Page 50 of Puppy Christmas

She was forced to laugh. “Oh, it’s definitely not lewd. It involves my mother.”

“The queen?”

A more apt term had never been applied to anyone. “The very one. Sophie was sick when she was younger—as inreallysick, and for years—so she’s great at making kids feel comfortable. And she’s, uh, already heard about you two, so it won’t come as a surprise if I ask her to help out.”

There was no mistaking the knowing gleam that sparked Ford’s eye. “She’s heard about me and Emily?”

“Yes.”

“From your own mouth?”

She shifted from one foot to the other, even though fidgeting was something she normally strove to keep to a minimum. It was the knowing gleam in his eye that did it. She had to dosomethingto release the pressure building up between her legs, or there was no telling what other unseemly actions she’d be driven to perform.

“We’re a close family. We talk about a lot of things—including men who do their best to make me regret I ever heard the wordsFordandFordin tandem.”

“Poor Lila.” He got to his feet. “And you think this suggestion contains no lewdness whatsoever?”

She jumped out of his reach before he’d managed to get his hands halfway up. In fact, she couldn’t say for sure that she saw them coming—it was more as though she sensed them, knew even before Ford did that he’d be unable to resist the invitation such a confession would offer.

“Not while I’m on the clock, please,” she said. She strove to keep a firm note in her voice, but the plea wavered on her lips. “You saw that display put on by Patrick and Anya at the school. I do need to at least pretend that I’m qualified to train your daughter’s puppy.”

Ford narrowed his eyes, although it did little to quell their glowing warmth. “So, what you’re saying is, I can’ttouchyou while you’re here in an official capacity?”

She shook her head. “No.”

He leaned nearer, the scent of him a combination of ink and coffee and the peanut-butter sandwich he’d had for lunch. It was somehow the most alluring thing she’d ever smelled. “But I can get as close as I want as long as there’s no physical contact?”

She closed her eyes in hope that would pull some of her whirling senses back to order.

“I can put my lips right here next to your ear, but as long as I don’t let my mouth drop that last tantalizing inch, we’re in the clear?”

“Ford…” Her voice came out strangled, but it was the best she could do under the circumstances. She wanted so much to wind her arms around his neck, to pull him into an embrace that would show him just how much she wanted to wind the rest of her body around him, too.

Right here. Right now. With his daughter napping just down the hallway and her entire professional future in the air.

Oh dear. This must be what it feels like to eat the Fourth of July fireworks.

“I guess I can make this work,” Ford murmured, his lips still a heartbeat away from the sensitive spot on the side of her neck. “I’ll follow your rules and wait for you to take me out in the grand style, but only if you’re still willing to let me practice those braids in the meantime. I want to learn that Renaissance fair one next.”

The thought of sitting at this man’s feet while he slipped his fingers up and down her scalp caused an anticipatory shiver to work through her. The smart thing to do would be to tell him to practice on his daughter or even to purchase one of those creepy plastic heads they used in beauty schools, but of course she suggested neither of these things. Common sense, like her resolve, was fleeing fast.

“That braid’s an awfully complicated one,” she warned.

“I like complicated things.” His laughter rumbled through them both. “And people, in case you haven’t noticed.”

Oh, she’d noticed. For reasons that weren’t quite clear to her besotted brain and lust-fueled body, Ford Ford liked her.Her, Lila Vasquez, who made most men’s blood run cold.Her, Lila Vasquez, who knew as much about children and happiness as she did quantum physics.

“It could take hours of practice,” she added.

“I’m willing to put in the time.” Inhaling deeply, Ford finally wrested himself back to a normal standing position. Her sudden wash of relief at the separation disappeared when she caught sight of the mischievous smile that hinted he was about to say something outrageous.

She wasn’t disappointed.

“In fact, I’m willing to put almost anything anywhere you want it,” he added with a wink. “Remember that for our date and plan accordingly. There will be no mercy for either of us otherwise.”

* * *

“Lila! Princess Lila!”