Page 3 of It's Mother-Pucking Christmas!

“Hudson?” Gracie yelped.

“Why are you here?” the big man demanded. “Get out of here.”

Gracie dumped the pugs, her purse, and a big insulated cup in my arms then turned on Hudson, hand on her hip. “Now look here, mister, you didn’t tell me this was the job when I asked you about your plans this evening. It was all, NDA this, I have a contract that. These are the consequences of your actions.”

The pugs in my arms wagged their tails excitedly as my teammates petted them.

“Look. One of them is wearing a holiday sweater,” Utah cooed.

“Is it supposed to be lumpy like that?” I frowned down at the bug-eyed dog in the misshapen sweater.

“She has a C-suite job, asshole,” Dakota shot at me, the curse words shocking. “She doesn’t have time to sit around on her ass soaking her fucking feet and analyzing knitting patterns like you fucking lazy-ass Icebreakers.”

“Now, Dakota, be nice!” Granny Murray chided her. “Ryder isn’t making a mean comment. He likes sweaters andappreciates the art of knitting. He owns several handmade scarfs.”

I blinked.

One pug panted. The other licked my glove.

Hudson realized I was holding all of his wife’s stuff and grabbed it out of my arms.

“I like dogs. It’s okay,” I said quickly.

Coach made aSee what I’m dealing with?gesture.

“And he likes dogs! Isn’t that adorable?” Granny Murray whipped out her phone and took a photo of me. “Ryder has a crocheted dog stuffie on his bed. Look at this picture I took a few days ago.” The old woman swiped on her phone.

“How did you—” Hudson’s eyes narrowed at the old woman.

“This stall at the Christmas market has the cutest little pillow of a husky in a Santa hat,” Granny Murray told me. “I’ll bring it the next time I’m over.”

“Holy fucking shit.”Fury bloomed on Hudson’s face.

Dakota’s mouth twitched into a smirk.

“Get her out of here!” Hudson bellowed to Gracie.

“We just got here! This is a scam!” Granny Murray argued. “I bought a ticket!”

“You’re stalking my client,” Hudson yelled at the old woman, who was completely unfazed by his anger.

My teammates’ eyes bugged out like the pugs’, then they all collapsed, howling with laughter, at my feet. Even Coach snickered into his gloves.

“You’re the Crusher?” My mouth dropped open. “You’re the one who’s been stalking me for the last five months?”

“Stalker? Pshaw!” Granny Murray was offended. “I’m not stalking anyone.”

“You’re going to be arrested.” Hudson bore down on the woman.

“Don’t arrest my grandmother,” Dakota snapped at him.

“She’s stalking him.” Hudson made a knife hand in my direction. “Do you know how much goddamn money this woman has cost me?”

“I’m not stalking. I’m leaving him presents and nice notes,” Granny Murray shouted.

Hudson slapped a hand to his forehead. “Notes? They’re fucking pornographic.”

“Now see here.” Granny Murray wagged her finger at the tall man. “I’m just trying to rile him up for Dakota.”

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