Harlequin Intrigue, Box Set 2 of 2 by Julie Miller

attached to running around the theater this past week. He wants a dog so badly, it’s at the top of his Christmas list. But our landlord won’t allow pets. I mean, the dog is friendly enough, but he’s skin and bones. I feel so bad for him, especially in this weather. Apparently, Tyler’s been feeding him.”
    â€œA tan dog with a white stripe around his neck?”
    â€œYes. How did you...?” Her cheeks heated with color as she tilted her face up to his. “You went to the theater last night. I told you everything was fine.”
    Trent propped his hands at his waist, dipping his head toward hers. He matched her indignant tone. “No, you told me you’d
handle
whatever it was. If everything is fine, you wouldn’t need to handle anything.”
    â€œWell, I don’t need you to rescue me every time something scares me.”
    â€œWhat scared you?”
    She paused for a moment before waving off his concern and turned back to her computer. “That’s not what I meant.”
    â€œThen give me some straight answers. Something hinky was going on outside that theater. Either you saw something, or you at least suspected it.” He wrapped his fingers around the pink wool sleeve of her sweater and softened his tone. “Something that
scared
you, and that’s why you called me.”
    She hesitated for a moment before shrugging off his touch. “You were on a date.”
    â€œThe date was over.”
    â€œBecause of me?” She turned in the tight space between the table and chair, her forehead scrunched up with remorse.
    He tapped the furrow between her brows and urged her to relax. “Because I wanted it to be.”
    She batted his hand away, dismissing his concern. “Trent, I don’t have the right to call you whenever I need something. I’m not going to wimp out on being a strong woman and I don’t want to take advantage of our friendship. We shouldn’t have that you’re-the-guy-I-always-call-on kind of relationship, anyway. You need to...find someone and move on with your life.”
    â€œI’ll make my own decisions, thank you. I call you when I need something, don’t I?”
    â€œSewing a button on your dress uniform is hardly the same thing.”
    â€œLook, you and I know more about each other than just about anybody else. We’ve shared secrets and heartaches and stupid stuff, too. That’s what people who care about each other do. Now—as a friend who doesn’t appreciate phone calls that make him think something bad has happened and he needs to drop everything without even taking a shower and speed across town in a snowstorm—”
    â€œYou didn’t—”
    â€œâ€”I need you to tell me exactly why you called last night. And don’t tell me you were frightened of that sweet little dog, who, incidentally, is spending the day at the vet’s office while the Humane Society is checking to see if he’s been reported missing.”
    Her eyes widened again. “You rescued the dog?”
    â€œYou wouldn’t let me rescue you. Now answer the question. What scared you last night?”
    â€œNothing but my imagination. I’m sorry I worried you. The dog’s okay?”
    She changed topics like a hard right turn in a high-speed chase.
    Trent shrugged. This woman always kept him on his toes. “I fed him some scrambled eggs and gave him water. He spent the night whimpering on a blanket in my mudroom, but he didn’t have any accidents. Don’t know if he’s housebroken or just too scared he’ll get into trouble and get dumped out someplace again. I took him to the vet’s this morning for a thorough checkup and a much-needed grooming. My truck still smells like wet, stinky dog.”
    â€œThank you.” Her lips softened into a beautiful smile. When she reached out to squeeze his hand, he squeezed right back. “Thank you for saving him. I