Page 13 of A Little Christmas Jericho
Murphy sneezed in response and I looked down at my shirt, realising I'd have to take a minute to put on a clean shirt.
I laughed, lightness chasing away the last bitter sting of Oscar's text.
I got up as I peeled off the now fur and snot-marked shirt and groaned. "Really, Murph? You couldn't just wish me luck like a normal dog?"
His tongue lolled out of the side of his mouth as he gave me his wonkiest, most adorable doggy grin.
"Good thing you're cute," I muttered at him as I gave him another scratch. Soon I was tugging on a fresh button-down and trying not to notice that I'd now put on the one I'd opted to discard because it was just a bittooLittle with the faint pattern of bunnies on it.
Well, I was already running late. It would have to do.
And Colter already knew what I was, and was apparently okay with it.
I returned to the couch to bid the brood goodbye before checking their bowls one last time.
"Alright, team," I said, waving with exaggerated drama and adjusting my fedora like it was a crown. "Hold the fort while I'm gone. No raging house parties, keep your feet off the coffee table if you're not a feline and don't eat the damn toilet paper again, Murph."
With a last fond look at my babies, I grabbed my keys, pocket buzzing again with some notification I wasn't about to check and headed for the door. My heart was pounding, nerves fizzing, but beneath it all was something bright and reckless... and hopeful.
Doctor Daddy was waiting.
Chapter 8
The community center was already buzzing when I pulled into the parking lot. Strings of fairy lights twinkled across the windows, and the faint sound of laughter and Christmas music spilled out into the chilly evening air. I sat there for a moment, gripping the steering wheel, watching happy, laughing people move toward the inviting, open doors. In the meantime my stomach was a tight knot of nerves all wrapped up in a neat little Christmas bow.
"It's fine," I told myself. "Normal people go to Christmas fundraisers all the time. With their vet. Who they accidentally called Daddy. No big deal."
The second I stepped inside, warmth hit me. Next was the scent of cinnamon and mixed spice mingling with the smell of freshly baked gingerbread.
My breath caught as I took in the big space. The decorations were gorgeous. Garlands twined along banisters, a massive Christmas tree sparkled in the corner, and small tables displayed silent auction prizes. Whoever had done the decoration had gone above and beyond.
My mind was soon distracted from thoughts of tinsel and trees when I caught sight of Colter.
Gone were the scrubs and soft t-shirt.
And oh my... what an improvement (not that there was any improvement needed, mind). Doctor Daddy was dressed in dark slacks, a deep green button-down that brought out the flecks of hazel in his eyes and a dark grey vest that did criminal things for his shoulders. The top buttons of the shirt was undone, no tie, and his sleeves were rolled up just enough to show strong forearms dusted with a sprinkling of hair.
Fuck my life.
My poor neglected cock perked up at the sight of the delicious Doctor Daddy. I was inso muchtrouble.
"Jericho," he said, voice soft and filled with warmth. "You clean up nice."
"Thanks," I managed, though my voice came out a little too high. I wished fervently that my face wasn't as red as it felt. "You look..." My brain short-circuited for a second, taking in his sexy smile, the laugh lines around his eyes, and that confident swagger. "Like you belong on a Christmas card."
He chuckled, the sound enough to make my knees wobble and the butterflies in my tummy go insane. "Careful, boy. You keep saying things like that and I'll start hoping this is a real date, and not just a pity plus one situation."
"It's not a real date?" I shot back before I could stop myself.
Colter's eyes sparkled. "With you looking as good as you do, it has to be, or I might lose my mind if anyone else flirts with you."
Heat flooded my cheeks as he offered his arm with old-school charm.
"Come on, let me introduce you around before I get in trouble for not mingling like I'm supposed to."
He guided me through the crowd, hand resting low on my back. His presence was steadying instead of the cloyingpossessiveness of Oscar that I was used to. With the soft touch of his fingers, he had my pulse racing and my breath catching, and it caused more than a slight stirring in my pants.
It didn't help that every few feet, someone stopped him to say hello, and he'd introduce me as his date. To donors, and volunteers and even some of the staff that I recognised from the clinic!
