Puppy Wishes & Candy Kisses (Kringle Falls #1)

12. Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve

H e wondered what she had been up to.

Michael let himself into the house. He glanced from the mudroom into the kitchen, but Candi wasn’t there. He also expected to be greeted by three boisterous dogs. And yet all he was met with was silence.

He stood there for a moment. He should be happy for the peace and quiet. And yet there was a part of him that worried Candi might have left already.

After he hung up his coat and slipped off his work boots, he walked to the guest room. The door was open. He glanced inside. It was dark, but there was enough moonlight coming through the window to see that the bed was empty.

She’s really gone.

He flipped on the light switch and stepped into the room. The bed was neatly made, and her suitcase was gone. There were no dog leashes on the chest of drawers. There was absolutely no sign that Candi had ever been there. It was like she’d been a figment of his imagination.

He reached for his phone, anxious to hear her voice. His finger hesitated over the screen. What would he say to her? That he wanted to hear her voice? No. That he missed her? Definitely not.

He returned his phone to his back pocket and made his way to the kitchen. He noticed that she’d left a light on for him. And there was something else...

He inhaled deeper. Mm… He sniffed his way over to the stove, where he found a casserole dish covered with aluminum foil. He touched the dish and found it was slightly warm. So, she hadn’t been gone that long.

Was it possible she waited around as long as she could in hopes of seeing him again? The thought warmed a spot in his chest. Maybe he would call her and thank her for... Hm … He should probably look to see what she’d cooked him before he spoke to her.

He moved to the sink to wash up, but as he reached to turn on the water, he noticed a light in the workshop. That was strange. He hadn’t noticed it on his way into the house, but then again, he’d been utterly distracted with thoughts of Candi.

He never left the lights on. Was it possible someone had broken in? But this was Kringle Falls, where there was rarely any crime. It was why he used to tease Parker that being the sheriff meant he had the easiest job in town. His brother didn’t think it was funny.

However, there was always a first. He moved to the mudroom. He looked around for something to defend himself with. Broom? No. Snow shovel? Maybe. And then his gaze landed on the baseball bat in the corner. It had been there since his last softball game in the autumn.

He slipped on his boots, grabbed the bat, and headed out the back door. The freshly fallen snow cushioned his steps, allowing him to make a silent approach.

He stopped at the side door. He didn’t hear any noise inside. He placed his hand on the doorknob and slowly turned it.

He eased the door open. He didn’t see anyone. He stepped inside, and that was when he spotted Candi sitting at the work table. She was painting an ornament.

When she glanced up, she jumped. She pressed a hand to her chest. “I didn’t hear you come in.” Then her gaze drifted down to the bat in his hands. Her brows drew together. “What are you doing with that?”

He set the bat aside. “I...uh, saw it in the mudroom and realized I had forgotten to put it away.” It at least sounded plausible, though the furrow in her brow let him know she wasn’t fully buying his story. Perhaps it was time to change the subject. “What are you working on?”

“I thought I’d paint some more of the ornaments.” She held up the reindeer she was working on.

“That looks really nice.” She put his painting to shame.

She turned the ornament around so she could look at it. “Do you really think so?”

He nodded. “I do. You’re talented.”

“I used to paint a lot when I was younger, but then I got so busy with college and then teaching that I didn’t make time for my hobbies.” Her gaze lifted to meet his. “But you gave it back to me. Thank you.”

When she smiled at him, he felt the warmth of her smile deep in his chest. His heart thumped. He didn’t know how long they stared into each other’s eyes before he gathered himself and glanced away.

He swallowed hard. “I’m glad you remembered how much you enjoy painting, but I didn’t really have much to do with it. That was all you.”

“Oh, quit being modest. I’m really enjoying myself.”

It was only then that Tank stood up and barked. He ran around the table and headed straight for Michael.

Tank jumped up, putting his paws on Michael’s pant leg. He barked until he picked up the pup. At the rate Tank was growing, he wouldn’t be able to pick him up much longer.

Michael ran his hand over the pup’s head. “You look like you’re still half asleep.”

“I let them play in the snow for a while. It wore them out. They’ve been sleeping near the wood stove.”

He glanced up to find the other two pups sitting in front of him, waiting for him to fuss over them too. He knelt down and was immediately jumped on by the pups.

“I talked to the garage about the van.” She hesitated.

“I was wondering why I hadn’t heard from them. What did they say?”

