

I crossed my arms and narrowed my eyes at Frankie. Why the hell did I care if some lithe cutie wanted to have a few drinks with Elias? My neighbor was a rainbow thorn in my side, and I preferred a life in muted tones. At least, I had until I’d started to get to know Elias—now I found myself appreciating color and noise. The silence in my home was loud each time he left it, and I was starting to crave more time with him.

I held my breath as I waited for Elias’s response.

“I haven’t yet. You’ll have to tell me how it is. Hope you win!”

Frankie’s enthusiasm dimmed as he said goodbye.

“What?” Elias asked defensively.

My grin grew. “Breaking hearts all across Christmas Falls.”

He knocked his shoulder into me. “Shut up.” He grinned too.

“When are you free for that thank-you dinner you owe me for saving your ass last weekend?”

Elias’s eyes sparkled. “Tomorrow?”

“Be there at six.”

Maria opened the door, and Carol rushed over to me like she made a harrowing escape from a torture chamber. I scanned her to make sure she was okay as I rubbed her back.

Maria’s smile was bright. “Carol’s the proud mama of five puppies!”

My head grew light as a ringing in my ears began. Five puppies? I couldn’t imagine taking care of one dog, let alone tiny puppies. Five of them . What kind of care did they need? Would Carol need special care? Would the dogs shit all over my house?

Elias’s grip on my thigh stopped me from spiraling into the dizziness swirling in my head.

“It’ll be okay. You’ve got me.”

I stared into his warm eyes and believed him.