The Nine Lives of Christmas by Sheila Roberts Read Free Book Online

business she went straight home after lunch.
    “No problem,” said Ray, when a very frustrated Zach called him. “I can come over this afternoon and we can put in a cat door. Then he can come and go when he wants. No more cat box, no more smell.”
    It was a perfect solution, and when the guys were done Zach had a dent in his charge card and a dent in his thumb from where he’d hit himself with the hammer. But Tom had a cat door. Zach smiled as Tacky demonstrated how easy it was to use. Perfect.
    But that evening, when Zach tried to introduce Tom to the wonders of having his very own door, the little guy balked. He not only balked, he ran away.
    “Hey, come on, now,” Zach called after him. “I’m trying to work things out so you can stay.” He fetched the cat and tried again, and Tom dug in with all fours. When Zach flipped the door and tried to nudge him through he hissed and took a swipe at Zach and bolted a second time.
    “Okay, guy. You had your chance,” growled Zach, his feeling of goodwill toward cats evaporating.
    The following morning Zach was back at Pet Palace, this time for a cat carrier. Somebody was going to get hauled here tomorrow to have his picture taken with Santa because somebody was getting a new home for Christmas.
    He stood looking at the vast array of carriers and suddenly felt mildly guilty about stuffing Tom into one. The little guy had made up the night before and sat in Zach’s lap while Zach read the December issue of Do It Yourself .
    But if a man had to choose between having a cat or a woman on his lap … Blair was absolutely right. Tom needed a real home, and posting a picture of him all dressed up for Christmas was a good way to ensure he got one. Zach grabbed a cat carrier and then went in search of cat treats, figuring bribery would make both him and the cat feel better about the whole thing.
    Wouldn’t you know? There on the kitty treat aisle stood the elfette, stocking shelves. Her cheeks turned rose pink at the sight of Zach and she managed a tentative smile.
    He held up the carrier. “Had to get a cat carrier.” Well, duh . “I’m bringing my cat in for a Santa picture tomorrow.”
    Her eyes lit up and her smile got big.
    “With my girlfriend,” he added. The pink in her cheeks turned to red and the smile faltered, a sure sign that he had, in just a couple of encounters, managed to lead her on. He felt like a heel.
    She nodded gamely. “I guess I’ll see you then. I’m taking the pictures.”
    “Oh,” said Zach. Too bad you’ll have Blair with you . Whoa, where had that come from? He wanted Blair with him, didn’t he? Of course, he did. Blair came with no strings attached. “Well then, see you Saturday,” he said, and got out of there.
    He was back on the road when he remembered he never did snag any cat treats for Tom. He’d get the little guy some after they were done with the pictures as a reward for good behavior. And maybe, if he was lucky, Blair would give him a reward for good behavior.
    Ho, ho, ho . He grinned as he pictured …
    Oh, no. Not a redhead with green eyes. Where was the blue-eyed blonde? Blair. You’re with Blair. You’re happy with Blair . He booted out the image of Merilee posing for him in a skimpy outfit of red velvet and brought Blair back on stage wearing nothing but a Santa hat.
    But she was looking stage right and scowling.
    A second later there was Merilee again, tap-dancing her way to center stage, and suddenly Blair was nowhere to be seen.
    Zach gave his head a vigorous shake in an effort to dislodge the image. What is the matter with you?
    It was a question he found he couldn’t answer, at least not comfortably.
    *   *   *
    A woman looking slick in designer jeans and an expensive jacket reached past Merilee to snag a couple of cans of cat food, the diamond ring on her left hand taunting Merilee. Everything about the woman, from her stylish coat and jeans to her makeup, said, “I’m perfect and I know