The Snuggle is Real (Christmas Falls: Season 2)

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

Mason

As I stared up at Ford, a man full of pride who’d humbled himself for a little girl, my heart fluttered.

It hadn’t been easy for him to come in here—even if it was under the guise of repaying me for the Thanksgiving meal. And it especially hadn’t been easy for him to acknowledge he might need more help.

But he had the skittish look now of a man who might back out.

“Charlie and I should be going. We’re headed to the parade. I’ll, uh, stop back some other time?”

“What a coincidence,” I said on impulse. “I’m going to the parade too. You can help me hand out blankets, and I’ll give you a rundown of our programs.”

“Uh, okay.”

I smiled brightly. “Be right back.”

Lonnie, who used to run this agency part-time over the holidays, had told me he always gave out blankets because lots of folks didn’t plan ahead.

It was a nice gesture, and it also encouraged many people to follow up with a charitable donation. Win-win.

But tonight it would be win-win-win because I could wrangle Ford.

As I expected, he had no objections to helping others despite his aversion to accepting it. When we got to the parade grounds, he carried the box full of blankets.

Charlie skipped ahead—in the thicker, pinker winter coat I’d pulled from our donations pile—and asked folks if they wanted some extra warmth.

I followed behind, handing out brochures about the agency.

Ford knew a lot of people in Christmas Falls. Arlo Harper, who ran a B&B called Gingerbread Cottage, called out a hello. His boyfriend, Emerson Maxwell, was a pretty famous author who had a couple of book signings scheduled at Season’s Readings bookstore. I’d probably swing by for one.

Mrs. Lil, owner of Yuletide Yarns, stopped him with a hand on his arm. “How’s Dottie doing?”

“Oh, good. She didn’t want to brave the cold. Said she’d seen this parade a dozen times already.”

Mrs. Lil chuckled. “It is a cold one!”

Charlie held up a blanket. “Do you need some extra warmth?”

Mrs. Lil looked absolutely charmed. “Well, aren’t you a little angel come to rescue me? I’d love another blanket, dear.”

Charlie beamed at her as she handed it over.

“You got yourself a lovely little girl, Ford. Take good care of her.”

“I’ll sure try,” Ford said.

I stepped up next to him. “You’ll more than try. Charlie’s lucky to have you.”

He snorted. “Not really, but I’m all she’s got.”

He moved on before I could argue, and I frowned after him. Ford Donnelly had a real case of insecurity. I understood it when I thought only pride stopped him from asking for help. But was it something more?

Cal Evans called out, “Ho-ho-ho! Merry Christmas!” from the staging area. The parade would roll out any minute.

Charlie ran up to him. “Santa!”

“Well, hey there! What’s this? You have a present for Santa?”

Charlie thrust out a blanket. “In case you get cold.”

He took it with a bemused expression. “Santa’s got a pretty big coat. But my elf looks chilly.” He pointed to a woman dressed in all green. “Why don’t you pass this along to her?”

“Okay, but first, can I tell you what I want for Christmas?”

“If you make it quick. Santa has to go spread some Christmas magic.”

“Okay, but it’s a secret.”

Cal bent over and she whispered something in his ear. His eyes widened slightly then softened. He nodded along.

All he said was, “It’s what’s in your heart that matters. Santa has a way of knowing these things.”

“Really?”

“Really,” he said, brushing a white-gloved hand over her hair. “You just enjoy yourself tonight.”

Cal boarded a big sleigh—a much more impressive float than the sleigh I’d used to deliver Thanksgiving meals.

With a swell of music, the lights blazed on.

The crowd cheered as the parade marshal’s car rolled out to lead the parade. Santa’s sleigh was next. Reindeer floated ahead of it, looking as if they were flying through the night. The vehicle beneath the float blended into the dark street.

Behind it, a train laden with presents and Christmas canes rolled out. Then a sparkling white Frosty with blinking fairy lights.

Ford put down the box to heft up Charlie so she could see over the heads of the other people watching. Most of them had stood from their chairs for a better view, craning their necks to watch the spectacle.

It really was a sight.

Rebecca started past me with a few friends. I touched her arm. “Hey, thanks for the pie.”

She blinked. “The pie? You mean for the Thanksgiving deliveries?”

“I mean the one you left on my porch, Secret Santa.”

She chuckled. “No idea what you mean. Maybe you’ve got a secret admirer.”

With a wink, she set off again. Huh. I’d been sure Rebecca was the one behind it. Maybe Elias or Taylor had picked one up at Ginger’s Breads for me. I must have bored five different people to tears with the story of my mom’s amazing holiday pie.

Ford nudged me. “Are you warm enough?”

I became aware I was shivering. I glanced down, but our box was empty. We’d given away all the blankets.

“Oops,” I said. “I guess I should have saved a couple. Are you all right?”

