actually glad when Andrew said
he’d bring up coffee and dessert, as it meant that she wasn’t yet going to be
asked to leave.
While he was
downstairs, Helen excused herself to use the restroom. On her way back, she
heard Andrew’s voice and paused, wondering who he was talking to.
“I thought I
told you to stay downstairs,” he said sternly. “The stairs are too much for
someone in your condition.”
Surprised and
curious, Helen took the few steps over to the stairs and peeked down. She saw Andrew
on the second floor landing, carrying a tray filled with a coffee pot, mugs,
cream, sugar, and a plate of cookies. There didn’t appear to be anyone with
him, so Helen took another step until she could see the little dog limping up
the steps behind him.
“Don’t you wag
your tail at me,” Andrew chided, shaking his head at the canine rebel. “This is
willful disobedience. I know you’re being left out of the fun, but that’s no
excuse. I told you to stay.”
Intrigued and
oddly touched, Helen watched silently. Never would she have imagined a man as
cool and professional as Andrew Cane having such a conversation with a pitiful
little dog.
The dog, worn
out from its long climb, flattened himself on the floor and panted.
Andrew scowled.
“Now, I suppose you expect me to help you get the rest of the way up. I already
have my hands full.”
The dog just
thumped its tail on the floor a few times.
“Fine. I have
to take up this tray first, but I’ll come back to get you.” Andrew started up
the flight of stairs but paused when the dog heaved itself to its feet to
follow. “That’s not going to work, is it? All right. Hang on. I’ll try to get
you. But don’t blame me if you end up with coffee-stained fur.”
Helen watched
breathlessly as Andrew maneuvered the tray to one hand and scooped up the
injured dog in the other. Then, realizing he was on his way up, Helen quickly
backed away and returned to the sitting room.
She felt amused
and surprised by this evidence of a warm heart in Andrew Cane. However grumpy
he had pretended to be, he was clearly fond of the dog and went out of his way
to take care of him.
Helen was convinced
that no one could be so sweet and considerate with a helpless animal if he was
as heartless and self-seeking as she’d initially assumed Andrew to be.
She felt a
little guilty for her initial impressions. And she also felt something else. A
warm interest that made her very anxious.
When she
returned to the room, Melissa asked her about her college and graduate school
experiences. Glad of the distraction, Helen answered willingly and managed not
to act differently when Andrew reentered the room, carrying the tray but with
the dog limping at his heels.
They talked
about colleges for a while, and Helen learned that Melissa had graduated from
an online degree program with a double major in History and Government and that
she now worked part-time for Andrew’s company, doing some editing work on web pages
from home. Obviously, they were all starting to be more comfortable with each
other, as the topics of conversation were becoming more personal.
“I just love
how you dress,” Melissa asked, munching happily on a cookie. If one didn’t know
better, nothing about her behavior or appearance would have suggested she was
anything other than a pretty, well-adjusted woman. “Where do you find your
clothes? I know they don’t sell dresses like that at the mall.”
“They don’t,”
Helen said, smoothing down the long skirt of her dress. “I raid yard sales and
thrift shops. There are a few vintage shops I like to browse in too, but I only
occasionally have enough money to buy clothes there.”
“It’s so cool
you have such a distinct, personal style. I always thought it a shame that everyone
insists on dressing like everyone else.”
Helen laughed
and felt her cheeks warm again. For some reason, talking about something so
personal to her in front of Andrew made her feel
he’d bring up coffee and dessert, as it meant that she wasn’t yet going to be
asked to leave.
While he was
downstairs, Helen excused herself to use the restroom. On her way back, she
heard Andrew’s voice and paused, wondering who he was talking to.
“I thought I
told you to stay downstairs,” he said sternly. “The stairs are too much for
someone in your condition.”
Surprised and
curious, Helen took the few steps over to the stairs and peeked down. She saw Andrew
on the second floor landing, carrying a tray filled with a coffee pot, mugs,
cream, sugar, and a plate of cookies. There didn’t appear to be anyone with
him, so Helen took another step until she could see the little dog limping up
the steps behind him.
“Don’t you wag
your tail at me,” Andrew chided, shaking his head at the canine rebel. “This is
willful disobedience. I know you’re being left out of the fun, but that’s no
excuse. I told you to stay.”
Intrigued and
oddly touched, Helen watched silently. Never would she have imagined a man as
cool and professional as Andrew Cane having such a conversation with a pitiful
little dog.
The dog, worn
out from its long climb, flattened himself on the floor and panted.
Andrew scowled.
“Now, I suppose you expect me to help you get the rest of the way up. I already
have my hands full.”
The dog just
thumped its tail on the floor a few times.
“Fine. I have
to take up this tray first, but I’ll come back to get you.” Andrew started up
the flight of stairs but paused when the dog heaved itself to its feet to
follow. “That’s not going to work, is it? All right. Hang on. I’ll try to get
you. But don’t blame me if you end up with coffee-stained fur.”
Helen watched
breathlessly as Andrew maneuvered the tray to one hand and scooped up the
injured dog in the other. Then, realizing he was on his way up, Helen quickly
backed away and returned to the sitting room.
She felt amused
and surprised by this evidence of a warm heart in Andrew Cane. However grumpy
he had pretended to be, he was clearly fond of the dog and went out of his way
to take care of him.
Helen was convinced
that no one could be so sweet and considerate with a helpless animal if he was
as heartless and self-seeking as she’d initially assumed Andrew to be.
She felt a
little guilty for her initial impressions. And she also felt something else. A
warm interest that made her very anxious.
When she
returned to the room, Melissa asked her about her college and graduate school
experiences. Glad of the distraction, Helen answered willingly and managed not
to act differently when Andrew reentered the room, carrying the tray but with
the dog limping at his heels.
They talked
about colleges for a while, and Helen learned that Melissa had graduated from
an online degree program with a double major in History and Government and that
she now worked part-time for Andrew’s company, doing some editing work on web pages
from home. Obviously, they were all starting to be more comfortable with each
other, as the topics of conversation were becoming more personal.
“I just love
how you dress,” Melissa asked, munching happily on a cookie. If one didn’t know
better, nothing about her behavior or appearance would have suggested she was
anything other than a pretty, well-adjusted woman. “Where do you find your
clothes? I know they don’t sell dresses like that at the mall.”
“They don’t,”
Helen said, smoothing down the long skirt of her dress. “I raid yard sales and
thrift shops. There are a few vintage shops I like to browse in too, but I only
occasionally have enough money to buy clothes there.”
“It’s so cool
you have such a distinct, personal style. I always thought it a shame that everyone
insists on dressing like everyone else.”
Helen laughed
and felt her cheeks warm again. For some reason, talking about something so
personal to her in front of Andrew made her feel
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