contemporary romance | fantasy romance
Starfire Lake Series
...where love ignites...
Rose did not want to call Jake Clark. The man she left her fiancé at the altar for, and the one who didn’t even know she was still in love with him.
She glanced at the dog on her front seat. “At least you’re safe now.” Rose had seen the dog shivering under a tree and hadn’t been able to leave her. It hadn’t taken too much convincing to get the dog into the car.
The forecast had said the blizzard wouldn’t hit for another few hours, but Mother Nature did what she wanted, the persnickety bitch. And the snow was coming down harder.
Rose’s little car did not like the cold or snow, apparently. It wouldn’t even start.
There was nobody else to call for help.
Not anymore.
Her parents were out of town for the long post-Thanksgiving weekend, and she wasn’t about to ask one of her friends to send their guys out to help. Not in this weather.
The phone rang twice before a deep voice answered, hesitation evident. “Rose?”
“Jake? I’m sorry to bother you, but I didn’t know who else to call.” Rose had just seen him a little while ago at the grocery store, and though their conversation hadn’t lasted long, it hadn’t been as awkward as when she was still engaged to Henry.
“Are you okay?” Concern laced his voice, and Rose could almost picture his face—the furrow in his brow and the set of his jaw.
“I was trying to get this stray dog and my car won’t start, and the local tow truck company is busy, my parents are out of town, and I don’t know what to do.”
“Tell me where you are.”
She told him which shopping center to find her and ended the call. The black dog she’d found had curled up on the front passenger seat, still shivering. Both of them were soaked from the rain and snow.
Strong winds whipped through the trees, and Rose tried not to worry as the car shifted from side to side.
The dog glanced around in alarm, settling her gaze on Rose. “It’s okay, sweetie. What should I call you? Do you have a name already?” A head tilt was the only reply. Rose reached her hand out again for the pup to sniff. “How do you like the name Daisy?”
There was no collar on the dog, and Rose was worried someone had dumped her.
A kiss on the fingers. “Daisy it is.”
Barely ten minutes later, Jake’s truck appeared ahead. Rose could have cried in relief.
“We’re rescued, little one. Today really is your lucky day.”
The dog looked up at Rose as if to say, ‘I know.’ Those big brown eyes were full of hope, but Rose could see a tinge of fear that made her heart break. She let the dog sniff her hand again and then rubbed her ears. “You’re a sweet, good girl.” The words earned her a tail thump. “Should we let the sexy man take us home?” Another thump. “Come on, let’s get out of this mess, what do you think?”