But the averted tragedy wasn’t the reason for his accelerated heartbeat.

That was all Bella—her innate sweetness and easy beauty. He had to admit, it had taken him a while to notice what a prize she was, a quintessential—and literal—girl next door. She had straight chestnut-colored hair that fell just below her shoulders and a slim figure with the most beautiful skin he’d ever seen.

The other day in the vet’s office, Sam had felt like a lecher thinking about her softness when he was supposed to be tending to her injuries.

A creeper neighbor was the last thing a woman who lived alone needed in her life.

And Bella was his friend. That was the kicker. She was not only pretty, but she was fun to be around. She didn’t take herself too seriously or try to be someone she wasn’t. She was at home with herself in a way Sam envied. Like she’d never need to run away or pretend to be a person she wasn’t because it’s what people expected of her.

He wouldn’t ruin a real friendship with physical complications, no matter how she made him feel. Sam had dated plenty in his twenty-six years, but it was all casual. It didn’t mean anything. Bella meant something to him.

Tater, who was on a leash, noticed Sam first. The dog barked and hobbled in happy circles.

Bella shushed him and pulled the leash tighter so the dog couldn’t jump.

“He’s feeling better I see.” Sam hurried forward and dropped to the damp ground to accept the puppy’s effusive greeting.

“He has no respect for that cast,” Bella said, but she was smiling. “Who knew the hardest part of a broken leg would be keeping the dog calm over the next month so he can heal without reinjuring himself?”

Sam chuckled and petted Tater Tot in long strokes as the dog settled. “You really don’t have much experience with puppies.”

“Tater is like trial by fire,” she answered.

The afternoon she’d adopted the dog from Magnolia’s popular animal rescue, Furever Friends, had been the first time he’d noticed Bella as more than a friend.

She’d come home with the fluffy, wriggly puppy, and the look of adoration she’d given the dog... Well, Sam was still embarrassed to admit he’d been jealous of the animal.

“He’s going to miss you while you’re away.” He frowned when she let out a huge sigh. “Speaking of away, why are you still here? I thought you were leaving early this morning for Colorado.”

“I canceled my trip,” she said, and looked past him but not before he heard the catch in her voice.

“Why?” he asked as he straightened, wiping the sweat from his brow with his shirtsleeve.

She gave Tater’s leash a gentle tug. “I can’t leave him with a pet sitter while he’s in a cast. That would be too much to ask.”

“I’ll keep him,” Sam offered without thinking.

Bella’s soft smile did funny things to his insides. Things he didn’t want or need from a woman. “Your shifts at the fire department don’t exactly lend themselves to puppy sitting,” she pointed out. “Plus, aren’t you going to visit your family for Christmas, as well?”