Touched by Lightning [Dreams of You] (Romantic Suspense) by Tina Wainscott Page B

Crackers.”
    He raised a thin, dark eyebrow. “How can you keep a pet in your van? Especially a dog.”
    “A big dog, or he will be. I’m not keeping him, just nursing him back to health.” She told him about the accident. “A man helped me. He came to our rescue, carrying Crackers all the way to the animal hospital.”
    Ulyssis eyed her strangely. “A man?”
    “Yes, a man. He’s very nice, and I could tell he cared about the puppy’s welfare.”
    “Who is this man?”
    “His name is Adrian Nash. He came from New Jersey for a job his friend had told him about, but they were both gone when he got here. I guess he sleeps at the shelter.”
    He seemed to study her. “I haven’t seen you smile that way in a long time.”
    Nikki tried to wipe any expression from her face, not even realizing she had been smiling. “It’s not like that. Yes, he’s handsome. I guess I haven’t seen a man like that in a long time. He’ll be gone soon.”
    “What does this man look like?”
    “He’s tall, with dark, curly hair to his shoulders and brown eyes.” She realized then that she was smiling and stopped. Ridiculous. Dangerous. “Are you thinking of the guy who bought my photographs”
    “He was tall, though his hair was straight and shorter, I believe.”
    “Did he have a beard?”
    “No, but a man can grow a beard.” Ulyssis rubbed his own long chin. “Well, some men can. They’re close, Nicolina. Stay away from him. Isn’t it strange that a man comes in asking about a woman who looks like you, buys your photographs, and then soon after a man with similar features shows up on the streets?”
    “Maybe.” She took a deep breath, feeling a tremor inside. “Don’t worry. He may be handsome, but I’m not in love with him or anything like that.”
    “Then stop smiling every time you speak about him.”
    “I’m only smiling because I’m glad you worry about me. At least someone does.” She squeezed his hands. “I don’t plan to see him again, okay? I’m going to avoid that area for the next day or so, and he’ll probably be gone when I return.”
    “Check in with me next week, so I know you’re still alive. I worry about you out there by yourself. I wish you’d move into my apartment.”
    “I’m not by myself. Right now I have a puppy, though he’s hardly a threat when all he wants to do is lick my face and cuddle in my lap.” She already knew it was going to be hard to put him back on the streets again when his leg healed. “And I can’t move in with you. I refuse to disrupt your life like that.”
    “I know, I know. Be careful.” He leaned over and kissed her forehead. “Don’t let him into your heart.”
     
     
    “What the hell are you doing down there? We got enough muff up here in New York City to last you a lifetime. You don’t need to go down south for it.”
    Adrian held the phone away from his ear for second, picturing the short, balding man with the horn-rimmed glasses he considered a fashion statement. “Stan,” Adrian tried to cut into the Stanley Fiske tirade. He was the manager of Dreams in Color, the ad agency Adrian did most of his work through. “I’m not chasing muff. Jeez, is that all you ever think about?”
    “No, I also think a great deal about money. Making it, specifically. But we are not talking about what I’m thinking about, we are talking about what you’re thinking about. What are you thinking about? Why aren’t you in New York City making thousands of dollars a week for us?”
    “Aren’t I entitled to a vacation?”
    “Sure you are,” he said sweetly. “When you give me a week’s notice! You just now decide to call and let me know you’re in the middle of some cockeyed vacation? It’s crazy.”
    “This is why I’m self-employed, Stan. So I don’t have to answer to anybody.”
    “You’re self-employed so you can become the best damn photographer in the business. That means being available, and giving people notice when you decide it’s time