New Year Escapes. Leslie Kelly

up his duvet and spread it over the bed, then pulled it back so he could lie down.

      Then, because she knew he’d just do something stupid again if she didn’t get in bed, too, she went around and slid beneath the duvet on the far side. There had to be at least two feet separating them. Plenty as long as they were awake.

      But asleep she didn’t trust herself.

      Like Lily, she had a homing instinct for the nearest warm body. And she didn’t want to wake up and find herself in George’s arms.

      “Told you it was a big bed,” George said gruffly.

      But not big enough, Sophy thought. “Gunnar,” she said. “Here, Gunnar.”

      It didn’t take any urging. In a second she felt the bed move and Gunnar’s black form appeared, looming in the moonlight, looking up at them from the foot of the bed.

      “For God’s sake,” George muttered.

      “You’ve never let him on the bed? Oh, right. Tell me another.” Sophy patted the space between them, and Gunnar instantly obliged, lying down there and heaving a contented sigh.

      George made a disgruntled huffing sound.

      “Just be glad you’re home,” Sophy said. “You could still be in the hospital.”

      “Promises, promises.”

      “If you want to go back, I’ll call Sam.”

      “I’ll bet Sam wouldn’t think much of the dog in my bed.”

      Sophy smiled. “Sam said to do what I had to do. I’m just following instructions. Good night, George. I’ll wake you in a couple of hours. Wake me if you need anything.”

      She rolled onto her side away from him. Away from Gunnar. It was the best she could do. She wondered if she would get a wink of sleep before it was time to wake him again.

      It was a shock the next time she opened her eyes to see that it was morning and worse to discover that the warm body she was snuggled against wasn’t covered with black fur.