A Little Christmas Jingle (14 page)

Louise's lips thinned but she nodded. “This way.” She took him by the kennel where he'd placed Jingle last night. “She's kept him sedated. She had to clean out that one burn wound again, and that hurts.”

Jack noted that Jingle's breathing seemed steady. “Poor dog.” He leaned over the puppy. “Hey buddy. How you doing?” He stroked the dog's head. “I got them for you. Just like I promised. No one will ever hurt you again.”

“So you arrested them?” Kat stepped into view, and he straightened, caught baby talking. Her hair was up in a ponytail, her face bare except for some mascara and a shimmery neutral lip gloss. Her white lab coat covered a blue oxford, collared shirt embroidered with the clinic logo over her heart. She wore a pair of black pants. Even without the fancy dress and hairstyle, she was gorgeous. He resisted the urge to pull her in her arms and kiss her senseless.

So instead, he kept things professional. “I did.”

She nodded, satisfied. “Good. Let me just wash my hands and we can go face the horde. They've been there for an hour. My clients are flustered. The neighborhood association president called to tell me it was another disruption.”

“But we actually have new clients because of Jingle and the media,” Louise told Jack as they all walked through the small vet area and toward the lobby.

“Yes, but now the association has one more thing to add to its list of complaints. My lawyer already called about this, too. Can't win for trying,” Kat said. She stopped at the sink to wash her hands. “Okay, let's do this so they go away.”

“Wait,” Jack said. On her lab coat, she'd attached three small Christmas pins: a tree, an angel, and a gingerbread man. The latter was upside down. “Hold up a minute.”

He adjusted her pin, his fingers tugging the lab coat and her toward him. Then he reached to her left temple and removed a piece of gray cat fur from her hair.

He held the tuft out, and she put it in the trashcan. “One of the hazards of the job. Last patient was a bit of a shedder.”

“You look great,” Jack said as they stepped into the empty lobby. “It's quite cold out there, so how about we let them in? You'd look good with the tree in the background.”

“You're the expert with the media training.”

“Then let me control this.”

“Okay.”

A moment of trust passed between them, and Jack opened the clinic doors so the reporters and their cameramen could come into the room. Jack assigned them places.

“Quite the organizer,” Louise commented. “And how he removed that fuzz and turned your pin—”

“Out,” Kat hissed, and Louise laughed. “Go check on something.”

“Dr. Saunders? Ready?” Jack reached his arm out, motioning her to join him.

She stepped forward, ready as she'd ever be, and nodded.

“Ladies and gentlemen of the press,” Jack began as microphones went into this face, “thanks for joining me here at the Chippewa Animal Clinic, where late last night Dr. Katherine Saunders worked to once again save Jingle's life. Jingle wouldn't be in this precarious state if it hadn't been for two people who doused him in gasoline and set him on fire. Today I am pleased to announce that arrests have been made in conjunction with this heinous crime.”

As Jack continued to talk, Kat found herself mesmerized. His voice contained authority and decisiveness. He spoke clearly, calmly—outlining the crime, the perpetrators' reasons behind their actions, and his own refutation of the perps' arguments. Kat could see the media lapping up every word. Justice for Jingle already had a large Facebook following; she had no doubt the number of page likes would quadruple after tonight's news broadcasts.

“Now Dr. Saunders will give you an update on Jingle's condition,” Jack said, turning the press conference over to her.

“Jingle is recovering from infections, and I'm cautiously optimistic,” Kat told the reporters. “He still has a long way to go, including skin grafts.”

“When will he be able to be adopted?”

“We're in no position to determine that yet. Healing takes time.”

“Dr. Saunders has provided Jingle with excellent free medical care,” Jack added.

“Have you heard anything more about your lawsuit?” a reporter shot out.

Kat's stomach clenched, but she'd been expecting this question ever since Jack called her. So she told the truth. “My court date is the Monday before Christmas.”

“Do you expect to win?”

