Page 25 of One More Yule Log

“Good girl.” Ben waved to said Mrs. Harris, the angel of schools who put this thing on.

“Happy holidays, guys!”

“Thank you! Night!” They all waved to everyone, and Ben kinda hustled everyone out the door. They still had some cake at home, but he knew now that they’d promised her choice of flavor, she would accept no substitutes. She’d earned that much.

“Should we follow you, Gray?” He wanted to bring Gray home, but…that wasn’t a deal.

“That would be fine.” Gray took his elbow, then leaned in to kiss his cheek. “See you guys at the shop.”

“We’ll be right behind you. Thanks for this.”

“Not a problem at all.” Gray led the way, and Ben had to admit, he watched that fine butt go.

All the way to the car.

* * *

Gray smoothedhis hands down the front of his jeans, knowing he was awfully dressed up to still be at work on a Saturday, but there was the shopping thing and then he and Ben had a date…

“You look great, boss. Chill.”

Chill? Seriously? He was the anti-chill right now.

“Alice. How long has it been since I had a date?” He was not clammy, but he was all nerves. God, he was just gonna explode.

“Too long. But he seems like a good guy. Like seriously, a good guy with a cool kid.”

“He does.” He grinned. “We still have an hour to get through, though. Are you ready?”

“I’ve got this, boss. Seriously. You go and have a ball.”

“Well, they’re coming here. When they’re passing by.” He breathed deep when the bell rang, but it was Sally Meade and her two kids. Caramel-chunk cookie, vanilla cupcake, and mini Swiss roll.

The next two bell rings were more customers, but the third one was a pretty little girl in pigtails and her hot-as-hell, dressed-in-gray father.

“Well, hey.” He beamed at both of them. “Have you had enough hot chocolate?”

“Daddy said we could come get you and walk around a little.”

“I was hoping it wasn’t too early…” Ben smiled, so charming.

“Alice has been trying to kick me out for half an hour.” He winked.

“Alice!” Liv gave his assistant a hug.

“Hey, kiddo. Are you having fun?”

“I am! The magician brought me onstage to do a trick!”

“Oh, wow.” Alice winked at him and Ben over Liv’s head. “He must have known you were a star.”

“He so did. Daddy, tell them.”

Ben nodded very seriously. “She was perfect—so calm, so pretty.”

“That’s awesome,” Gray said. “I bet you’re a natural. I know you were at the concert.”

“Daddy videoed it. You can watch it later. Now it’s time to go see things!”