Page 11 of Here Comes Santa Paws

Carol tried licking my hand, but I dodged her slimy tongue.

It took me a long moment to figure out what to say. Half my brain was addled by this new side of Elias. He’d always seemed confident, but his commanding tone surprised me. I had to respect how much he cared about the animals. There might be more to my neighbor than a frustratingly perky attitude, loud dogs, and a nice ass.

“Sorry about your shelter.”

Elias’s expression cleared in an instant. “Thanks. Any chance you know a contractor?”

I shook my head.

“Too bad. Anyway, thanks for your help.” He turned his attention to the dog. “You deserve a treat. Let’s go.”

After one more glance at Carol, who craned her head to watch me leave, I walked to my place, ignoring her woeful whine. I also ignored the pang it triggered in my heart.

ELIAS

I’d worked up a sweat getting Carol into the house. As my dogs danced around her, Carol growled like she did with other dogs at the shelter. I’d debated hiding my pets while bringing her in, but I figured she should have a chance to meet the creatures she’d hear and smell in the house. Krampus had watched long enough to make sure Carol wasn’t a threat, then resumed guarding the street.

I crouched to Tinsel’s and Nutcracker’s level. “I need you two to chill, okay? Carol is going to be a guest in our home for a little while.”

My dogs completely ignored me as they tried to get Carol to play. She wasn’t having any of it. The low growl rumbling from her large body didn’t faze my lovebugs. Like me, they were determined to befriend everyone.

“Dogs! To the bedroom!” I used my most forceful voice. Thankfully, they listened.

With a tight grip on her lead, I took Carol through the kitchen to grab the treat container, then hurried to the spare bedroom. Once inside, I closed the door behind us to give her a break. Before heading to Gramps’s, Nancy had swung by to drop off some supplies in the spare room. Bless her. She’d set up food, water, and a large bed.

“Welcome to your accommodations, Carol. I’m afraid I’m going to have to keep you in here for your peace, but I promise I’ll make it cushy. I’ll open the curtains so you can watch the birds.”

Carol moved as far away from me as she could and tried to squeeze between a bookshelf and a set of plastic drawers. I pulled a treat from the tin and tossed it to her. After eyeing me warily, she stretched enough to gobble it up. I threw her another.

Snuffling sounds from under the door made me smile. My crew just wanted to make a friend, but they needed to understand that not everyone felt the same. Sometimes, it took patience and gentle persistence to earn friendship.

Or sometimes, you had to leave people the hell alone like I’d tried to do with Roman. From the day I’d offered to help him carry in his moving boxes, he’d made it clear that he didn’t care to be buddy-buddy with his neighbor. I’d tried to respect that and admire his assets from a distance, but tonight, he’d offered to help me of his own volition. He might as well have draped his letterman jacket over my shoulders for the big Homecoming game, given the fizzy sensation coursing under my skin.

I reached my fingers under the door and touched wet noses and warm doggy tongues, so I shoved a few treats their way to buy Carol and me a few minutes.

Carol needed to stay with someone she actually responded well to. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t sting that Carol hadn’t connected with me, but her comfort mattered far more than my pride.

I perked up as an idea formed. It wasn’t my best one, but I’d throw myself at Roman’s feet if it meant it would help Carol.

“I’m going to leave you in here to relax, sweetheart. Ignore the barking elves on the other side of the door. They mean well, but this is your space. I won’t let them in.”

I made sure none of them would sneak past me as I exited the room. If my plan failed, I’d need to set up a system of locking my dogs in my room when I let Carol out, but I had a good feeling about it.

I marched confidently next door.

When I knocked, I could’ve sworn I heard a muffled curse. The door swung open moments later to reveal a frowning Roman. No one made cranky look as sexy as he did. He’d ditched the scrubs I usually saw him in and now had on a white T-shirt fitting snugly around his biceps and gray joggers that might as well have had a marquis around his package with how hard it was to keep my attention from darting there.

A delicious, savory aroma wafted toward me. Meatloaf, maybe? I peeked around him into the living room I’d never seen. It was larger than mine, with a long, open-floor plan leading into the kitchen. He’d decorated it with warm neutrals and blues. Much more calming than the bachelor chic I would’ve pegged him for.

“Can I come in? I want to ask you something. Smells good in here.”

Roman seemed startled by my presence, but stepped back slightly, so I took that as an invitation to enter.

I took in a modern leather couch with a well-worn seat on one side and tasteful wood furniture. The clean and minimally decorated space had a masculine feel. Framed photos behind the couch snagged my attention. They were stunning landscapes—dense and foggy forest, waves crashing over a rocky beach, and the sun shining on a river coursing through a valley.

“Wow. These are incredible. Who’s the photographer?” I hoped they had an online gallery. I might order myself a Christmas gift.

Roman started to cross his arms, froze, and then dropped them awkwardly at his sides. “Me.”

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