Christmas at Tiffany's Read Online Free

or with inpatients at psychiatric hospitals. But in the meantime, I volunteer each week at Pets Finding Home. It gives me experience, and more to the point, I love it. I build and help maintain the intake records when animals are found or surrendered. I also spend time with families who are looking to adopt a pet and help them understand what to expect. Other times, I simply provide care at the shelter, feeding, filling water dishes, cleaning cages and playing with them. It may sound corny, but I believe animals have spirits. Just like human beings, I think they need to know they’re loved. Animals are powerful—and untapped—adjuncts to the process of helping people heal.”
    For the longest time, Mitch rested in silence, watching her. Tiffany climbed close to the point of worrying that she had overstepped boundaries with her level of enthusiasm.
    “Wow.”
    “Wow?”
    “I admire your passion, Tiffany. It’s impressive, and contagious.”
    A light laugh bubbled through her chest. “I was thinking the same thing about you, and your efforts to have the company help out. Corporate support is a tremendous benefit to the organization. Truly, I can’t thank you enough.”
    Silence swirled for a moment. “Actually, the smile in your eyes says more than enough. I’ll work on the authorizations, and I’ll also see about getting some of our employees on board for a volunteer session. Let me get to work on that and I’ll keep you posted.”
    “That’s more than I ever expected—and I appreciate it very much.”
    Tiffany’s afternoon, featuring Eric’s machinations and hot-winded posturing, had begun on such a sour note. Thanks to Mitch, she had found even footing. At the conclusion of their meeting, she all but floated from his office.
    ~*~
    “Hey. You’re still here. I think we’re the last ones standing.” Mitch’s smooth stride came to a stop at Tiffany’s desk.
    Tiffany looked away from her monitor after checking the time in the lower corner—it was closing in on six o’clock. She absorbed his presence then wondered why he left her tongue-tied. She regrouped fast, though, and gave him a ready smile. “Instead of battling the rush-hour crowds and the snow, I figured I’d catch up on a few assignments I’ve had to push to the back burner while finishing my analytics for Webber.”
    “Dedication bordering on psychosis. I can relate, so I laude your efforts.”
    “Oh, I’m slightly more mercenary than that. It’s mostly because I don’t want to endure the crowds that are piling onto an already storm-sluggish mass transit system right now.”
    “Good call.” He glanced out the nearby window and heaved a sigh. “I won’t lie. With all due respect to hearty New Yorkers, this kind of weather, and the way it turns the city into a tangled up parking lot leaves me longing for California.”
    “Yeah, because traffic patterns are so much better in SoCal.” She glanced away from her monitor to deliver a cheeky grin which earned her a lovely wink of acknowledgement. He was brunette featured, with a strong, angular face touched by Mediterranean-style olive skin. He fit into the east coast mold, but she knew he had spent his life out west.
    “Teasing aside, I’ve lived in New York City all my life but I’m still not used to episodes like this, so I can’t say that I blame you.” She didn’t want him to walk away, which was surprising, since by nature she was most happy being an introvert. The recognition prompted a light, nervous drum of her fingertips against the keyboard. “I saw your email to the staff about the Shelter Helper Drive in two weeks. What a catchy name for the volunteer effort. Thank you for that.”
    “You’ve been saying ‘thank you’ a lot today.” The teasing spark in his eyes stilled her nervous strumming, at once drawing her into a land of hard-focused warmth.
    “That’s because I’ve meant it a lot today.”
    “Touché. We’ll need to get the Christmas party out of the