Page 41 of Christmas in Paradise

“What?”

“People learn how to parent. They don’t just ‘know how’ to do it,” Carson says.

Bear nods toward Radley. “That food is too big. She can’t eat it.”

I sigh, resigned to the fact I have more to learn than I thought I did. “Okay, so besides reading the book, what else do I have to do?”

Bear and Carson spend the next half hour giving me tips on how to train a puppy and be in a relationship. By the time Mrs. C. is back with a crate and all the other stuff, I’m totally overwhelmed with information, but I also feel more capable of taking care of Radley. Along with being embarrassed I didn’t take the help Bear offered a dozen times before today.

The first thing I do is take the blanket Bear sent with Radley and put it in the crate. Then I lure her in there with treats. The space looks way too small for her, but after eating the treats, she curls up and lays down.

“Does that mean she likes it?” I ask Bear, Carson, and Mrs. C. who are all watching Radley with me.

“Dogs are den animals,” Mrs. C. says. “They like the security of crates.”

“True,” Bear confirms.

“You knew this, and you didn’t tell me?” I say to Mrs. C. I’m a little annoyed I’ve been chasing Radley around this place for an entire week, and she never offered one piece of advice.

She pats my back gently. “Sebastian, I spent an entire year chasing you around, trying to convince you to stay in your seat and stop talking. I’ve been having too much fun these last few days watching you get your comeuppance.”

Carson laughs. “Karma is a…”

He goes quiet at Mrs. C.’s warning look.

“Well, one of those,” he finishes and points to Radley.

“Now what?” I ask.

Mrs. Christianson looks at her watch. “Time for me to go home.”

“You do the same thing tomorrow and the next day, and the day after that. Consistency is the key,” Bear says, following Mrs. C. to the register. “Can I walk you out?”

“You’re such a gentleman.” She hitches her purse over her shoulder, then puts her arm through Bear’s elbow.

I wave goodbye and lock the door behind them. When I turn around, Carson is right behind me.

“Did you stay to give me more dog advice or relationship advice?” I walk to the back of the shop, turning off lights as I go while Carson follows me.

Carson smiles. “I didn’t come here to give you dog advice, but I was happy to help where I saw a need.”

“Yeah, thanks. I didn’t feel picked on at all.”

“Don’t pout. You’re going to like what I have to say.” He stops until he’s got my full attention. “I’d almost changed my mind about telling you. But since you’ve decided you’re in charge and not Radley, I think you’ve proven you can handle what I need your help with.”

I hold back the snarky comment on the tip of my tongue about him lecturing me. Next to Evie, he’s the person Hope knows and trusts the most in Paradise. I suspect that if I want a chance with her, I’ll have to go through both of them. And Evie’s a no-go at this point.

“All the electrical work you’ve planned for Yulefest?” He waves his hand above his head for dramatic effect. “I’m putting Hope in charge of making sure all of that happens.”

A sly smile slides across his face.

It takes a second for me to realize what he’s proposing, but when the pieces fall into place, I smile too.

“So, I’ll be working with Hope to make sure there’s plenty ofelectricity?” My grin grows, and Carson chuckles.

“Exactly,” he says. “And I have every confidence you’ll be successful.”

“I’ll be successful? Or your little matchmaking scheme will be?” I open the back door, and we both walk out.

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