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But then a soft whimper drew her attention to the thin strip of road next to the wheel well Knowing there was a flooded ditch along the shoulder of the road, she stayed close to the truck Crouching do, she reached a hand out and literally felt her way alongside the road Her fingers skittered over mud and puddles of water until her hand encountered wet, slick fur

"Oh, shit,” she said All traces of erotic sensations instantly vanished Guilt settled deep within her in its place

She really had hit one of Pete's dogs Scooting a bit closer to it while still crouched on her feet, Serena let her hand travel over the dog's soft coat Oddly, he felt bigger and a bit furrier than one of Pete's Shepherds Stillshe had to help him

"I'm so sorry I didn't rowl and she snatched her hand away “Okay, look,” she reasoned, raising her voice above the thunder and the pelts of rain that fell all around and on her “You've got two choices You can lie here and die, or you can help et you into the back of the truck” She paused a ht sky and give her a little working light It wasn't forthco

"Oh, for crying out loud,” she said in disgust “Giveto ith here!"

But the night stayed dark No h “Okay, fine” She reached out to the dog once htly up to his neck “You'll be fine if you just stick with e drops of water strea to the ground She could barely see an inch in front of her

She swiped at the water around her eyes then used both hands to try to coax the ani to death and I'm sure you are, too I can't lift you or carry you to the back of the truck, so you're going to have to ith ed at his neck He et to his feet

Serena groaned She stood, but then bent over the injured ani him to her chest, she forced the aniripped hirowl He could protest all he wanted, as long as he didn't bite her If he did, she was leaving him here in the mud

"Here we go,” she said as he unsteadily ca whined and whiuide it to the back of the truck “Hold still now,” she said as she reached for the handle on the tailgate

She paused for the briefest of ain She'd left her jacket on the hood of the truck, so she'd just have to chance it One finger placed against the e Relief washed over her That was one less thing she had to worry about

When the heavytoward it and helped him up so he could place his front paws on the platforhtened and tried to draw in a full breath The rain fell on her, hard and unyielding The thunder still ru had ceased completely And the moon had taken full leave

Wiping the back of her hand across her forehead, she steeled herself for theinto the bed of the truck

"You're gonna have to put some effort into this,” she said “I can't lift you, and even if I could, I'd probably slide in the rasped the anioopy pool of blood under her right hand The dog growled in pain and she shifted that hand Clearly, that here he'd connected with the truck and the headlight

"I told you I didn'tat ht in front of my truck You can't blame me for your injury"

The dog groaned, as though her co nauseated him