Robin Alexander - Pitifully Ugly

day, we made a visit to the hospital, then went straight to the place

where the babies were kept.

Hailey and I separated as we walked along the rows of them

crying out for adoption. I wanted to take them all and fill our

house and yard with them, but we’d made a promise before we

came—only one. I stopped at one kennel that didn’t have a dog

scratching at the wire mesh. A sign said “male, two months.” I

bent and looked inside, and there he sat against the back wall, the

ugliest thing I’d ever seen. He crouched against the back wall as

if he knew no child would want him when there were so many

adorable younger and fluffier competitors.

I pressed my hand against the wire and he approached timidly.

He sniffed at my hand and licked it. When his eyes met mine, I

knew.

“Is he snarling?” Hailey came to stand beside me.

“No, he’s scared.” I pointed to the smaller sign at the bottom

of the door that explained that he’d been hit by a car and lost a

portion of his top lip. “And he’s perfect.”

“Can we take a closer look at this one?” Hailey asked an

attendant.

The woman gave us a knowing smile as she opened the cage

and lifted him out. His brown paws that gave way to black legs

weren’t that big. I watched his big brown eyes as they regarded

Hailey when she presented her hand for him to sniff. His tail

thumped the keys hanging at the attendant’s waist as he licked

the back of Hailey’s hand.

“He’s smaller than he should be,” the attendant said. “He was

severely malnourished when he was brought in.”

I looked up to find Hailey looking at me. She nodded. “We’ll

take him,” I said.

“What will we name him?” Hailey asked as our new baby

rode in the backseat with her.

“Pitifully Ugly, P.U. for short.”

21

About the Author

Robin Alexander is the author of the Goldie Award-winning

Gloria’s Secret and five other novels for Intaglio Publications—

Gloria’s Inn , Gift of Time , Murky Waters , The Taking of Eden,

and Love’s Someday . Her short story “Crossing the Line” can be

found in the anthology Romance for Life .

Robin spends her days working with the staff of Intaglio and

her nights with her own writings. She still manages to find time

to spend with her partner, Becky, and their three dogs and three

cats. You can reach her at robinalex@yahoo.com. You can also

visit her Web site at www.robinalexanderbooks.com.

You may also be interested in:

Gloria’s Inn

by Robin Alexander

ISBN: 1-933113-01-4

Hayden Tate suddenly found herself in a world unlike any other,

when she inherited half of an inn nestled away on Cat Island

in the Bahamas. Expecting something like the resorts found in

Nassau, Hayden was shocked and a little disappointed to find

herself on a beautiful tropical island undiscovered by tourism.

Hayden reluctantly begins to adapt to a simpler way of life found

on the island, and her conversion is often comical.

Not only did Hayden’s aunt leave her an inn, but the company of

her former business partner as well. Strange as she is beautiful,

Adrienne turns Hayden’s world upside down in many ways.

Hayden quickly learns that being with Adrienne will always be

an adventure.

The tranquility of the island is shattered with the disappearance of

a mysterious guest. Hayden and Adrienne soon find themselves at

the center of a murder investigation, fearing for their own safety

and the lives of their guests. Eager to rid themselves and the island

of a ruthless killer, Adrienne and Hayden decide to conduct their

own investigation. The eclectic mixture of guests and staff make

their efforts both interesting and humorous.

Gloria’s Secret

Robin Alexander

ISBN: 978-1-933113-93-7

2008 Golden Crown Award Winner - Mystery

Hayden Tate had hoped that life on Cat Island would be peaceful

with her former trouble causing handyman Hank out of the picture.

But when strange occurrences and noises begin to happen around

the inn she operates with her partner Adrienne once again the top

suspect is Hank the only problem is – Hank is dead.

In this long awaited sequel to Gloria’s Inn, Hayden and Adrienne

join their zany guests for another madcap adventure.

Love’s Someday

by Robin Alexander

ISBN: 978-1-935216-08-7

Ashleigh Prather committed the sin of omission when she failed to

reveal secrets of her past to her lover of five years. Her relationship

becomes the casualty when the past and present collide. Erica

Barrett’s world is turned upside down when she is forced to watch

Ashleigh confront old demons and become someone she doesn’t

recognize.

Is love worth fighting for when you realize that you never truly

knew the person you’ve shared five years of your life with?

Published by

Intaglio Publications

Walker, La.

You can purchase other Intaglio

Publications books online at

www.bellabooks.com or at

your local bookstore.

Intaglio Ebooks are available on our Web

Site

Visit us on the web

www.intagliopub.com

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32