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“I didn’t buy any Christmas lights, though.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ve got you covered.”
Just seeing him lean to the side, barely hanging on the ladder, made her lower back clench and her head swim. “Clark, you really don’t have to do this. I’m fine with the projector.”
“You can still use your projector, but there’s no reason you can’t have both.”
“I don’t want you to break your neck!” she cried.
Clark looked down from the clip he was hanging with a frown. “What?”
She swallowed. “I don’t like heights, and seeing you up there…I’m worried you’re going to fall.”
Clark studied her for several moments before he climbed down, but instead of putting the ladder away, he picked it up and moved it farther down. When he closed the distance, he chucked her under the chin. “If it makes you feel better, you can hold the ladder for me.”
“I’ll hold the ladder, Dad!” Jace raced over, grabbing the bottom of the ladder with both hands, the puppy flopping down between his legs.
“Thanks, buddy.” Clark turned back to Merry with a reassuring smile. “I promise I’m like a squirrel on a tree. Sure-footed. I’ll be done before you call us inside, and if it really bothers you, don’t look.”
Merry huffed and marched back inside, shutting the door behind her. Stubborn man.
Except she couldn’t really be mad at Clark. She loved Christmas lights and the only reason she hadn’t bothered with them was because she didn’t want her father to get on a ladder to help her and she knew that her knees wouldn’t have made it past the third step.
Besides, she’d had no idea a tool belt and a pair of jeans could be so freaking sexy.
She finished frying the taco shells and set everything out on the counter like a taco bar. After carrying the bags of décor and presents up to her loft, she went about setting up the pet cage she’d bought for the puppy. She curled a fleece blanket in the back, with her food and water in the front. Under the cage, she’d lined the floor with newspaper in case she spilled her water.
Merry opened the door but Clark was nowhere to be seen. Spotting Jace and the puppy playing tug of war, she called, “Tacos are ready.”
Jace hopped to his feet and hollered, “Dad! Food!”
“I’ll be right there. Only a couple more.”
Merry took the puppy’s leash when she reached the bottom of the porch steps and started to lead her inside, but the dog dug her heels in.
“What are you doing, babes? Come on.”
The puppy stared at the front door like it was the opening to hell and Merry frowned.
“Maybe she’s never been inside before,” Jace said.
“You could be right. You go on in. I’ll carry her inside.”
Merry lifted the puppy into her arms like a baby and kissed the side of her snout with a smack. “I promise, you’re going to like it in here with me.”
She carried her past the kitchen to the space across from the stairs where she’d set up the cage. When the puppy thrashed at the entrance, Merry reached in and removed her food and water, spotting trouble.
“Can I start?” Jace asked.
“Sure, sweetie. There is a set of stools on the other side of the counter you can use when you’re done.”
Once she got the puppy reluctantly situated, she went to the sink and washed her hands and went back outside to get Clark. Merry opened the door and Clark leaned back when she barreled into him. He stepped back, keeping them both from tumbling down, and the position put them eye level with each other.
“Oh crap, I’m sorry!” She scrambled back onto the top step, her cheeks warm. “I was coming to get you and didn’t expect you to be standing right there.”
“It’s all right. I told you I was sure-footed.”
“Funny. I seem to remember someone falling on his back when he slipped on some ice.”
