Just for Christmas - Emily Harvale Page 0,8

was imagining that. The lopsided smile seemed more endearing, his voice sounded sexier, he even appeared a little taller and broader somehow.

‘Er. Run that by me again. Are you saying the dog isn’t yours?’

‘Exactly. I found him wandering by the side of the road.’

‘And you brought him here?’

‘Yes. But I took him to Asher first. You know Asher, don’t you? Terry’s friend, the vet, who lives in Seahorse Harbour.’

‘Yes. I know Asher. Isn’t he microchipped?’

‘Asher?’ Molly grinned.

Chance grinned back. ‘The dog.’

Terry tutted. ‘It’s not a time for jokes, Molly. Look at Sarah. She’s a complete mess.’

‘Thanks!’ Sarah tutted even louder.

‘Sorry, angel. You know I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.’ Terry hurried to Sarah and gave her a kiss on her head.

Sarah rolled her eyes but a look of horror swept across her face and her mouth fell open. Everyone followed her line of sight and Molly gasped in surprise.

Miracle had got up without any of them noticing and was peeing on the stunningly gorgeous, real pine Christmas tree which had pride of place in the corner of the sitting room, to the left of the real log fire.

‘Miracle!’ Molly exclaimed, dashing over to him and trying in vain to grab his collar.

Miracle barked and playfully leapt in the air before disappearing behind the abundant branches.

Molly heard the rip of paper before anyone else and lunged forward in an attempt to grab any part of the mischievous dog that she could reach, but all she managed to do was lose her footing and she and the tree landed on the carpet in a heap of smashed ornaments and broken branches.

Terry, who had stepped forward to help catch Miracle, stopped in his tracks and stood open-mouthed.

Miracle raced towards the hall with a shredded sheet of wrapping paper, a length of torn ribbon and what looked like a pair of socks, hanging from his mouth.

‘Whoa, boy,’ Chance said, half laughing as he caught the wayward dog.

‘My tree,’ Sarah croaked, her voice a little above a rasp.

‘I hope you’re happy, Molly,’ Terry snapped, yanking Molly to her feet. ‘You’ve managed to wreck Christmas in just one night!’

‘Oww. Oww. Oww.’ Molly picked pine needles from her hands and neck.

Terry pulled a twisted star ornament from her golden apricot locks, taking a few strands of hair with it.

‘Oww!’ she yelled again. ‘You did that on purpose.’

Sarah gave an almighty sneeze. The dog was now closer to her than he had been all evening.

‘I’ve got to go to bed,’ she said, rising from the sofa as if she were in a trance.

‘You’ve got to find somewhere else for that bloody mutt to stay,’ Terry said. ‘And right this minute, I wouldn’t mind if you went with him.’ He turned abruptly away and hurried back towards his girlfriend. ‘Are you okay, angel? Can I get you anything?’

Sarah shook her head and raised her hand in a, ‘no thanks’ gesture.

Terry grimaced at Chance and glowered at Miracle who dropped the remnants of the paper, ribbon and socks and turned his head away with an expression of innocence on his face, as if butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth.

‘Sorry about this, mate,’ Terry said to Chance. ‘I’ll just be a minute or two. Keep a tight hold of him, will you?’ He nodded down at Miracle.

‘Absolutely.’ Chance looked as though he were trying hard not to laugh.

‘I’m really sorry, Sarah,’ Molly yelled as both Sarah and Terry disappeared towards the stairs.

Chance sniggered once they were out of earshot.

‘You certainly know how to make yourself welcome. You’re clearly not the flavour of the month right now.’

‘No kidding, Sherlock. Well, don’t just stand there. Give me a hand with this tree, will you?’

‘Er. I would. But I need to keep a hold of this terror.’ He patted Miracle’s head.

‘Don’t pet him! He’s a naughty boy. A very naughty boy. Now what am I going to do? I think Terry was half serious about kicking me out as well as the dog.’

‘Can you blame him?’ Chance was still grinning.

‘I didn’t pee on the tree! Or wreck the place. Or eat the honeyed ham.’

Chance raised his brows and roared with laughter. ‘He ate a ham?’

‘Yep. Within five seconds of arriving.’

‘Tell me again why he’s here with you.’ Chance tied the lead to either side of the door handle so that Miracle couldn’t wriggle it free. ‘Sit and stay.’

Molly was astonished to see Miracle sat at Chance’s command and was delighted when Chance crossed the room in three easy strides, hauled the tree