Charlie was bundled into a blanket and cozied up in Ford’s arms, so I wasn’t worried about her.

“A little chilly but not bad,” he said. “I run a little hot.”

Boy, wasn’t that the truth? The man ran a lot hot in my opinion.

“Well, let’s grab some cocoa. That’ll help.”

He nodded and we made our way toward a little stand that had been set up for the occasion.

“I can pay,” he said when we got in line, still facing the parade so we could watch the lights go by.

“Ford.” I chuckled. “Let’s put this on the Holiday Hope Foundation tab, huh? Might as well get you used to accepting gifts.”

“I’m sure your programs aren’t designed to buy me cocoa.”

“No? Well, you’d be surprised.” I impulsively blurted out, “I’m working on a new program that’s about providing the full Christmas experience.”

“What does that mean, exactly?”

I smiled. “I guess you’ll find out.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Why do you look so ornery? You’re not gonna force me to wear ugly Christmas sweaters and twinkling deer antlers, are you?”

That surprised a laugh out of me. Who knew Ford Donnelly had a sense of humor?

“I hadn’t considered it, but that’ll have to go in the idea box. What do you think, Charlie? Should Ford get some ugly Christmas sweaters and light-up antlers?”

She giggled. “He’d look silly dressed that way.”

“He would, wouldn’t he? I think we’ll do it.”

Ford muttered something unintelligible under his breath.

“Don’t be a humbug,” Charlie scolded. “It’s Christmas!”

“Sorry,” Ford said, voice rumbling quietly.

We reached the front of the line and I purchased the three hot chocolates out of my pocket. Ford wasn’t wrong. The Holiday Hope Foundation wasn’t set up to buy cocoa.

It wasn’t yet set up to help Ford and Charlie the way I wanted, either. But there was time to figure that out. Ford was much too skittish about this whole charity business for me to quibble over the details. One wrong word, and he’d bolt.

I handed them each a drink and took a sip of mine, sweet heaven coating my tongue.

Ford set Charlie down so they could more easily manage their cocoa.

“So how will this all work then?” he asked warily. “Do I give you a list of things we need, and you do what you can? Or do you just have a general package and I take what I get? Not that I mind,” he said quickly. “Anything is appreciated. Just, Charlie already has her heart set on some things. But that’s not your problem.”

“Well—”

Ford raced on, talking over me. “You know, this is a bad idea. I can just get some more work. I don’t know when or where yet, but something will come along. And if not?—”

“Please stop,” I said firmly. “Take a breath.”

Ford looked around wildly, as if he wanted to escape. But he couldn’t run from his situation. He couldn’t hide from what Charlie needed.

“This is for Charlie,” I reminded him quietly.

He took a breath and nodded.

“And really, you’d be doing me a favor,” I said, a spark of inspiration firing in my mind.

“What do you mean?”

“I want to start a new program, and you’ll provide the perfect trial run.”

“So we’d be the guinea pigs?” he asked.

“Yep, exactly! You’d help me test out whether this program could work for other people. So when you think about it, you’d be helping a lot of families who might need it in the future.”

Ford gave me a skeptical look. “Do I look like a five-year-old?”

I swept my gaze over his tall, broad frame. “Definitely not.”

“Or like I’m lacking brain cells.”

“I—”

“No, don’t answer that. Your offer is a little too good to be true, but I can’t really afford to say no, even if you are placating me.”

“So you’ll do it?” I asked hopefully.

He met my gaze and let out a sigh. “You’re worse than Charlie, you know that?”

“I am?” I cast a glance her way. “But she’s adorable.”

“Yeah, she is.”

I cocked my head. “Are you…calling me adorable? I’m not sure how to take that.”

He laughed suddenly. “No. You’re just damn difficult to refuse.”

I grinned. “Ah, that is true. I’m glad you’ve realized now. It’ll save us a lot of arguing when it’s time to wear those ugly Christmas sweaters.”

“I’m never gonna live that down,” he grumbled, but he smiled as he rested one large hand on Charlie’s shoulder and turned his gaze back to the parade.

“This really is a beautiful display,” he murmured. “I’d forgotten.”

“Why is that?”

His smile faltered. “I haven’t been in four years. Never had a good reason to come back after…” He trailed off. “Well, Charlie needed this, so here we are.”

“See?” I said. “You’re giving her your best already.”

“Guess I’m a softie,” he admitted.

Just what I needed: a hunky, strong sweetheart of a man doting on a little girl—and hitting me in all the swoony feels—when he was straight and one hundred percent out of reach.

And I’d just signed up for spending more time with him, because I was a glutton for punishment.

But hey, at least, I’d get to enjoy a truly impressive sight this holiday season. Because Ford made me want to say, Put me on the naughty list, Santa, something fierce.