Maggie Undercover by Elysa Hendricks Read Free Book Online Page B

drawing blood.
    "Sh-h-h," she soothed him. "It's okay."
    He wiggled his head upward until it popped
out under her chin. Warm and wet his tongue bathed her throat. She
buried her nose in his fur.
    "I don't know why I'm keeping you a secret. I
can't keep you, you know. Daniel's allergic to anything with fur
and my apartment back in L.A. doesn't allow pets. But I can't
abandon you to a shelter. No one has ever picked me to take care of
him before. Don't worry we'll figure something out."
    Sudden warmth stung the scratches on her
belly. "Oh, gross." She yanked down the zipper and snatched out the
puppy. Tongue lolling out of his smiling mouth, he hung in her
hands a sorry bundle of damp, malodorous fur.
    "There you are."
    She spun to face Jared as he came around the
side of the house. He stopped a couple feet away.
    "What in the world is that?"
    "A puppy."
    Nose wrinkling, he came closer and peered at
the animal. "Are you sure?"
    She tucked the puppy close to her chest.
"I'll have you know this animal comes from the finest stock."
    "Musk ox is my guess. I can smell him from
here. Where did you find him?" He looked around the yard.
    "Next to the highway by the pumpkin farm. He
was in a garbage bag. Someone must have thrown him out of their
car."
    Jared muttered a curse. "Is he injured? Why
didn't you tell me right away?
    Why hadn't she? She wasn't sure.
    "He seems fine. I didn't want to disrupt the
day. Until he's checked out by a vet, who knows what kind of germs
he has."
    "Good thinking. A puppy would be more
interesting than pumpkins, but I doubt he's dangerous to anyone.
Can I see him?"
    Reluctantly she handed him the puppy. Without
his warm, damp body against her, she felt cold and empty.
    The puppy whimpered in protest but settled
down under Jared's gentle touch. "Ugly little fellow, aren't
you."
    "He is not ugly. Once he's clean I think
he'll have the prettiest white fur, with black ears and tail. He
just needs a bath." She jumped to the puppy's defense.
    "So does someone else I know. Guess you
didn't need pumpkin guts to ruin my jacket or your top."
    His gaze lingered on her chest. Beneath her
breasts her once bright orange tank top was wet, torn and dirty.
She clutched his jacket closed. "I'm sorry about your jacket. I'll
pay to have it cleaned."
    "Don't worry about it. It suffered for a good
cause. Let's check this fellow out. I'm not a vet, but nothing
feels broken. His eyes are clear. His nose is wet and cold. Aside
from being dirty and skinny, I'd say he's healthy enough. He looks
about five to six weeks old. A little young to leave his mama."
    She reached out and took the puppy back. "I'd
like to find the person who dumped him. He's so small."
    "He may be little now, but when he grows into
those paws he's going to be a big dog. What are you going to do
with him?"
    "I don't know. Dan-Daddy's allergic to
anything with fur."
    "There's a no-kill shelter outside of town.
I'm sure once he's cleaned up they'll be able to find a home for
him."
    "No! No," she repeated in a softer tone. Over
his shoulder she caught a glimpse of the Alexandra coming around
the side of the house toward them. The solution hit her. "I have a
much better idea. I'll give him to you."
    "Wait a minute."
    "Too late." She grinned. "Alexandra's already
seen him. Try and say no to her now."
    Jared turned and groaned in what sounded like
defeat to Maggie.
    "A puppy!" Alexandra rushed up to Maggie.
"Can I hold him? Is he yours? Where did he come from? He's
beautiful. Does he have a name?"
    Maggie just looked over at Jared and waited.
His shoulders heaved in a silent sigh.
    "He's a stray. Maggie found him out by the
pumpkin farm. We're going to take him over to the shelter."
    "Oh, Daddy, no. Can we keep him? Please,
Daddy, please. I'll never ask for another thing ever in my life.
I've always wanted a puppy, but Grandmother and Grandfather said
they were dirty, smelly things that carry germs that make children
sick."
    "Pompous old prigs," he muttered so