Page 68 of Here Comes Santa Paws

Roman’s endearing smile made my heart swell. “You’d better be good at building snowpeople.”

I interlaced my fingers and cracked my knuckles. “I’mthe best.”

Chapter 28

Roman

After pulling into my garage,I quickly checked on Carol inside, then hovered at the rear of my truck with my garage door open. Elias and I hadn’t talked about continuing our time together after building the ugliest and least structurally sound snowperson of all time, but I was hesitant to put an end to the day. I had no idea rolling around in the snow to build a fugly lump with a carrot nose and rock eyes could be so fun.

He had to take Gramps home first, so I figured he’d be about ten minutes behind. Right on cue, Elias pulled into his drive minutes later. I moved to the mid-point of the paved walkway between our homes.

After he climbed out of his car, he hissed as he jogged over to me. “It’s freaking cold. The heater barely took the edge off.” A shiver racked his body.

“Wehavebeen playing in the snow, and your gloves are shit.”

Elias playfully rolled his eyes, and I wanted to wrap him in my arms and use my body heat to raise his.Then do it. You leave for your interview tomorrow. How many more chances will you have?

I couldn’t argue with that thought, so I closed the distance between us and pulled Elias into my arms. He melted immediately and wrapped his arms around me.

“You’re warm.” His words came out like a purr.

“Want me to make you warm too?”

Elias tilted his head back. The bright, blinking Christmas lights on his side of the house reflected in his eyes. “More than anything.”

Carol had been fast asleep when I checked on her—on my bed—and Ididn’t want to further disturb her, given what a trooper she’d been earlier.

“How about your place?”

Elias failed to hide the surprise in his eyes. “Let’s go.” He grabbed my hand with his gloved one and tugged me toward his front door. “Ignore any dirty clothes that might be in the vicinity of but not in my hamper,” he said over his shoulder.

He pulled me with surprising strength, like I was offering resistance. I wasn’t.

Elias dropped my hand to unlock his front door, then ushered us inside to a symphony of barking dogs and a meowing cat. His back was to me as he shed his winter gear.

Nutcracker stretched onto his hind legs and pressed his front paws on my knee as his tail twitched with his excitement. I crouched and scratched behind his ears. Sensing an opportunity for affection, Tinsel joined.

“Sorry. I know the animals are a lot. You can?—”

At Elias’s abrupt silence, I looked up. He stared at me, mouth hanging open.

“What?”

“You—the dogs—fur—Tinsel slobbers,” he finally settled on.

“So does Carol. I woke up to her drool on my pillow just this morning.”

“Her’s huh?” His surprise shifted to a teasing smile.

“I don’t drool.”

Elias held out his hand. The fire in his eyes had returned, but a new softness there made my chest ache. “How about we find out?”

I accepted his hand and stood. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and stretched into a lush kiss. I hummed into it and wrapped my arms around his waist, pulling him flush against me.

“Is the rest of your evening free?” he asked between kisses.

“It is.” I kissed the corner of his mouth.

---