Page 103 of The Snuggle is Real
“Are you sure you want to leave your family?” Ford asked in a low voice.
Charlie stood on her tiptoes by his truck, tugging open the back door of the extended cab.
“I’m not leaving my family.” My eyes met his, heart quickening. It was much too soon to tell him that he and Charlie were every bit as much my family as my mother and brother—but it was true. “I’m just spending the night with my two favorite people.”
He smiled. “Your favorite, huh? We hit the lottery.”
I chuckled. “I don’t want to miss Christmas morning with you. Besides…” I lowered my voice even more. “How else will you sneak Santa’s gift in? It’s amazing, by the way. She’ll absolutely adore it.”
Ford grinned, looking more carefree than I’d ever seen him. He was cute when he smiled big like that, more boyish and lessgrowly lumberjack. As hot as he was with his strong jaw tight and his eyes intense, I preferred this version. Thehappy,less-stressed Ford. I hoped to see much more of him in the future.
“I’ve been meaning to ask you…”
“Yeah?”
“You’re not the Secret Santa, are you?”
I laughed. “What?”
“It’s just that when I went to get the dollhouse, it wasn’t on the store floor, and I thought it was gone. But then it turned out someone had reserved it for me, so they’d hold it until I could buy it. There was a Secret Santa note, and you know how much I wanted this for Charlie, so…”
Oh, shit, he was serious. I shook my head. “It’s not me. I wish I could take credit for every good thing that happens for you, but I can’t.”
He blew out a breath. “Good. That’s good.”
I raised an eyebrow. “It is?”
“I don’t want you to feel like you have to take care of me, even now. I’m not dating the Holiday Hope Foundation. I’m datingyou,and I want us to be equals.”
“Oh, we are.” I kissed him softly. “Just because you needed help once doesn’t mean I think you can’t handle yourself, Ford Donnelly. Or handle me.” I wiggled my brows.
He grinned, seeming relieved. “Good to know. Maybe I’ll handle you later.”
“I hope so.”
“Meet you at my place.” He gave my ass a quick squeeze, then went to check Charlie’s seat belt and close her door before climbing in behind the steering wheel.
I veered toward my own car, where the massive dollhouse was stashed in the backseat with a sheet thrown over it. I slid into the cold seat and started the car, shivering as I reversed out of the drive.
Thankfully, it was a small town, and five minutes later I was pulling up to the curb in front of Ford’s place. There was an older-model hatchback in the driveway.
Who…
I got out of the car just time to see a woman step forward to embrace Ford under the porch lights. She had shoulder-length blond hair cut in chunky layers that looked good even when they were wind-tossed.
Charlie clung to Ford’s hand, hesitant.
“Aren’t you going to give your mama a hug? I missed you!”
My heart thumped hard. Of course. This must be LuAnne.
She’d gotten out of rehab before Christmas—rightbefore Christmas—just as she’d predicted.
I reached them just as Charlie stepped into her hug. LuAnne squeezed her tight, rocking side to side. “There’s my girl.”
“You didn’t call,” Ford said. “We could have been home sooner.”
“That’s all right. I haven’t been waiting long. I had to pick up my car from a friend who kept it for me. I packed most of my things in there in case I lost my apartment. Good thing too because those assholes changed the locks on me. As if anyone else wants to rent that shithole.”
