Page 56 of Hot Under the Collar

She reached up to adjust the mistletoe hanging at the edge of the bar when a hand caught her wrist and tugged her into the kitchen. Leo pulled her to his chest and murmured, “If you keep walking under that mistletoe, I’m going to have to clear this bar and lock the doors.”

His nose was tipped in flour from the cookies he’d been baking all afternoon, filling the air with the smell of gingerbread. Their lips met, and she could almost taste the bites of sugar he’d been stealing. Taste-testing, he called it. And he had to taste-test every batch.

His hands tucked under her apron and ran along the band of her jeans, the warmth of his touch spiking her temperature. She ran her fingers through his hair.

“After we’ve matched every last furball with a home, you’re mine again. All night.”

Lynne smirked. “But you already made Santa’s naughty list with what you did to me this morning.”

Leo traced his lips from her collarbone to her jaw. “Mmmm. Worth it.”

“Lynne!” Minka shouted from the bar room. “Are we getting hot toddies with this cuteness or what?”

“Coming!” she shouted back. She gave Leo a peck on the cheek. “Just hold that thought a couple more hours.”

“I’ll try. But no promises. Go be queen of cats. I’ll have the cookies out in a minute.”

He squeezed her ass, and she headed back to her friends.

They rearranged all the tables and chairs so they could divide the bar floor into play spaces for prospective pet parents. Families wandered in, and Lynne showed them where they could hang their coats. Some kids got distracted by the kittens, others distracted by Leo’s hot cocoa and cookies stand in the corner.

The bell chimed above the door, and Mike took off his beanie and waved at Leo.

“You made it,” Leo shouted. “Come to pick out your future overlord.”

Mike’s longer-than-usual sandy-blond hair fell into his eyes as Leo walked over for a hug. Lynne could feel a lightness around Mike that she hadn’t felt since he got back in town. Leo said Mike had talked to Ethan about his work van one day then got the idea to become the town’s courier. Autumn Ridge didn’t have one. And it’s not like the big box stores made any promises on deliveries out here. Whether it was a secure, same-day delivery or a long-haul pick-up or drop-off out to Eastmoor once or twice a week, Autumn Ridge needed someone reliable. Someone they could trust. Mike wanted to be that someone. He’d already pitched smaller-batch deliveries from the nearest beer distributor and personalized cider service from Candlewick Orchard to Lynne. So she became the first to sign his courier agreement. All he really needed now were some business cards, bonding, and insurance.

They were proud of Mike. And now she could see Mike was starting to be proud of himself, too. The glimmer was back in those hazel eyes as he marched over and gave her a warm hug.

“I’m probably headed for trouble in asking this,” he confessed. “But show me Twig.”

She walked him over to the runt and made sure they were both comfy in one of the play spaces on a blanket. For the next half hour, Leo refilled her cocoa cup. She straightened his hair. He kissed her temple. No one was surprised anymore, but she overheard Cali telling Leo, “See? I told you it would happen eventually.”

Then Tabitha came over after closing her grooming shop for the day, her hair in vertical stripes of red and silvery white, parted and braided to look like candy canes.

Mike noticed her immediately and stood, Twig already asleep in his hands. “It’s you,” he said.

Tabitha turned to find Mike and the sleeping kitten. “Mike, was it? I see you’ve also come for an emotional support animal.” She reached out a hand and gave Twig some scratches on his furry head.

“I’m just looking,” he said.

“Uh-huh,” Tabitha teased. “Tell me that again when you’re signing the papers for this one.”

A little later, they both found themselves waiting near the bar to grab some festive drinks. Or rather, Lynne noticed Mike watched Tabitha come to the bar and swooped in right after her. Leo nudged Lynne, and when she glanced up at the ceiling, she spotted where Mike and Tabitha were standing.

“You think we should tell them?” Leo asked.

Lynne winked.

“Hey, you two,” she called over to them and pointed up. “It’s tradition. Can’t break tradition.”

Mike started to scoff. “Lynne, you know I don’t really buy into that shi—”

But Tabitha cut him off by grabbing his face and planting a big kiss on his cheek. Leo’s jaw dropped, and Mike stood there a bit dazed.

“Good thing I do,” Tabitha said. She turned back to Lynne. “I’ll take a spiked cocoa.”

Lynne slid a warm mug to Tabitha before Tabitha breezed off, adoption packet in hand.