Page 14 of Savoring Christmas
He smiled to himself as he typed.A very grumpy cat named Matilda. She’s currently giving me the stink eye from the bed. I’ve had her since law school. She showed up on my doorstep one day and I haven’t been able to shake her since.
Mia again.Matilda’s a great name. What does she look like?
He got up to snap a photo of Matilda lounging like a queen on her throne. She opened her eyes, as if she knew her photo was about to be taken, surveying the world from gold eyes with an expression that suggested both quiet judgment and complete confidence in her own superiority. Her broad, whiskered face carried an expression that could only be described as smug satisfaction, like she was quietly certain he existed only for her amusement.
She really did have the cutest face, even though he suspected she was secretly plotting his demise.
Logan:Here she is.
Mia:Aww. Very cute. Here’s Cannoli.
He pulled up the photo, zooming in to get a good look. She was a bundle of fluff. A coat like swirled espresso and cream, with black curls swirled in caramel and snowy white. A perfect patch of white crowned her forehead, like a dab of whipped cream. A tiny black nose and soft, floppy ears framed her face. Unlike Matilda, Cannoli stared at the camera with pure love in those big, round eyes.
Logan:That dog cannot be real. Nothing can be that cute.
Mia:Cannoli says thank you. She agrees.
Logan:Thanks again for tonight. Can’t wait for Thursday.
Mia:I look forward to it as well.
He hesitated for a moment before sending one more text.
Logan:Hey, one more thing. About Patty and the kids. Would you be willing to come out to my mom’s place tomorrow morning? We can talk through some ideas.
Mia:Are you sure she won’t mind?
Logan:My mom will be thrilled. Trust me. She loves any excuse to feed people.
Mia:Okay then. What time?
Logan:Nine?
Mia:Don’t you have to work?
Logan:I can go in late tomorrow. Since I work for myself and all.
He felt the urge to keep texting but didn’t want her to get the wrong impression. Which was what exactly? Never mind. He’d think about that later.
Logan:I’ll see you in the morning.
Mia:Sounds good.
Logan:Good night.
Mia:Night. XO
Hugs and kisses? Did she mean that just for him?Of course not. Don’t be an idiot.She probably always signed off that way.
But, darn, he really wanted to kiss her for real. He tossed his phone onto the bed, nearly hitting Matilda, who opened one eye and hissed at him.
“You’re fine,” Logan said to her. “Honestly, you should treat me better.”
Matilda answered by swiveling around to present him with her tail before giving his phone a sharp swat with her paw, sending it skidding dangerously close to the edge of the bed.
Logan dove for it, catching it just in time. “You’re a menace.”
Matilda closed her eyes like a queen satisfied with her work.
