Winter Falls (Evergreen Lake: Under the Mistletoe)

Chapter 11

eleven

The exterior of the shelter was so pretty, decorated for Christmas. Most of the decorations were geared towards animals, and it looked just lovely. It was hard to find a parking space, there were so many cars, which was a very good sign. I hoped it translated into many adoptions.

Once parked I gathered my camera and accessories. The plan was to get some good pictures of the event and load them to the Chamber’s, and Rescue’s website. Anything to help these poor babies find a new home.

My arms were full, and I was glad someone held the door for me. Inside was a chorus of barking and happy yips, meows, and tweets. The shelter wasn't just for dogs and cats, it accepted pretty much any house-size animal that had hair, feathers, fur, or scales. Anything bigger--goats, horses, cows, llamas--were housed offsite.

Once inside, I turned to put my bags down on a nearby table and stopped dead in my tracks. There was Amos. On the floor, in an enclosure covered in puppies. All kinds of puppies. I froze to the spot watching him play with them.

He laughed and I think it was the first time I'd ever heard it. The deep, baritone chuckle made my blood run hot through my veins, swirling around until it about set me on fire.

I watched, breathless, the way big hands gently held the babies, so tender and ever so patient as they jumped up his arms and back. I drew in a quick breath, thinking what it would be like with his hands on me.

He wore a black t-shirt, covered in animal hair and drool spots, but he didn't seem to care in the least. But, what caught my attention was his exposed and very muscular arms. He had a few tattoos which were difficult to read as they were smaller... script-like.

My gaze roamed over his back, muscles rippling under the material. I was almost panting like those happy puppies crawling all over him. It wasn't hard to notice how well his jeans clung to him, no, not hard at all and it only stirred me hotter. Even though he was sitting on the floor, it was easy to see how in shape he was.

My heart beat a little harder. I closed my mouth, careful not to drool like a lovesick puppy. Damn! Seeing him like that amidst a pile of furry, warm bodies wasn't what I expected. This was a new side to him and I liked it. I glanced around and saw that others noticed him too. He'd been known in the community as an intense, firm faced, no nonsense kind of guy. The town had rallied around him when his parents died and he was left to raise his brother and sister.

And, here he was, giving back in person, rather than an anonymous financial donation. My arms ached with my load and I found a table, sighing with relief when I put it all down. I fished out my camera and took a few quick photos of him. Moments like this didn’t last forever and I wanted to capture it. I also took pictures of others around the room.

I held back approaching him. He seemed to be having such a good time with, I didn’t want to disturb him. Plus, I enjoyed watching him interact with puppies.

I saw why they needed more helping hands--it was busy but very organized. The adoption process was set up in stages and small pockets of the volunteers were handling the animals available for adoption. I wandered around to see if I could lend a hand.

One table had aquariums, but I didn’t see fish; instead they held lizards and snakes. I hoped they would be given a chance for a loving home.

"Would you like to hold one?" the teenage boy asked me, his smile wide. He had a lizard on his shoulder and I did my best not to shiver. Not because I found them horrible or anything like that.

"I'm not sure, I've never held one before, and I'm afraid I might embarrass myself." I curled my fingers around my camera. "Can I get a picture of you with it/him/her?"

"Sure, and it's a her, this is Sally," he told me.

"Oh, good to meet you, Sally." I raised my camera and focused in on Sally. I caught a great photo just as she looked up at the boy and flicked her tongue out. "That was perfect timing."

"So, would you like to hold her?" he asked again.

Not really, I wanted to say but I suppose I should, and I was a little bit curious how she would feel.

"OK, what do I need to do?"

"Just stand still and I will place her on your shoulder." He came around from the other side of the table and I braced myself as he lifted Sally off his shoulder and over to me. I tilted my head away, not sure what to expect, and watched him out of the corner of my eye.

"OK, I'm going to set her down--don't jump or anything because it might startle her," he instructed.

"All right, I'll do my best." I tightened all my muscles, not wanting to flinch, and watched as he placed her on my shoulder.

"No need to make that sound." I heard the humor in his voice.

"What sound?" I asked him.

"That weird eeee you're making."

"I didn't realize I was.” And quickly shut up noticing people had turned to watch me.

I felt Sally’s slight weight on my shoulder. I still had my jacket on so I unable to feel her feet or skin. I relaxed and she seemed to as well.

"See, that's not so bad." He stood back, smiling, and watched Sally on my shoulder.

"No, no, it's not," I said rather hesitantly. Then Sally started to move. She turned and looked around, and then wandered closer to my neck. "What’s she doing?"

"Nothing, just getting used to sitting on your shoulder."

"I thought she would just be still and not walk around. Oh no, oooh you better get her, she's at my neck, licking me.” I yelped.

"You're OK, she's just tasting you."

"Tasting me," I exclaimed, and other people turned to see what all the ruckus was about. “She's going in my hair. Get her!" Sally nosed her way under my hair and the hood of my coat. I bent over, hoping she would fall off or run away, but she didn’t.

I reached behind me to try and grab her but my hood fell over my head, trapping her inside. "Oh my God!" I yelled.

"Just be still--don't move, and I'll get her." He was beginning to get frantic as well.

"Oooh, be still, be still, be still," I chanted to myself while he lifted the hood, and pushed my hair aside. Right at that moment, Sally took a run for it and was inside my coat, against my skin.

I let out a scream that could've shattered the windows, and I hopped around, trying to get her out, but I couldn't undo my zipper. This was the most horrifying thing! Everybody was watching, mouths open and eyes wide. I just knew I was being photographed and videoed. To top it off, I couldn’t seem to control my actions and was making a fool of myself. Even worse, I was terrifying the poor lizard. It would be traumatized for life, I was sure.

"Get it, get it!" I continued to shout and jump, trying to dislodge the lizard which was impossible because she had quite a hold on me.

Strong hands grabbed my shoulders from behind and a deep voice instructed me to be still.

I was waving my hands through my hair now, and pulled it up, so Sally wouldn't get tangled in it again.

The hands turned me around and it was Amos. I looked up at him.

“Please, help me get it out," I screeched, the banshee coming out of me.

"Shh, stop shouting and be still, let me help. I'll get it." His voice was calm, low, and calmed me a bit. I stared up into his eyes. Oh, those eyes. Why hadn't I noticed how expressive and gorgeous they were before? They grounded me, and I drew in a deep breath, trying not to react to the lizard that was getting way too up close and personal.

He slid his fingers around my neck, leaving a wake of sensation that fanned out to every inch of my body. I liked his touch way better than Sally’s.

He pushed them gently into my hair, and I let the bundle drop and the strands fell around his hands and wrists. The lizard moved again. I closed my eyes, totally conflicted by the warm touch of his hands, and the cool feet of the lizard. All I could do was freeze, and wait until Amos captured Sally and put her back where she belonged.

I opened one eye a crack and saw that we had an audience. Great.

Sally skittered again and made me jump. I grabbed Amos's waist, and stared up at him.

"It's on my boobs," I whispered to him.

And damn if he didn't smile. Which totally melted my heart.

"Smart lizard."