Page 29 of Here Comes Santa Paws

Gramps sat in the folding chair I’d set up at the end of my narrow kitchen so he could sit while I cooked. He usually hung out in the kitchen with me when I cooked dinner, if the dogs left him alone long enough. But with the surgery recovery, I didn’t want him standing too long. I’d been worried about having him over with the dogs running around, but he’d insisted. I knew he missed them, and the dogs had been gentle with him, as if they sensed he was injured.

“I bet you’re happy you got your neighbor to take Carol.” Gramps’s tone prompted more.

I couldn’t stop the smile from taking over my face. “She’s happy there.” It had made my heart joyful to see her so relaxed at his place after only a day. Roman might not appreciate the teddy bear comparison, but that didn’t make it any less true.

He chuckled. “I bet she is.” He had a knowing smile.

“Are there any exercises you’re supposed to be doing while you’re here?” I glanced over at Gramps.

He flexed his foot up and down. “Yeah.”

“PT going well?”

Gramps’s smile turned wily. “Fabulous. My PT is very skilled. Less than two weeks from surgery, and I’m already feeling better. He knows his stuff.”

I snorted as I stirred the stroganoff sauce. “I sure as hell hope he does.”

“He’s very thorough and attentive.”

For a second, I wondered if Gramps had a bit of a platonic crush on the guy, but then I remembered his clumsy matchmaking attempts. When he said how handsome his PT was, I sighed.

“Gramps, I already told you. I’m not interested. Stop trying to set me up with your PT. It’s weird.”

He waved me off. “It’s not weird. If you don’t meet someone on the apps, your only option is in the wild, right? Setups were how lots of my friends got married when I was your age.”

“Married?” I nearly yelled. “Chill, old man. I’m not interested in dating anyone right now. And I certainly don’t want to date anyone you set me up with. You’d be insufferable about it.”

“I would not.”

“You’re insufferable already, and I’m not even dating the guy.”

Gramps crossed his arms over his chest. “Is it bad that I want to see my beloved grandson happy?”

“I’m immune to your guilt trips, and I don’t need your help to get a boyfriend.”

“If I don’t find you one, then who will? Not you.”

“Ouch, Gramps.” I turned off the burner for the sauce and pulled out the salad supplies while the pasta boiled. “How about you settle in the living room and give the critters some T-words. I’ll bring dinner out.”

He chatted with the dogs while I plated our dinners. Within a few minutes, I brought our meals out and placed them on the TV trays I’d set up earlier. Gramps sat on the couch with a dog on each side, so I took the chair. He’d turned on an old sitcom we always enjoyed. Anytime I wondered whether I’d made the wrong decision by staying in Christmas Falls, moments like this reminded me I was exactly where I wanted to be.

“Delicious, as always. Thanks.”

I smiled at Gramps as I shoveled a large forkful of stroganoff into my mouth. The creamy, savory pasta dish was the ultimate comfort food. I probably should’ve cooked something lighter since we’d be stuffing our faces at Thanksgiving tomorrow. Too late now.

When my plate was half-empty, there was a knock at the door. I ignored my Millennial urge to pretend I wasn’t home and got up to answer. I didn’t expect to find Roman standing there.

“Roman. Hey.” My smile ran away from me.

His lips shifted into a small, closed-mouth smile that sent flutters through my stomach. “Hey. I was wondering if you had a few minutes to?—”

“Roman! Come to torture me while you’re off the clock? I just did my ankle exercises. Elias can vouch for me.”

Confused, I turned to Roman, who looked between me and Gramps with an expression that bordered on sheepish.

“You know each other?”

“Did I forget to tell you Roman is my physical therapist?”

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