Page 17 of One More Yule Log

“Oh, cool. I wasn’t sure if it was too late for sugar.”

Ben snorted. “She’ll work it off singing in front of the mirror.”

God, every child deserved a parent who loved them like Ben did. Gray watched Ben go get Liv, grinning when they all went to the kitchen in order to cut the cake.

“This is not your Yule log, okay, Daddy?”

“I understand.”

“It’s just practice,” Gray agreed.

“It’s not the solstice.” Ben’s eyes danced in his very serious face.

“Nope. That’s when the sun comes back, isn’t it?”

“It is. We call it back for the new year.” Ben kinda eyed him, but he was a happy universalist kinda guy. He got it.

“I love holidays!” Liv took her plate and headed for the table. “Can I read, Daddy?”

“Sure, baby. Are you saying we’re boring?”

“You’re adults.” She sniffed as if that was that. He had a feeling she loved her books.

“Would you like coffee with your cake?”

“That would be great.” For the drive. It would keep him from asking to crash on the couch.

“Leaded or unleaded?”

“Caffeine, please. Do you have trouble sleeping?” Decaf was… well, he judged, he guessed.

“Nope. I was just being polite. I dohavedecaf, in theory. Dale drank it.”

“Ah.” He laughed, delighted. “Well, I’ll take regular.”

“Do you take cream? Sugar?”

“Some cream, please. Did you need help?”

“Sure. Choose your poison, I mean, K-Cup.”

“Oh, yay!” He loved those silly single-serve coffees. Maybe not quite as good as an espresso machine, but he could choose… Irish cream.

“Can you pick me a hazelnut, please?” Ben pulled out two mugs.

“You got it.” Hazelnut. He would make a fragilité for next week.

“Thank you. It’s not your white chocolate mocha, but…”

“I like all kinds of coffee. Except Folgers or Maxwell House. My parents…” Gray shuddered.

“Ah.” Ben leaned close, like he was sharing a secret. “My momma runs a coffee shop outside of Austin.”

“No kidding? That’s awesome. No wonder you’re a coffee person.”

“I so am. I have Kona in my veins.”

“Don’t make me lick you.” Whoops. Had he said that out loud?