Rescue My Heart (28 page)

After a hug from his parents, they
headed for the elevator.

“
I can’t believe how well
my mom took it about Felicia.”

“
She wants you to be
happy. You’re still engaged. Maybe that was the idea, and the
fiancées were interchangeable.”

Hack laughed. “Maybe you’re
right.”

They went out into the biting,
December air, Baxter trotting alongside. Two blocks up, they came
to Hack’s building. He introduced her to the doorman, and they went
up. At the threshold, Hack picked up Rory, which started Baxter
barking.

“
But we’re not married,”
she protested, clinging to his neck.

“
Almost. Let’s practice.”
He flung the door open and carried her into a living room filled
with bright, cold winter sun. After putting her down, he pulled her
into his embrace. Rory dropped the leash, allowing Baxter to
explore and sniff the new smells to his heart’s content.

Hack kissed her, but she pushed him
away. “I’m not like the rest of your family. I don’t do things in a
neat line. I lead a messy life.”

“
I know. I like that about
you.”

“
Are you sure? You’re used
to different ways.”

“
Maybe I want to change.
Maybe I want to live the way you live.”

“
Do you? Are you
sure?”

“
These last few months
with you have been…great. I can’t describe it. Life opened up to me
in a way it never did before.”

“
Yeah?”

“
I like the
unpredictability. Never knowing what’s coming next. It’s exciting.
Every day’s an adventure.”

“
Some might say its
schizophrenic.”

He laughed. “Maybe. I like it. I like
you. I love you.”

“
With pug rescue, you
never know. You might not know who’s going to be living here when
you get home.”

“
I love that you rescue
pugs.”

“
I’m only part of a
team.”

“
It’s all good, Rory. Are
you having second thoughts?”

“
I’m fine. I want you to
be sure. Absolutely sure. Don’t want my heart broken.”

“
I’d never do that.” He
stroked her hair. “Are you okay with a stodgy guy like
me?”

She smiled. “You’re amazing. Handsome,
sexy, smart, funny. Amazing.”

“
I was in limbo. You
rescued my heart.” He kissed her passionately then took her hand
and led her through the hall to the bedroom in the back. “Come,
rescue the rest of me.”

“
My pleasure,” she said,
grinning.

Epilogue

Rory was half-asleep when
her cell rang. Stealing quietly out of bed so as not to wake Hack,
she went into the hall.

“
Bess? Is that you?” Rory
rubbed her eyes.

“
Yes,” the voice on the
other end wobbled.

“
Stop crying. I can’t
understand you.”

“
It’s awful. Awful!” She
burst into a new round of sobs.

“
I’m
coming over.” Rory closed her phone. Tiptoeing into the bedroom
slowly didn’t keep the old wood floor from creaking.
Damn these ancient floors.
Rory crossed to her closet.

“
Sneaking out on me
already?” Hack sat up in bed, yawned, and stretched. He brushed his
hair out of his eyes.

Rory jumped. “Didn’t mean to wake you.
Something bad’s happened to Bess. She was…incoherent. I’m going
over there.”

He glanced at the clock. “It’s five in
the morning.” He scratched his rough cheek.

“
I know. I’ll be
careful.”

“
If you’re going, I’m
going with you.” He threw the bedcovers down.

“
No time, Hack.” She
pulled on jeans.

“
I can dress quicker than
you. I’m not letting you walk over there by yourself. It’s pitch
black out. It isn’t safe.” He shoved his feet into
socks.

“
Okay, then.” She
shrugged.

Hack grabbed sweats from a chair and a
T-shirt from a drawer. He stopped to reach his arms up to toward
the ceiling for one more stretch before he hit the bathroom. Rory
fastened her bra and slipped a sweater over her head. The lovers
switched places. When she came out of the bathroom, Hack was
dressed.

“
What took you so long?”
He grinned.

She laughed and took his hand. “Let’s
go.”

Baxter stretched and barked. “Okay,
you can come. Dumpling may need you.” Rory fastened his leash, and
the three of them left the building.

“
It is a little spooky out
here,” she said, narrowing her eyes to check out shadows. Hack took
her hand. The layer of quiet resting on the city would soon be
lifting. The light from streetlamps guided them. He tightened his
grip, and she moved a little closer to him.

When they arrived at The Wellington, a
police car with lights flashing was parked at the curb. Two
officers were standing on the sidewalk, talking. Another was on his
radio. Rory stopped to question the doorman.

