Page 17 (1/2)

"Okay, I will" Eh she’d never adhted to see hi so helpful, but then she remembered his comments about ordinary estures A real hero brought you and your dog aHeyou with poetic words He found you an apartment when you needed one…

When they approached his truck, he opened the passenger door for her Oscar barked a welco for Boots

E this ro "If a pizza and a bag of dog food results in a kiss, I can only dreaet your hopes up" It figured--he wanted so What all men wanted, apparently And after she’d had all these lovely thoughts about hi withto be a pro at this There was hardly a peep out of you the entire flight ho"

Oliver shook his head "Coetting her back in the air, especially for the so-called fun of it To her, flying si it out

"That’s a pity"

Not to her It was life preservation

The apartned The single-story complex was fairly new but beautifully maintained, and each unit had its own front door The surrounding doors were all decorated reaths and pine swags and lights Inside, E a dishwasher Sliding glass doors off the kitchen led to a fenced area in the back that would be perfect for Boots There was even space for a container garden, which pleased Earden Eirl She’d never believed she’dhis head as if confused He looked up at Oliver, who ignored his canine friend

"Well, what do you think?" Oliver asked, leaning against the kitchen counter in a nonchalant pose

"It’s wonderful!"

He grinned knowingly "I thought you’d like it"

"I do Thank you, Oliver, thank you so much" Impulsively she kissed his cheek

Not one to let an opportunity slip away, Oliver grabbed her around the waist and brought her into his arms "You can thank me properly, you know"

She was tempted to do just that when there was a sudden knock at the open door and Oliver’s friend Jason let himself in Emma had met Jason when Oliver took her to the owner’s unit to collect the key

"Have you made a decision?" he asked

Eled herself fron"

Jason had the paperith hined her name at the bottom and wrote him a check

Jason handed her the keys, assured her she could move in anytime, and left

"You are one

"I know," Oliver murain, but changed her et back to the office," Emma said reluctantly

"Okay, but I need to stop at my place first"

She couldn’t quibble, since he’d driven her here and, ed for her new hoht and went doo doors

Emma followed She didn’t understand, until he inserted the key into the lock, that this was his place--two doors down from hers

"You live here?" she asked "Here?"

He nodded, opening the front door It had the biggest Christmas wreath of all, and the frontsparkled with tiny white lights

"It didn’t occur to you to maybe mention this before now?" She’d asked his attached and he’d promised her there weren’t She should’ve known

Her tone must have conveyed the fact that she wasn’t happy with this unexpected turn of events She re the iaily decorated Christhbor?"

She found it hard enough to keep hi two doors down from him would make it impossible "As a matter of fact, no Why didn’t you tell rateful I found you an apartment"

"Which I wouldn’t have needed if you hadn’t opened your big h that was only partially true

"So it’s my fault?" he cried out at the unfairness of her accusation

"Yes, yours"

Oliver glared at her "Fine"

She crossed her arht back at him