Page 65 of A Christmas Bargain

“Why can’t you get a dog?” she asked.

“I work a lot. It wouldn’t be fair to the dogs.”

“Then work less.”

I smiled.

“I could keep them company when you work.”

But Denver’s not just down the road, kiddo.

“Uh-oh.”

“What?”

“Now you look like I probably did when I was thinking about my mom. Sad.”

She wasn’t wrong. I was getting sadder about going back to the life I was taking a break from. I didn’t look forward to returning to my apartment and my life being go, go, go.

“Nah.” I cleared my throat, chastising myself for getting carried away with what-if thoughts about if I were to stay here for good. If Derek and I talked about forgetting this fake stuff.

If I let Grace have more space to take over more at the company.

“Here’s one,” I said, scrolling absently on my e-reader app. “The Christmas Puppy.”

“That’s a kids’ book.”

I laughed, resting against the couch with her. We stayed on the floor, with the tree aglow, but she snuggled into my side as she moved into place. I reached up and grabbed the throw on the cushions, and she situated it on our laps.

“Seeing asyou’rea kid…”

“That’s below my reading level.”

“Then humor me.”

“Oh, Claire,” she said with a giggle as I swiped to the text of the e-book. “That font is—” She giggled harder.

I laughed too, used to the sad fate that I was past due for reading glasses. “Hush. I’ll have you know I’ve got an appointment with Dr. Joseph on January ninth.”

She smiled. “You’re welcome.”

I smiled, too, and read. Even after she fell asleep, I read on and on, too content in this moment to let it stop.

22

DEREK

My alarm went off, and I rolled over to wake Claire up. When I found the bed empty, I realized she must have already gotten up to hide the fact that we were sharing a bed.

Then a minute later, her alarm went off too.

I frowned, lifting my head from the pillow.

Why is it going off in the living room?I watched her set her phone to the alarm last night.

I got up, too curious to sleep in. I headed out to the living room, following the sound of the alarm.

Nothing could’ve prepared me for finding my girls like this. Asleep on the floor. Claire rested her head on the edge of the couch cushion, her mouth wide open as she lightly snored. Naomi didn’t look like she could be comfortable either, slumped onto her stomach with her face pressed into the carpet. Her legs lay over Claire’s lap.

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