A Little Christmas Jingle by Michele Dunaway Page A

questions.”
    Kat tossed the letter on her desk and dropped into her chair the moment the news crew left. Jack remained standing, and Crystal came to weave herself between his legs. She trembled. “What a mess. A complete mess.”
    â€œI didn’t lie,” Jack told her. “I never lie. If you’d had any animal in distress, I’d be back in five minutes to take them away and shut you down.”
    â€œI know.” She glanced at her watch. Six minutes before her next client. She prided herself on being on time. “I screwed up and it’s biting me. I forgot to get the permits. It started out as one stray dog that my vet tech found. Then once I remodeled the clinic, I had more space and someone else brought me another. Then another. Next thing you know, I’m running an unofficial shelter and I’m in violation of zoning, and now I’m embroiled in a mess and headed to court. You forcing that tour put me in an awkward spot.”
    â€œI read the
Post-Dispatch
article. You need to clear the air and the minds of the city. You need good PR. The story can do that. It will stop this,” he said holding up the letter.
    She chewed her lower lip. “What if Anthony’s story makes everything worse? My lawyer said—”
    â€œMy brother’s a lawyer. They’re always saying something.”
    â€œYes but—”
    â€œWorse would be that we have to relocate Jingle to another vet.” He let that hang out there and then said gently, “Kat, your heart was in the right place when you started your shelter. You do everything in your power to save animals, including sleeping at your clinic. Those animals looked well cared for. I said that on camera, and it’s the truth. But know that I will not let anything blemish the task force.”
    â€œThen you might have made the wrong choice with me. Especially depending on the comments that get posted after the news broadcast.”
    He shrugged. “You never know. Could be nothing.”
    She put her head in her hands. “I wish you hadn’t put me on the spot. If this ruins my chances for my adoption event, I don’t know what I’ll do. What if the city shuts that down, too? How will I find my animals homes then?”
    â€œChristmas adoptions are never a good idea. Just look at Jingle.”
    Her head shot up and her chest heaved. “You’re wrong. Many loving families adopt animals at Christmas, and my animals deserve that chance. Pet Rescue is full, as are most no-kill shelters. I will not have my animals end up in a kill shelter. If this gets screwed up, you’ll need to help me fix it.” Her watch beeped. She could not keep her patients waiting. “I have to go.”
    â€œI’ll stop by after closing. See how Jingle’s doing. We can talk then. Discuss any fallout.”
    Overwhelmed, she rose to her feet. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea. I can keep you up-to-date over the phone. You’ve already done more than enough, and I probably shouldn’t speak to you again without talking to my lawyer.” She remembered her manners. “Thank you for lunch.”
    Jack towered over her. He cupped her chin, and awareness burned through her. Determined and slightly irritated blue eyes locked onto hers. “We’re not finished, Kat. Not by a long shot. I will see you after work.”

Chapter Four
    That afternoon, Kat kept busy with back-to-back patients. She performed several routine physicals, saw one dog who’d chewed up a sneaker, and treated a cat that had an infection and needed an antibiotic shot and a special diet. During her appointments she’d fought to keep her mind from churning. Worry frayed her nerves, and her lawyer’s $250 phone call hadn’t helped either. She’d just reiterated that Kat needed to keep a low profile.
    Kat changed Jingle’s dressings, checked his wounds for infection, and monitored his