Page 47 of The Snuggle is Real
“Goodnight.”
I searched his expression for any sign that he enjoyed that hug for the reasons I did. That maybe somewhere, even deep down, he felt the slightest attraction to me.
But there was nothing to see. Because Ford was a straight man concerned with giving his daughter a good Christmas, and I was just the guy at the charitable agency that could make it happen.
Pepper whined and tugged at the leash, and this time I let him pull me to the car. It was past time to go home and focus on my own life.
I walked down the sidewalk without looking back.
If I did, I might beg for an invitation back into those arms, and it would only make me feel worse when Ford said no.
The next night, I kept busy trying to strip the wallpaper in my guest room. The house wasn’t going to prepare itself for my family’s visit, after all. It didn’t distract me nearly as well as I’d hoped, though.
I was really thankful that this evening I was meeting Elias and Taylor for drinks at The White Elephant.
After spending so much time with Ford and Charlie, I felt oddly restless at home. Peppermint was good company—but evenheseemed to miss the new family we’d adopted.
Elias was already seated at a four-top table near the fireplace when I arrived, a flight of seasonal beers in front of him.
“You look almost as tired as Griff.”
“Thanks a lot.” I pulled out a seat across from him. “I’ve been running a pop-up booth at festival events all day, and I’ve spent all my free time trying to get the wallpaper off the guest room walls.”
All the free time that hadn’t been spent with Ford and Charlie, anyway.
“How did that go?”
I held up my bandaged index finger just as Taylor dropped into the seat beside me.
“Let’s just say that the wall won. Or maybe the scraper won? I don’t know. This might come as a shock, but I’m really not that handy.”
Unlike a certain guy I was trying not to think about. Ever since our goodbye Wednesday night, I couldn’t get him out of my head. I knew he was straight, and there was really no way he’d be into me, and yet…I’d sensedsomething,hadn’t I?
Taylor grabbed a four-ounce glass of beer from the tray. Each one had a cute greeting card label attached.
“Mad Elf,” Taylor read out. “A Belgian beer brewed with cherries and honey. Sounds pretty damn good.”
Elias picked up a second one. “The Twelve Dogs of Christmas.”
Taylor snorted. “That’s appropriate.”
Elias shook his head and handed it to me. “I think I’ve got enough Christmas dogs to be worrying about. This shelter mess has been…a lot.”
The rim of the glass was coated in cinnamon and sugar, and when I took a sip—well, damn. I tasted sweet spice, hints of honey, and…ginger? Well, whatever it was, it was good.
“Does that mean you can’t loan me your contractor to deal with my house?” I joked.
“I just gave you a beer. Do you really have to be so greedy?”
“That’s Mason,” Taylor joked. “Always so selfish.” He leaned in. “I mean, did you see the guy he was with at the parade? Whowouldn’twant to help him, am I right?”
My face went hot. Taylor was just kidding, of course. Ford was a hunk of lumberjack goodness that just about anyone could appreciate.
“Oh, look at that blush!” Elias said, zeroing in on my stupid face, which broadcasted my every emotion. “I think Mason has a little crush.”
“Stop.” I chuckled. “Ford is a guy who needed some help. He’s not for me.”
“You never know,” Elias teased.