“
What happened,
Crash?”

“
Miss Rory, so glad you’re
here. It’s been a three-ring circus.”

*The End*

Bess’s story continues in
the next Manhattan Dinner Club book.

Interested in learning more about pug
rescue? Check the listings for pug rescue websites across the
United States in the back of this book.

About the
Author

There are pug rescues run by
volunteers all across the United States. Anything you can do to
help, from making calls, to fostering, from transporting to helping
with fund-raising would be appreciated. Donations, even small ones,
are most welcome. The money pays for veterinary care for abused or
neglected pugs.

The mission of these rescues is to
find loving forever homes for pugs who have lost theirs. If you
want to help, here is a listing of pug rescue websites by state.
There’s sure to be one near you.

LIST OF PUG
RESCUES

ALABAMA:

http://www.alabamapugrescue.org/

Semper Fi
Rescue

http://semperfirescue.com/index.html

ALASKA:

Polar Pug Rescue & Friends
 

http://polarpug.org/

ARIZONA:

Arizona Pug Adoption
Rescue Network

http://www.arizonapugrescue.com/

ARKANSAS:

MidSouth Pug
Rescue

http://www.midsouthpugs.org/

Pug Rescue of North West
Arkansas

http://pugrescuenwa.typepad.com/

Pugs and Kisses
Rescue

http://www.pugsandkissesrescue.com/

CALIFORNIA:

Pug Rescue of Sacramento
- Bay to Borders

http://www.pugpros.org/

Pugs N Pals of Southern
California

http://www.pugdogrescue.com/

Pug Savers

http://www.pugsavers.com/

Northern CA, Northern
NV

Central Coast Pug
Rescue

http://www.centralcoastpugrescue.com/

Pug Rescue of San Diego
County

http://www.pugbutts.com

Pugs N Roses

http://pugsnroses.com/home/

Pug Rescue Nation of Los
Angeles

www.pugnationla.org

COLORADO:

Colorado Pug
Rescue

http://copugrescue.org/

CONNECTICUT
:

Pug Rescue of New
England

http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/

Curly Tail Pug
Rescue

http://www.curlytailpugrescue.org/

CT, NY, NJ, PA,
MA

Green Mountain Pug
Rescue

http://www.greenmtnpugrescue.com/

VT, CT, NH, ME,
NY

FLORIDA:

http://pugrescueofflorida.org/

Compassionate Pug
Rescue

http://www.compassionatepugrescue.com

Central Florida Pug
Rescue

http://www.centralfloridapugrescue.org/

Southeast Pug Rescue
& Adoption, Inc.

www.rescuepug.com

GEORGIA:

Southeast Pug Rescue
& Adoption, Inc.

www.rescuepug.com

Semper Fi
Rescue

http://semperfirescue.com/index.html

IDAHO:

Inland Northwest Pug
Rescue

http://www.inwpr.net/

Southwest Idaho Pug
Rescue

http://swiprescue.com/

Pug Pals,
Inc.,

www.PugPals.org
.

ID, UT, MT

ILLINOIS:

http://northernillinoispugrescue.org/

Pug Rescue
Network

www.pugrescuenetwork.com

IL, IN, MI, OH

INDIANA:

Kentuckiana Pug
Rescue

http://www.kentuckianapugs.com/

IN, KY, WI

IOWA:

Midwest Pug
Rescue

http://www.midwestpugrescue.com/

MO, NE, IA

KANSAS:

Wichita Pug Rescue,
Inc.

website
www.wichitapugrescue.com

Homeward Bound Pug
Rescue

http://www.homewardboundpugs.com/
 

KENTUCKY:

See: IN

MAINE:

Pug Rescue of New
England

CT, ME, MA, NH, RI,
VT

http://www.pugrescueofnewengland.org/

See CT
-
Green Mountain Pug
Rescue

MARYLAND:

Mid-Atlantic Pug
Rescue

http://www.midatlanticpugrescue.org/index.html

Serving - (NC), (SC),
(VA),(MD),(WV), and Eastern Tennessee(TN)

Mutts Matter
Rescue

muttsmatterrescue.org

MD, DC, VA, SC

MICHIGAN:

Pug Rescue
Network

www.pugrescuenetwork.com

IL, IN, MI, OH

Michigan Pug
Rescue

http://www.michiganpugrescue.com/