Page 35 of Puppy Christmas

Even if the idea of nudity and Ford Ford was appealing in the extreme.

“Now would be a really good opportunity to tell Helen the truth about us,” she said, tamping down any and all images of this man without any clothes on. She’d seen enough of his chest to last her a lifetime, thank you very much.

“I thought you were only going to do that if she asked you a direct question,” Ford said with a self-conscious start.

“Yes, well. That was before she started coming by with invitations to parties.”

He heaved a sigh. It was a playful sigh, as usual, but Lila couldn’t help thinking there was some meaning behind it. When he spoke, however, it was with nothing but irreverence. “I still think it’d be nicer if you could find it in your heart not to dump me until Christmas, but feel free to disillusion her. I’m going to watch the plate spinning.Youmight be accustomed to having circus freaks for siblings, but I’m new to all this family intrigue. Does she throw knives, too? I’ve always wanted to try that.”

Lila knew there would be nothing but nonsense out of Ford now. “Not to my knowledge, but I’m sure she’d be willing to give it a try if you asked nicely. Maybe you could volunteer to be her first target.”

“There’s no need. My heart has already been pierced by a glorious Vasquez sister. Want to guess which one?”

She couldn’t resist. “Sophie’s a sweetheart, but I doubt Harrison will give her up to you easily. And in terms of sheer physical prowess, the man has you beat. You’ll be better off with Dawn and her knives.”

Ford turned his head toward Harrison, who was, in fact, looking rather large and intimidating today. He looked large and intimidating most of the time, except when his gaze landed on either Sophie or Bubbles. Then it was all teddy bear, all of the time.

“Oh dear. Isthatyour type?” There was no regret or envy in Ford’s voice—only that laugh.Always that laugh.“It’ll take me a few years to bulk up, and I can’t promise that my biceps will ever get that big, but if that’s what you find attractive… Emily, honey? Will you bring me the carton of eggs? I’m going to need to get started right away.”

Emily wasn’t looking at her father, so she didn’t catch what he said, but she was so used to his ways that she merely giggled when he moved his fingers down in the sign of a cracking egg. Lila was grateful for the sound of the girl’s bubbling laughter, since it covered up her own. She was equally grateful for Helen, who came forward to offer her help in washing dishes.

“I might be a party crasher, but I’m a party crasher with two perfectly good hands,” she said.

Lila was just desperate enough to get away from Ford that she agreed. “That’d be great, thanks. My sisters have things well under control in here. Plus, this will give us a chance to have a little chat. There are a few things you and I need to get straight.”

She cast an obvious look at Ford as she said this last bit. It was only fair that she give him advance warning of her intentions. Which was a mistake for a lot of reasons, but none of them as pressing as the fact that Ford Ford wasn’t a man who played fair.

“She’s going to whisk you away and tell you that she doesn’t love me,” he said with a sad shake of his head. “Apparently, she prefers men with more meat on their bones. I’m only just hearing about it now.”

“Ford!” Lila cried.

“It’s okay. Lucky for you, I prefer a woman who throws me an occasional curveball. Hey, Harrison—you have a minute? I have a few questions about your exercise regimen. Doallthe men on your wildfire team look like you when they get started, or are some of them spindly nobodies like me? It’s for science.”

As he loped off in Harrison’s direction with every appearance of chatting about protein powder, bench presses, and firefighter lifestyles, Lila could only watch him go. Matters weren’t helped any when Helen wound her arm through Lila’s and led her toward the kitchen with a confidential air. “I don’t know how you do it, Princess Lila,” she said. “Walking and talking and working like a normal person. If Ford said half of those things to me, I’d be melted in a puddle at his feet.”

Yes, well. Perhaps that would be for the best. Then Ford might slip and have to be taken to the emergency room. Not evenhecould make one of those flapping blue hospital gowns look good.

She kept these reflections to herself, especially since the image of his bare backside was causing a sudden fluttering low in her belly. “You can just call me Lila,” she said instead.

“I know, but the princess part seems to make Emily happy.” Helen’s smile faltered. “It’s the least I can do. The poor little thing doesn’t like me very much. She never has.”

Lila could tell. She also had a strong suspicion as to why. The sentiment had its roots in those two words:poorandlittle. Oh, she was no child expert, obviously, but she’d spent enough time in the pediatric cancer ward when Sophie was young to realize that pity was the last thing any child with a serious health condition wanted to be given. Sympathy was theirs for the taking whenever they wanted it; being treated just like any other normal kid, however, was something to be cherished.

She was still trying to work out how to tactfully convey this to a woman she barely knew when Helen interrupted with a bright “So, how long have you two known each other, you and Ford?”

Lila could have kissed her for making this so easy. Busying herself with the tap, she said, “I met him for the first time in my life last Saturday.”

Helen’s brows dashed up as she handed Lila a plate. “Last Saturday? Oh my. I had no idea.”

“Why would you?” Lila asked congenially. She thought but didn’t add,When Ford has done his best to give the exact opposite impression?“The company I run with my sisters is contracted through the Auditory Guild to provide Emily with a service puppy and training through the end of the year. Given how closely we work with our families, we like to focus on building easy rapport.”

“In that short a time, though?” Helen asked. The disbelief in her tone was evident even over the sound of the running water. “You must work quickly.”

On the contrary, Lila was incredibly slow. Slow to think and slow to act, careful never to step anywhere the ground might be unstable. And it was unstable here, that was for sure. She turned off the tap and gave Helen her full attention.

“It was a tough job for us to get in the first place, and there are some fairly high stakes involved if we want to keep it,” she said carefully. “And we do want to keep it, very much. So you can understand why the relationship between me and Ford is strictly a professional one.”

“Ohhh,” Helen breathed. She followed it up with a grin and a wink. “Right. Strictly professional.NowI understand.”