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When Mrs. Dodd shuffled into the kitchen, her gray hair mussed and her eyes tired, Rowdy barely recognized her. Cookie did, though. He leaped off Rowdy’s lap and ran to his mistress. Mrs. Dodd began weeping as she lifted the exuberant dog into her arms, and Cookie whined like he hadn’t seen her for weeks rather than days. Within a few minutes, the entire household was up, and Emma was making everyone tea. They were all happy to see Cookie and stunned that he’d been next-door the entire time. They were even more stunned when Rowdy explained Mrs. Wanton-Klapper’s involvement.

“I’m going to make that woman regret ever moving here,” Mrs. Dodd said, hugging Cookie to her.

They fed and coddled Cookie, and he basked in the attention, playing and pawing. It had to have been a traumatizing time for him, but he would bounce back.

“Well,” Rowdy said, pushing to his feet. “I think I’m going to go get our stuff from the lookout spot and head home.”

Annabelle’s gaze flashed to him, and he felt a spark of awareness. They’d had a fantastic kiss up on that rocky outcropping, and they were both thinking about it.

“I’ll go with you,” Annabelle said, pushing up from the floor.

“You don’t have to,” he started, but she waved a hand.

“I want to.”

So, within a few minutes they were bundled in their outdoor gear again and hiking up the yard. They used flashlights this time the entire way. The stakeout was over, and they’d done what they’d needed to do. They’d gotten Cookie back safely for Mrs. Dodd. Rowdy didn’t even want to think about what could have happened if they hadn’t seen Casper with the dog tonight.

When they arrived at the rocks, they began gathering things up. There was no way Rowdy could roll his sleeping bag on this ground, so he draped it over his shoulder to carry down. Annabelle gathered the food items and thermos Emma sent them, stuffing them in the reusable bag and tying it off. Abruptly, she stood, and planted herself in front of him.

“That was a fantastic kiss,” she said, planting her hands on her hips. Her breath steamed the air, and Rowdy smiled slightly. Even with Cookie’s return, she was thinking about the kiss, just like he was. “Even now, it’s all I can think about.”

“It was,” he agreed, smiling at her.

“I realize I’ve only known you a day, but I want to see you again.”

Rowdy wondered if he shouldn’t politely decline, but he couldn’t pull the words out to do that. Maybe it was the holiday season, or just his own need for some kind of connection. The kiss had rocked him, and he wanted to know where it led as well. “I want to see you as well.”

“Will you be my date for the gala?” she asked, her eyes twinkling in the light from the flashlight.

“I will,” he said, grinning back. “I’ll be sure to park out of the way.”

Annabelle snorted, shaking her head, and he leaned down to brush her lips with his own. He wanted to taste that sweet smile again.

She sighed and leaned into him, her hands resting on his chest. Rowdy felt very manly, standing on that rock with a beautiful woman in his arms, and he didn’t want to let her go. It was crazy late, though, and they both had to be up in the morning.

When he drew back, she growled low in her throat. Was she feeling the same need he was? It seemed like she was.

“I’m not sure I want to wait three more days,” she murmured.

“It’ll go quick,” he promised her. “You’ll get lost in something that needs your attention and the time will fly.”

“Hm,” she said, leaning her head against his chest and wrapping her arms around his waist. “Thank you for everything, Rowdy. This was a fantastic night, for many reasons. I’m sorry if I pushed you to go get Cookie.”

He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “It all worked out.”

He dropped a kiss to the top of her head and drew back. “Let’s go.”

They trooped down to the house, and Rowdy said his goodbyes to everyone. Mrs. Dodd and Cookie had turned in for bed, and Emma took the picnic goodies from them. With a final glance at Annabelle, he let Linda escort him out. Rowdy threw his stuff into the cold truck cab and cranked the ignition, feeling like he was forgetting something. Shifting the truck into gear, he glanced up. Annabelle was in the window, waving goodbye. Rowdy returned the gesture and pulled away.

7

The report of the dognapping hit the papers and social media the next day. It was not pretty. He had to laugh at Mrs. Dodd, though. She was making the most of the situation, using poor Cookie as a prop to advertise her gala and raise money for the animal shelter.

Margaret Sneed Wanton-Klapper had been contacted but refused to comment. Rowdy knew the police had probably taken her statement, but he hadn’t seen the report yet.

“You did it,” Shannon said, grinning and clapping as he got off the elevator the next day.

Rowdy grinned as well. He’d gotten several hours of sleep and planned on finishing the report today, once he got a copy of the police report to attach to it. “I did,” he agreed.