Page 86 of Puppy Christmas

She was comforting him—the way a mother comforted her young, the way a woman comforted her man. The realization almost broke him. The women in his life had always been more than he deserved, lending him a helping hand whenever he needed it, but this took things to a whole new level. Lila was an anchor, arock. The seas could storm and the waters batter, but she’d never waver. She’d just hold him and let him feel overwhelmed and then remind him that there was work still to be done.

As if to prove it, she pulled back just enough to brush a lock of hair from his forehead and replace it with a soft kiss. And then she said, “If the bite broke the skin, then we need to put Jeeves in quarantine for ten days.”

“Quarantine? Like…a plastic room and hazmat suits?”

She laughed. Like the hug, that warm chuckle did much to restore his equilibrium. “Not quite that bad. It’s more like he needs to be isolated from other animals and watched for signs of rabies. I doubt that’s the case, but it’s standard procedure for all dog bites. We can either do it at the kennel or here at your house. It’ll depend on what I find.”

She didn’t have to tell him what she meant by that. It depended on whether or not they were going to have to give Jeeves up—if he was a danger to Emily and other kids.

It was going to break his daughter’s heart, he knew. Even with her hand clutched to her chest and huge tears in her eyes, she’d been determined that Ford put Jeeves somewhere safe until Lila could be summoned.

“Princess Lila can fix it,” she’d said. “Princess Lila can fix anything.”

Ford was inclined to agree. Lila could solve every problem he’d ever had—both in his home and in his heart. The trouble was, how was he supposed to repay her? All he had to offer was the occasional orgasm and the pages of a graphic novel no one wanted to read but her.

“What could have caused him to act out?” Ford asked as he followed Lila toward the bathroom. “Did she maybe roll on top of him in her sleep?”

“It’s possible,” she said, but not very convincingly. “There’s also a chance he might be feeling sick or insecure. Did anything happen in the last few days to upset him? Did he show any signs of distress?”

Ford shook his head. “He’s been nothing but his usual placid, soldiering self.”

“All right, little guy.” Lila pushed open the bathroom door. “Let’s see what’s bothering you.”

To all outward appearances, the answer to that question was nothing. Ford had a strong suspicion that if someone had lockedhimup in a bathroom away from the girl he was supposed to protect, he’d have thrashed himself against the door until he made his way through—especially if that girl was Emily or Lila.

Not so with Jeeves. The dog was clearly unhappy about his banishment, but he sat on the bath mat as if resigned to his fate. His eyes were dark and full of woe, but his posture was serene.

Oh, that I had a tenth of that animal’s dignity.

Lila dropped to the puppy’s level the same way she did with Emily. She also spoke in the same low-toned, soothing voice that seemed to work so well on his daughter. He sat on her command, rolled over so she could push and poke at his various internal organs, and even opened his mouth so she could inspect his tongue and teeth. After about five minutes of this, Lila sat back on her heels and glanced up at Ford.

“Well, he’s physically sound, at any rate. Can I see Emily, do you think, or is it better to let her sleep?”

“Sleep,” came Ford’s unequivocal reply.

“Oh. Okay.” Lila took his proffered hand and allowed him to lift her to her feet. The telltale pink tinge to her cheeks told him that he might have uttered that response more harshly than he’d intended.

He didn’t release her right away. “It’s just that she’s already had a pretty upsetting night, and the wound isn’t serious.” He spoke much more carefully this time. “Trust me. It’ll be much worse for all of us if she doesn’t get her full eight hours in. Children don’t bounce back nearly as quickly as puppies do.”

“That makes sense.” A small, wistful smile twisted her lips. “I guess I’m still not very good with kids yet.”

Ford had been on the verge of letting go, but at that, his grip tightened—not because she was once again shortchanging her ability to work with children, but because of that small word at the end.Yet. Yetimplied there was more learning to be done.Yetmeant she wanted to stick around long enough to try.

“Stay the night,” he said. It was more of a plea than a request.

She attempted to yank her hand out of his grasp, but he was anticipating it and held her firmly. “Ford, you know I can’t do that. Not with… Not when…”

Yes, he did know it. Not with the air crackling between them. Not when all he wanted to do was lower her to his bed and pin her there until they were both slick with sweat and desire.

“Not with me,” he amended. “You can have the bed. I’ll sleep on the couch. It’s just that Emily will feel so much better about this whole thing if she wakes up to find you here. We both will.”

Lila’s struggle with herself was clear. She bit her lip and cast anxious glances down at the puppy, sneaking a covert look or two at Ford as she did. As he was once again wearing nothing but pajama pants, he couldn’t help but think his bare chest was swaying her either for or against the plan.

“I promise to maintain decorum and dignity at every turn,” he said.

“Yousaythat, but—”

“I won’t picture you naked or even in a mild state of undress. Starting right…now.”