Killer Kisses Read Free Page B

building.
    Simon was waiting by her door. “N-n-need help?”
    “Thanks,” Polly said. She offered him a tote bag and placed the key in the lock. Simon’s hand touched her, and a spark of static electricity popped.
    “Youch!”
    He dropped the bag, and grabbed her hand, looking at it intently. “D-did I hurt you?”
    “No, I’m more startled than hurt,” she said with a little laugh. “I’m fine.”
    Waves of warmth rushed from her hand up her arm, to her neck, and face. She could feel herself taking quick, shallow breaths, the butterflies somersaulting in her stomach.
    He reached up, placed his fingertips on her cheek, looked directly into her eyes, and said, “Y-you sure?”
    “Yes,” she answered. “Better than fine. I’m, I’m—wonderful.”
    He touched her hair and whispered, “I l-l-love the way your curls b--bounce when you m-m-move.”
    “Simon, I--- “
    “There she is!” Greeley screamed from the end of the hall. “Kill her cats!”
    A frenzy of barking erupted in the hallway and echoed off the hard walls. It sounded like a pack of wild dogs racing toward Polly. As she whirled to face the attack, Simon leapt in front of her.
    “No!” Simon shouted at the approaching gray blur. “No!”
    The dog came to a halt in front of Simon and gave a deep throaty growl.
    “Simon, no!” Polly cried.
    “Sit!”
    The dog sat down with a loud thump.
    “Lie down!”
    The gray creature flopped to the floor.
    Greeley lumbered toward them, nose bright red, breathing labored. He shook his fist at the dog. “I told you to kill her cats , you moron!”
    Simon knelt down and whispered in the creature’s big floppy ear.
    The dog rolled over on his back and whimpered.
    Polly could have sworn the dog was apologizing.
    “Dammit,” Greeley shouted. “Do what I tell you to do!”
    The dog ignored Greeley, and began licking Simon’s hand.
    Polly moved closer to Simon, placed her hands on his shoulders, and said, “I don’t think he’s your dog, Mr. Greeley. I think he belongs to Simon now.” She pulled out her cell phone. “If you don’t leave us alone, I’m calling the police and telling them what you did.”
    Greeley’s face turned beet red. He sputtered and spat out a particularly vile curse, and stomped away.
    “Good r-riddance.” Simon rose and turned to face Polly.
    Before he could say another word, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and it felt like she was home. “You could have been killed,” she said and choked back tears.
    He shrugged. “D-d-dogs like me.”
    Polly pulled back and looked down at the dog. The tamed canine yawned, thumped his stub of a tail, and looked up at Simon with adoration. She knew the feeling.
     
    ~* ~
     
    At eleven in the morning on the date of her eviction, after everything was in place, Polly Griggs made a few phone calls. An hour later, curious onlookers craned their necks, shook their heads, and thronged in front of the apartment building.
    It was a blustery gray day. Polly dressed in a black down coat, a dark green hat and matching scarf and mittens, faced them all.
    “Ms. Griggs, there’s gotta be a better solution than this,” a red-faced police officer said.
    “Polly, what made you decide to chain yourself to the fence around this apartment building?” An attractive brunette television reporter held a microphone out to Polly, trolling for sound bites.
    “I want to protest how the world treats people who love their pets. My only sin was that I cared for too many unwanted cats. Their only sin was that they were old, blind, crippled, and tossed aside.”
    All the cats were in double-occupancy, towel-bundled carriers at her feet, labeled with their names. A yowling, meowing, howling din came forth from under the covers. Each cat carrier had a sign on it that said, “Homeless, thanks to Mr. Greeley.” And each cat carrier was chained to the fence.
    Polly heard Greeley cursing and saw him pushing his