Page 62 of A Snowy Escape

I grin and scoot my chair over until I can rest my head on his shoulder. “Luckily, I have a sweet tooth.”

* * *

“Come on.” Bryant gestures at the table with both hands. “Ours is clearly the winner.”

“It’s a tie.” I roll my lips together, trying to keep myself from laughing. “Two votes against two votes. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

“You fight dirty,” Luka says, smiling dangerously. “I’ll remember that.”

“We were so close to victory.” I laugh, turning to Lawson.

He has a smudge of white frosting across his forehead and another on the edge of his lip that spills into his beard.

“Aww, you went to battle with the frosting.” I stretch a hand out, brushing it over the frosting at the edge of his lip. “I’d try to get it off for you, but it’s, uh, caked in your beard.” I move to trace the line on his forehead. “And that’s not the only spot.”

Lawson chuckles. “What you’re saying is that I need a shower.”

It’s right on the tip of my tongue to offer to take one with him, but I chicken out. I’d probably be braver if Luka and Bryant weren’t three feet away, watching this entire conversation play out.

“I can run and grab a wet rag.” I clear my throat, smiling awkwardly. “You came in clutch in supporting our almost win. I really thought I could convince one of them to flip to our side.”

“Nah,” he says, nodding at the window. “That’s okay. It’s getting real dark out there. I want to make sure the dogs get one more bathroom break before it starts sleeting.”

“Hey, you can give me a sponge bath, and I’ll totally declare you the winner,” Luka says, winking.

Lawson growls, and I chuckle.

They’re too cute.

Is it supposed to be this easy to be around people who are basically strangers?

Chapter Twenty

Bryant

Having Abby here seems to make the time go by so much faster. We have sandwiches for a late lunch as the weather really starts to intensify.

The dogs are going to be pissed the next time they have to go out, but it is what it is.

Law always blocks off the doggy door when it’s actively snowing or sleeting. Shadow’s goofy ass will circle the yard, trying to catch snowflakes while he bounces around like he’s on a pogo stick.

That double coat must come in handy because the cold never seems to affect him. I’ve seen him lie out in the yard in three feet of snow and straight-up ignore Law when he begged him to come inside.

Echo has even thicker fur than Shadow. I bet they’d be just fine with no heat if the power went out. That won’t fly for the humans, but at least so far, the power hasn’t flickered.

Since the fireplace is wood-burning, we can run it while it’s actively snowing. It gets dicey when there’s sleet and ice sticking to everything, but we keep an eye on things. We also have carbon monoxide detectors.

There really is nothing like cuddling up near a fireplace and listening to it crackle while the wind whips around outside.

It’s gloomy, but not dark enough for the Christmas tree to be fully appreciated. Still, it’s kinda romantic having the only light be from the fireplace and the Christmas lights.

* * *

After I stoke the fire, I chill on the couch, waiting for someone to join me.

It’s fine.

I’m sure the three of them aren’t upstairs having fun without me.