Page 37 of If You Give a Grump a Christmas Tree Farm
Rebecca and I glance at each other, and I shrug.
A few minutes later, Phoebe comes up to the house, Buddy in tow.
“Your dog is a sweetie,” she says, stepping inside, and Buddy trails in behind her and plops down on the braided rug in front of the fire like it’s his spot.
“Yeah, he is,” I agree. I’m not going to tell her he’s a stray.
“So, what do you think?”
“I found several places we can shoot. Of course, we’ll focus on the two of you out in the rows of trees, then maybe JJ carrying a tree over his shoulder, the two of you laughing and smiling. Maybe a shot of you both sipping hot chocolate by the bonfire, and end it with a shot of you and the dog by the truck. How’s that sound?”
“It sounds awesome. You can edit that all together for us?” I ask.
“It’s part of the package. Plus, I’ll get you some stills. Oh, that reminds me, check out this shot of your dog.” She holds her camera up, and we lean in to look at the viewfinder. “Isn’t he adorable?”
Rebecca and I stare at each other.
I grin. “That’s what’s been missing from our logo. The dog.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Rebecca—
After painting a copy of the photo Phoebe took of Buddy, I call JJ over. I’m at the dining table, and he’s in the kitchen. I’ve got the two-foot by four-foot sheet of wood JJ cut for me laid out on top of the table. “JJ, what do you think?”
He pauses behind my chair, studying the image. “It looks fantastic. Is that our new logo, then?”
“I think so. I love it.”
“Then I’ll mount it on the signposts. Think you can paint it on the door of the truck? That’d be pretty cool, right?”
“I’ll give it a try. I also converted the logo into a digital file. I’m going to see if I can get magnets and stickers printed up.”
“Cool. Want to put this up now?”
“Let’s do it. I know it’s silly, but I’m excited to see our Instagram spot take shape. Oh, and I got some light to string in the trees behind the truck.”
“Sounds great. Let’s go.” He reaches past me and grabs the large sign.
I grab the bag of lights and hold the door for him, then follow him out. He props it against the two posts he already put up, and we go to the barn. He finds a drill and extension cord and passes them to me.
“Here, hold these.”
Then he gets a stepladder, and we walk back.
I hold the sign while he screws it into place, then he helps me string the lights.
I start to climb the ladder to reach the tops of the trees.
“Give me a second and I’ll hold the ladder for you,” JJ says, wrapping the cord of the drill.
“I’m okay,” I protest, but when I lean too far, the ladder wobbles, and I’m about to fall on my ass when suddenly, JJ is there just in time to catch me.
I land in his arms, his strong muscles solid beneath me. A shriek escapes me, and I clutch his neck.
“I’ve got you,” he reassures, and I stare, wide-eyed, into his humorous gaze.
“Are you laughing at me?” I say.