She leveled her gaze. “As with Jingle, I'm cautiously optimistic. Animals need tender loving care, and I provide that and a home until they find their forever family. To help provide a forever home, my annual adoption event is next Saturday. So come on by then.”

“I'll be here signing calendars,” Jack added, giving the cameras his trademark grin. “It's the least I can do for Jingle and all the pet charities that the purchase of this calendar benefits.”

And with that, he called an end to the questions, and the reporters left. “We'll see if that last part makes the news,” he said as they watched the news crews drive away.

“It'd be great publicity.”

He tucked a stray strand behind her ear. “Yes, it would. So the Monday before Christmas.”

A sad breath left her. “Yeah. One of the last on the docket, my lawyer told me. They want it wrapped up before the holiday. So it could either be a very merry Christmas or very bah humbug. I'm praying for the first one. All I want for Christmas is that shelter license.”

“Fingers crossed.” He made the gesture with his right hand. “I've got to hit the road. Wish I could stay, but I'm on stakeout tonight.”

“Sounds exciting.”

“Not really. We're busting an illegal animal fighting ring.”

She shuddered. “Dogs?”

He shook his head, sending that sandy blond hair over his forehead. “Cockfighting.”

Disbelief that something so barbaric could be happening in St. Louis had her saying, “You're kidding me.”

A short scoff accompanied, “I wish I was. It's a lot more widespread than people think. A few days ago they busted a three-state fighting ring in the south. People drove for miles to watch the fights and bet. Worse, they brought their kids. Who brings kids somewhere they attach blades to the birds' beaks so they do more damage? It's sickening.”

Kat shuddered again. “I'm glad you'll be there to stop it. What will happen to the birds?”

“The Humane Society of Missouri's animal cruelty task force will be there too. They'll take all the animals.”

“That's good.” She shifted her weight as conversation wound down. Did she kiss him good-bye?

He made the choice, giving her a quick peck on the forehead. “You did a great interview. I'll talk to you tomorrow. Text me if you need me or if anything happens to Jingle.”

“I will.”

Then he was out the front door, taking the outside route to the SUV parked behind the building.

“He didn't stay long,” Louise observed as she returned.

“He has to work tonight.”

“It's Saturday.”

Kat crossed her arms. “Animal abuse doesn't take a holiday.”

“So you two seem tight.”

“I guess working to save a dog will do that.”

Louise grinned. “Sure it can't be more?”

Kat shook her head. “We're friends. With all that's going on, that might be the best place for us.”

Louise scoffed. “He's hot. How can you say that? Go for it.”

Kat had considered all this. Processing her feelings for Jack had kept her up most of the night. “And then what? Awkward conversations at all the places I have to see him?”

“No gain without risk.”

“I truly hate you at times.”

“I know,” Louise laughed. “But really, what do you have to lose?”

My heart?
Kat headed back to check on Jingle. Jack Donovan was the type of man she'd fall for, and Mr. December was also Mr. Wrong. He'd made it clear that the only reason he'd wanted a relationship was to keep his family from trying to hook him up at the wedding. She was a fixer, so she'd come up with her own scheme not to be alone. Her parents were just as overbearing.

She and Jack would end. That was as certain as sunrise. Better to keep any deep feelings to a minimum, similar to what she had to do for the animals in her care. She loved her animals, but she had to let them go. Jack would be no different. The more involved she became, the harder it would be to separate.

Jingle was resting as comfortably as he could under the circumstances. Angela approached. “You need to get out of here. We've got closing and watching Jingle.”

Home sounded nice. “I would like to see my cats.”

“And they'd like to see you,” Angela replied. She touched Kat's arm reassuringly. “We will call if anything goes wrong. You know that. Go.”

So Kat went home, poured herself a glass of merlot, reheated take-out, and plopped herself in front of the television. Around seven thirty, her cell phone beeped, indicating the clinic's emergency line had received a voice message and forwarded it.

She dialed in to listen, knowing it had to be a patient. Her staff would have called her directly. “Kat? I'm sorry, I didn't know how to get ahold of you and Jack's not answering. Is he with you? Are you coming to dinner tomorrow night? I'll kill him if he didn't invite you. I have your jewelry and your book. Oh, this is Jack's mom. Joyce.”

