Page 10 of Christmas Wish
“Can I pet your Bluto now? He knows I’m okay,” Timmy said.
“His name’sBrutus, and if it’s all right with your mom, you can come over here and pet him.”
Timmy’s eyes shone as he looked at Savannah. “Can I, Mommy? Please?”
She wrung her hands over and over as if she were washing them, and then nodded. “Just wait and let Ryder tell you when it’s okay to pet his dog.”
She remembered my name, and she keeps sneaking peeks at me. Maybe she’s lonely for some male company.
Timmy padded over and Ryder could feel Brutus stiffen by his side. He hit the button in his prosthesis and his knee pushed out, making it easy for him to kneel down. The chaffing still hurt like hell, but he could deal with it. He put his arm around the German shepherd and leaned close to his ear. “Steady, boy.” Brutus relaxed and Ryder waved Timmy to come closer.
The boy looked at his mom as apprehension began to line his face. “Are you going to pet him too, Mommy?”
“Uh … I wasn’t planning on it.” Savannah darted her eyes between the dog, Ryder, and Timmy.
“I think you should show your boy it’s okay,” Ryder said in a low voice.
She lifted her chin and stared at him coolly. “I don’t need any suggestions from you on what I should do with my son.”
I hit a nerve, and she’s not as meek as I thought.“Whatever.” He reached out his hand, and Timmy placed his small one into it. Before he could encourage him to come closer, Savannah knelt down next to him, and a clean scent with a hint of floral hugged him.She smells damn good … and sexy.He glanced sideways at her, but she kept her focus on her son.
“Do you wanna pet Brutus?” he asked her.
“Okay,” she answered, but her tone said it was the last thing she wanted to do. She gasped when he grabbed her hand and guided it over to the dog’s damp fur. As cold as her hand was, the skin was soft and silky, which made him wonder if her whole body was just as satiny.
It’s just some chick’s hand. Focus, man.Without thinking, he squeezed her hand then ran his thumb over its softness.
“Aren’t I supposed to be petting the dog?” she asked.
He immediately loosened his grip. “Of course, but your hand is so damn cold that I was trying to warm it up so Brutus wouldn’t freak out.” Her quizzical look confirmed what he already knew—a piss-poor excuse for his pathetic actions.There’s no question about it—the first chance I get, I’m going to hook up with Brandi.Before she could say anything, he put her hand on Brutus’s back then let go of it.
“Is he soft, Mommy?”
“Yes, he is, but he’s a little wet too.”
Ryder drew the boy closer, and soon his small hand stroked the black fur. “He likes it,” Timmy whispered.
“Once you both get to know each other better, you can rub his belly—helovesthat.” Timmy’s eyes widened, and he heard Savannah make a sound liketsk-tsk. He turned to her and looked deep into her eyes. “What’s your problem?”
Scraping a hand through her hair, Savannah looked away. “Nothing. It’s just that we’ll be leaving once the storm dies down. I don’t like people promising things they can’t deliver.” She stood up and wrapped the blanket tighter around her.
Just hit another nerve. Someone broke a promise to you, didn’t they, darlin’?“The storm will be around for a couple more days at least, and then it’ll take time until the less traveled roads are cleared.”
“In any event, we won’t be here long.” She rubbed the back of her neck.
“I think he likes me, Mommy,” Timmy said, his face flushed.
Savannah’s smile held all the love a mother has for her child, and it warmed Ryder to the core. He pushed up then pulled Brutus back.
“He does like you. That’s enough for now because Brutus isn’t used to many kids.”
Nodding his head, Timmy drew his hand away and took a few steps backward.
“Go finish your puzzle, sweetie,” Savannah said, and the young boy walked back to the table and slid onto the cushioned seat.
“It’s in the single digits outside, and it’s gonna be below zero tonight.”
“Thanks for the weather update,” Savannah said.