“Well... The van has a lot of damage to it.”

“I’m sorry.” And he was, but he also felt relieved that she wouldn’t be leaving quite so soon. “But it’s not surprising, since that was quite a ride you all took down over that embankment.”

“I was hoping they would be able to fix it in a day or two, but they’re having problems finding the right parts. They said since it’s an older van, the parts are harder to come by. And I know that we’ve overstayed our welcome, so if you could give us a ride into town, I can get a room at a motel or something.”

“I’m afraid that won’t work.” When she sent him a questioning look, he continued. “They aren’t going to let you stay there with three puppies.”

She sighed. “I had a feeling you were going to say something like that.”

“So, I guess you all will have to stay here.”

She frowned. “But I feel horrible about disrupting your life.”

Under his breath he muttered, “Some people don’t think I have a life.”

“What did you say?”

He shook his head. “You don’t have to worry about staying here.”

“Can I pay you?”

“No. Absolutely not.”

“But there has to be some way I can pay you back.”

He stopped to give it some thought. “Well, you could keep cooking for me.”

“It’s a deal.”

He shook his head. “I wasn’t serious. You don’t have to cook. I can take care of myself.”

“I’m sure you can, but it’s the least I can do.”

“But you’re also painting the ornaments for me, and from the look of the house, you’ve done some cleaning.”

“I hope you don’t mind. I had some time on my hands.”

“Who am I to complain about having a spiffed-up house? But right now, I’m starved. Would you like to join me for a late dinner?”

“I thought you’d never ask.” She carried her paint brushes to the sink and rinsed them off.

When she smiled at him, his pulse raced. There was something special about her—something that made him want to spend more time at home—to forget about his promise to himself that he wouldn’t love again—that he wouldn’t risk his scarred heart.

Dinner was finished.

The kitchen was cleaned up.

Candi looked over at Michael, but before she could say what was on her mind, a yawn escaped her lips. Maybe it was best to leave the conversation until the morning.

As she studied his face while he read something on his phone, she could see his exhaustion. But there was something else beneath the tiredness. It took her a moment and then she realized what it was—sadness.

She didn’t have to guess to know what had put it there—the loss of his family. Her thoughts turned to the pillow cover that was folded up in her purse. She felt awful that the pups had destroyed it.

Michael lowered his phone and looked at her. “I should let you get some rest. Thank you for dinner. It was delicious.”

“You’re welcome. Good night.” She turned toward the guest room.

She expected the pups to follow her, but when she looked down, she realized she only had two of them with her. Tank was missing. Why wasn’t she surprised? That dog had taken an instant liking to Michael, not that she could blame him. There was a lot to like about him.

She felt bad for Michael. He was obviously still mourning his family. It explained why there wasn’t one single Christmas decoration in the house.

She wanted to give him a bit of holiday spirit, but she had no idea how to do that. She’d have to give it some more thought.

Once in her room, she looked at the pups and told them to stay. She exited the room, closing the door behind her. She didn’t see him in the living room. She called Tank’s name. On her way to the kitchen, she paused at the bottom of the steps.

“Michael!”

“Yeah.” He moved to stand at the top of the steps. “What do you need?”

“Is Tank up there?”

His brows scrunched together. “I don’t think so. Let me look.”

He walked away. She could hear him calling out to the pup. And then he returned to the steps.

“He’s up here. He’s in my bed under the covers.”

She couldn’t stop the smile that crossed her face. Tank had a mind of his own. He could be as stubborn as the man in front of her.

“Stop smiling,” Michael said. “This isn’t funny. He can’t get used to this because sooner or later he’s going to his forever home.”

She wasn’t sure if he was saying this for her sake or for his own. Was it possible that Michael’s crusty exterior was cracking a bit? Had Tank gotten to him? She didn’t think it would be hard, considering that ball of fluff was nothing but a snuggle bug.

Gathering herself, she subdued the smile, but it took effort. “Would you like me to get him?”

Michael hesitated, as though it took him effort to figure out the answer. “You might as well just leave him because we both know that he’ll escape your room sometime during the night, and he’ll be back up here.”

The tug at the corners of her mouth grew with intensity. “Are you sure?”

Michael nodded. “Night.”

“Good night.”

She couldn’t turn away soon enough, because she finally lost the fight, and a great big grin pulled at her lips. She had a feeling Tank had found his forever home.