Page 67 of Here Comes Santa Paws

Most surprising was Santa, in his full bearded glory, standing in front of a tree the volunteers had set up next to the growing stack of wrapped gifts people dropped off for the shelter animals. Those generous Christmas gifts from the community usually included enough toys to last us through much of the next year.

“What’s going on?”

Gramps and Nancy looked to Roman who glanced at Santa.

“You didn’t get your pictures with Santa.” Roman jerked his chin toward his camera mounted on a tripod. “We wanted to help. Jim and Nancy did all the work.”

Gramps not-so-subtly shook his head and held his hand in front of his stomach, pointing his thumb toward Roman.

My brain struggled to process the gesture. Roman did this? For me? “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say eggnog! We don’t say ‘cheese’ at Christmas.” Santa’s belly laughter included several hos.

Before I could respond, Nancy brought the dogs toward me. I crouched to greet them and accept their kisses. Tinsel and Nutcracker wore reindeer ears, Tinsel’s ears were adorned with a red bow, and Nutcracker’s collar had a green bowtie clipped to it.

“This was all Roman’s idea, by the way. He talked to Jim, and Jim asked me to use his key to get your dogs. I convinced Roman to bring Carol. Notice how relaxed she is?”

I stood and caught Roman’s eye. Half his mouth hitched in a warm smile.

“Thank you,” I mouthed.

I walked over to the crate, pulled Krampus out, and held her against my chest. Her ears flattened and she glared at me, but she let me hold her. It was a win.

As Nancy directed me, Gramps, and the furballs into poses, Roman snapped photos. I didn’t want things to fizzle between us before he left, whenever that was. I wanted us to burn hot until the last moment. Leave a permanent mark on him instead of fading into a memory. To show him the direction of my thoughts, I sent him a flirty look before turning toward Gramps and Nancy.

“Let’s get a photo of you two.” I tried to look casual.

Roman winked at me.

“Sure your suitors from the matchmaker won’t get jealous?”

I had to bite back a smile at the note of envy in Gramps’s voice.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.” Nancy fluffed her silver hair before standing beside Gramps and wrapping her arm around his waist. “I don’t mind giving them a reason to be jealous.”

Gramps stared wide-eyed at her as she smiled wide for the camera.

Nancy approached the camera. “Show me how to use this thing so I can get pictures of you and Carol. I’ll add you to the foster success wall.” It was covered in photos of happy pets and stood opposite our adoption success wall, which had even more photos.

Roman looked resigned to his fate. No one could argue with Nancy.

“C’mon, girl.” Carol stood and walked over to him. “Our turn.”

I plucked a Santa hat from the pet accessories and set it on Carol’s head. She narrowed her eyes but allowed it. I scratched behind her ear, and she closed her eyes for a moment as her foot lightly thumped against the ground. Roman shook his head with a fond smile playing on his lips.

Nancy snapped photos of Roman, Carol, and Santa, then somehow shuffled me into the mix, then my animals, and thenGramps. I asked Roman about a timer, and we ended up with a photo of all of us.

As we chatted with Santa about his holiday plans, I noticed it was quiet.Tooquiet. I looked around and found my dogs sitting around Carol’s large frame like tiny bodyguards. Even Krampus slept on Carol’s back. Without thinking, I snapped a photo of the unimaginable scene.

“What is going on?” Roman’s voice near my ear sent a shiver racing along my spine.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “A Christmas miracle.”

When I turned to Roman, I could’ve sworn I saw yearning in his eyes.

How can I let him go without telling him how I feel?I couldn’t stomach the possibility of Roman moving to Arizona without knowing how much he meant to me. What if all it took was telling him I’d like him to stay? But even if I told him, he might still leave. That would hurt, but not as much as not trying.

“Let’s take the furbabies home. I was going to take Gramps to the snowperson building contest. Want to join us? You and I could enter as a team, and since you’ve got your camera out, you could get some photos for the contest. Maybe Nancy would want to join and keep Gramps company.” I waggled my eyebrows.

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