Page 36 of Christmas in Paradise

As much as I want to break eye contact, the gravitational pull between us won’t let me. Or maybe it’s the abs of steel that have turned my eyes to magnets.

“Zoo keyer—”

“—keeper.” His gaze stays glued on me through Gia’s rant.

“Whatever,” Gia waves off his correction. “I’m not one of those. I teach children only. You teach this animal by yourself.”

After a million buttons, Seb finally takes off his shirt, and I see the full tattoo I only got a peek of this summer. It’s a tree with intricate leaves and the roots exposed, and I want to trace each of its branches.

With one hand, he gives his shirt to Gia, and takes the one she’s holding. The other hand he runs down the center of his chest, between his abs, while biting his bottom lip.

His fingers are almost to the top of his jeans when Gia slaps his hand.

“Stop that! No one is impressed with your apps. Put your shirt on!”

“Abs, Ma. Not apps. Different thing entirely.” He looks at me as he says it, turning on the smolder that captured me this summer.

Gia ignores him and makes a turning motion with her fingers. Seb reluctantly turns around, officially putting an end to the Magic Seb show.

“Go and change your pants now. And take your dog with you.” Gia waves her fingers toward the puppy, who’s curled up in Charly’s lap.

She disappears into the mudroom; I assume to scrub the dog pee out of Seb’s shirt for him.

I bend down next to Charly and pet the dog’s soft little head. “We need to go, baby.”

“She likes her.” Seb kneels next to Charly, watching them both. “Do you want to give the puppy a name, Charly?”

He asks her like he’s making a business deal, not talking to a child. Which honestly, after months of trying to convince Mom to stop the baby talk, I appreciate.

“Yes! Unkuhrad,” Charly answers without hesitation.

Seb blinks, then leans closer. “Say it again, please.”

“Unkuhrad!” Charly says louder.

Seb looks at me, his dark brows creased with confusion.

“Unkuhrad?” I try to repeat what she’s said, but she furrows her own little eyebrows behind her glasses and shakes her head.

“Un-kuh-rad,” she says slower and louder while she tries to pick up the puppy.

I grab her hands to help her gently cuddle the puppy on her shoulder. It licks her cheek, and Charly giggles.

“Like Booey’s unku,” she says though her giggles, and I finally get it.

“Oh! Uncle Rad!”

Charly nods and repeats the name again, without thelsound, because she doesn’t have that yet.

“Is Booey a friend?” Seb smiles at Charly but still looks confused.

Charly laughs. “Booey’s on my iPad!”

“She means Bluey,” I explain. “She’s a cartoon dog, and she has an uncle named Radley. Rad for short. Charly loves him. He’s an Australian shepherd. What’s this dog? Some kind of spaniel?”

Seb nods. “She’s a girl, though. Not really uncle material.”

Then I say to Charly, “What about a girl name? Like Frisky?” I turn back to Seb and add, “She’s Uncle Rad’s love interest. There’s speculation they may get engaged soon.”

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