Free A Little Christmas Jingle by Michele Dunaway Page B

liked all those Encyclopedia Brown and Hardy Boys books. Then I moved to mysteries as I got older, working my way through Agatha Christie, all the Sherlock Holmes. He observed everything, and I have a memory that allowed me to do that too. I like problem solving. I also liked Dick Francis.”
    â€œI’ve read a few of his. He was a jockey. Did race horse mysteries.”
    â€œYeah. Once I chose the police force, I thought it’d be cool to be a member of St. Louis’s mounted police. Instead, I realized that I could do more good by helping animals rather than riding them. I get to do more detective work this way. And I can’t stand to see innocent creatures suffer.”
    â€œSounds noble.”
    He shrugged, clearly reluctant to accept praise. “No more than saving animals like you do.”
    The young waitress returned and held out a copy of the calendar. “Are you Jack Donovan?”
    He gave her the media smile. “I am.”
    â€œCould you autograph this? We’re going to be hanging it in back come January. How cool that you eat here. Well, you will once I get your order.” Unlike Kat’s laugh, the waitress’s light giggle got on Jack’s nerves.
    He signed the calendar with a flourish, and then they ordered a St. Louis–style, thin-crust green pepper and onion pizza. Kat added an Italian salad for a starter.
    â€œDoes that happen often?” Kat asked after the waitress departed. Now other patrons were looking at them and pointing and whispering.
    â€œMore and more,” he admitted. “It’s a bit unnerving.”
    Kat heard snatches of “vet” and “Jingle.” Surprise had her eyes widening. “They’re talking about me.”
    Jack shrugged. “It’s nothing. Ignore it. You have to or it’ll drive you crazy.”
    She tried, but after a few minutes said, “You’re right. It’s annoying. How do you put up with it?”
    â€œIt’s part of the job.”
    Kat sighed. Then her ears perked up. “Now they’re talking about my legal issues.”
    â€œIgnore them.”
    She hated being the subject of gossip. “I can’t. I’m so worried. It should have been a simple permit fix. It’s blown up into this huge issue. Do you know how much money I invested? My parents told me it was a waste. But I don’t like animals to suffer any more than you do. All I wanted to do was help.”
    â€œI’m truly sorry.” He sipped his beer, mouth wrapping around the opening. “It has to be hard.”
    He swallowed, the mesmerizing sight momentarily stripping her of her focus. A routine act shouldn’t be so darn sexy. What had she been about to say? Oh yeah. She blinked. “It hasn’t been an easy process.”
    He reached for her hand, covered it with his. “What can I do?”
    â€œI was hoping, wondering—” She stopped. She couldn’t do this. She pulled her hand away, breaking the magnetic connection, and he let her fingers go.
    â€œI want to help,” he prodded.
    Kat clenched her hands in her lap, twisted them together. “I can’t. Even though I got put on the spot, I’m now as bad as all those other women who wanted something from you, or I’ll sound like an autograph-seeking fangirl like our waitress.”
    â€œTry me.”
    She released her hands and sipped her wine for courage. “You know I’ve a huge adoption event coming up. We hope to clear out the shelter, which we need to do just in case things don’t go my way in court …”
    Her voice trailed off and she took a deep, fortifying breath. “I’d like you to be our celebrity guest. You’d talk to people, help them choose an animal, sign some autographs … maybe even wear a Santa hat.”
    He didn’t respond, and she placed both hands flat on the table and sighed. “I know. Poor joke. Plus, it’s everything you