Joyce rattled off her phone number, and Kat grabbed for a pen. She wrote the number down and cleared the message. On one hand, not a pet emergency she needed to deal with. That was a relief. On the other, that was Jack's mother. Jack hadn't invited her to dinner. Did he not want her to go? Was he working tomorrow night too? Was this something she should have known about?

She sighed, realizing this is why she hated relationships, even fake ones that were supposed to be simple.

She sent Jack a text message, but after thirty minutes he still hadn't answered. As the clock crept closer to nine, she reached for her phone and dialed Joyce's number.

“Kat!” Joyce said as she introduced herself. “I feel as if I know you already.”

“Uh …” Maybe calling Jack's mom wasn't such a good idea.

“Sharon brought me your auction loot and said you wore a lovely blue dress. So dinner tomorrow?”

“Jack didn't mention it. He's on a stakeout. That's why he hasn't called.”

Joyce wasn't to be deterred. “So you'll come?”

“Jack—”

“Hasn't dated anyone in two years. Not since Julie, who dumped him after a five-year stint. I'm sure he's told you about that.”

“Uh,” Kat began, but Joyce charged on.

“She certainly wasn't the one for him and we were all very relieved when he didn't get engaged after her ultimatum. So dinner?”

Kat tried to regain control. “I need to talk to Jack. He may be working.”

“Do you have plans?” his mother asked.

“Well, no, but—”

“Then you come even if he can't.”

“This relationship is rather new and …” Kat paused. She had no clue what to say. Would this hurt Jack or help him?

Joyce sensed her hesitation and went for the kill. “You're sitting with family at his sister's wedding. Wouldn't you like to meet us all first?”

“Um …”

Joyce added some enticement. “Dinner's on the table at five thirty sharp. Pot roast. I'm told I make the best roast in the city. I'll set you a plate.”

And before Kat could decline, Joyce disconnected. Kat stared mindlessly at her phone, swiping through her apps as if they could magically provide the answer. Finally she sent Jack a text: “Your mom called me. Dinner five thirty tomorrow. Pick me up at five unless you have a good excuse to get us out of this. Although pot roast sounds good.”

She set her phone aside and flipped the television to TLC, which was showing a
Say Yes to the Dress
marathon. Kat watched about ten minutes before turning the channel to TNT, which was showing an eighties action-adventure movie.
No use wishing for what wasn't going to happen anytime soon
.

Sure, she'd dated, but most of her relationships fizzled after a month or two—work always came first. First, she didn't date any guys who didn't like pets. Pets were non-negotiable. Second, few men wanted to come second to her practice, but she refused to sacrifice her life's work for a man. So the dating pool was minuscule at best.

A commercial came on, so she flipped back to TLC to see a bride say yes to her dream dress. Kat hadn't known Jack had been in a long-term relationship. He'd simply said he needed his parents off his back. She understood that—every time she spoke to her mother, she always asked about her relationships or bemoaned Kat's lack thereof, and Kat knew that this Christmas the pressure would be on as her mother had gotten the idea that she'd like to be a grandma someday, especially when she got back from her trip.

Kat turned off the TV, deciding to go to bed early. While the accommodations in her office were nice, sleeping in her own bed would be wonderful and the extra sleep would do her good. She set the news to record and, after picking up Pippa, headed for bed.

#

Jack had never seen so many feathers. Okay, maybe when he and Matt had gotten into that one big fight and destroyed his mother's down pillows. Maybe then.

But he hadn't been covered with them, although he had gotten a good spanking. “Catch that!” someone called.

“Got it,” Jack called, reaching down to grab a black rooster. Immediately the bird turned its beak and began pecking at the heavy gloves Jack wore. Jack gripped the squirming bird and dropped it into an open-top cage. Quickly someone else closed the lid on the now flapping bird.

“Never thought I'd be doing this in the academy,” Mike quipped.