Page 36 of Here Comes Santa Paws

I snorted. “She’s not allowed on the furniture.” I attempted to mimic his deep voice. It was risky teasing him in this state, but I bet on it breaking his tension.

“Kiss my ass.” There was a hint of humor in his voice.

“I’m pulling in. Be there in a flash.” I hung up and hustled into his place, kicking off my shoes.

As I reached his bedroom door, the sight of them took my breath away. He was sprawled out on his bed with Carol snuggled up against him as the little spoon. Their heads shared a pillow as Roman gently rubbed her belly in slow circles.

I cleared my throat to clear the dreamy vision of coming home to this every day and slowly entered the room, hoping not to startle Carol.

“Hey, sweet girl. Looks like you’re getting pampered.” She watched me warily but didn’t growl or move.

“Watch out for the puke. Haven’t had a chance to clean it yet.”

I smiled. Seeing that his priority was comforting Carol over caring about the condition of his carpet confirmed every gut feeling I’d had about Roman being good for her.And make my crush bloom into more.

“Got it. Thanks.”

She tensed as I approached the bed, but she let me. Roman’s gentle belly rubs must’ve worked magic. The fact that he stayed spooning her and wasn’t worried about me seeing him vulnerable with her added about a trillion hotness points to the mountain of them he already possessed.

“I have a feeling I know what’s going on.” I sat on the edge of the bed to get a good look at Carol.

Roman raised his head from the white pillowcase dotted with dark fur. “What is it?”

“I think she’s pregnant.”

Several complicated emotions passed over Roman’s face. Confusion, denial, surprise. Then his eyebrows furrowed as he glared at me. “What happens at that shelter?”

I snorted. “Nothing. They’re all fixed. I’d planned to do the same with Carol. She must’ve gotten pregnant right before we took her in. Otherwise, the vet would’ve seen it when he did her initial evaluation. We can take her in to confirm.”

“Puppies?”

I grinned. “Hopefully, several.”

Roman’s nose wrinkled. His hand stilled on her stomach like he was trying to feel anything moving around.

“If you’d like me to take her until then, I can. She’ll need some extra special care while she’s pregnant.” I didn’t daremention the birthing process. That was a whole ordeal, but I doubted he was ready for those details.

“No,” he said sharply. “Thank you, but she’s clearly comfortable here, and I don’t want to disrupt her more than necessary. Taking her to the vet will be stressful enough.” He frowned. “What are you smiling at?”

I gestured to him spooning a dog the size of a child on his bed. A bed he swore she’d never have access to.

“This is a one-time thing. I found her in here and didn’t have the heart to move her. She sleeps in the living room at night.”

I nodded at his insistence.

Roman removed his arm and sat up. When Carol flopped her head back to look at him, he ran his hand down her back. He wasn’t smiling at her, but I could feel the affection rolling off him in waves.

He locked eyes with me. “I overreacted, didn’t I? I’m sorry I interrupted the parade.”

I shook my head before he even finished speaking. “You didn’t overreact at all. How would you know the signs of dog pregnancy? Your dog vomited, has a bloated stomach, and is whining. Calling for help is theexactthing you should do.”

His shoulders relaxed. “Thank you.” He looked back at Carol. “You can stay here for a little while longer, then it’s back to the dog bed for you and your parasites.”

I noticed he didn’t correct me on “your dog,” but I didn’t call it out.

I snorted and rose from the bed as Roman did. He followed me to the living room.

“Thank you for coming over. Should I call the vet?”

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