I glance at Cullen. The corner of his mouth quirks up. He said to me last night that just the thought of setting up PAWS has already helped him, and it’s only going to get better.
Noah has cleared the furniture on the far side of the room and opened the sliding doors to the deck, and lots of the girls here are currently over there, enjoying themselves thoroughly as they dance to some of the old Christmas songs. Now, though, Wham’sLast Christmascomes on the playlist, and immediately most of them turn and come hunting for their partners for a slow dance.
“Come on.” Cullen takes my hand, leads me toward the space, and turns me into his arms. “I’ll take every chance I can to get my hands on you,” he murmurs, nuzzling my ear and placing a kiss on my neck.
I shiver and sigh, lifting my arms around his neck. “Mmm. Have I told you today how much I adore you, Cullen Reeve?”
He moves back and gives me an amused look. “How many cocktails have you had?”
“Only a few,” I protest.
He chuckles. “I think you should have a few more if you’re going to go all soft and gooey on me.”
“I don’t need cocktails to go all soft and gooey on you. You make me feel as if I have warm caramel inside.”
“Aw.” He kisses my forehead. “That’s a nice thing to say.” He pulls me close and starts humming in my ear as we turn slowly to the music.
Around us, other couples are doing the same. It warms me through to see so many happy people here. All the Three Wise Men are dancing with their wives. So are Hal and Izzy, Albie andRemy, Leon and Nix, Summer and her husband, Zach, Noah and Abby…
As we turn, my gaze falls on Archer, standing alone by the breakfast bar. He’s sipping from a whisky glass, looking at the dancers. I follow his gaze and realize he’s watching Beth. She’s dancing with Jude, but they’re a little apart from the others, over by the window, and it’s easy to see from their stony expressions and stiff postures that they’ve obviously had an argument.
I frown, remembering what she said about Jude. They’ve been together a while now, and in one of our phone calls she mentioned getting married and having kids, so she’s obviously serious about him. But it concerns me that she doesn’t look happy.
As I watch, her gaze slides across the room to Archer. She doesn’t wink or wave, but she’s obviously looking at him. I glance back at him. He sips his whisky, but I watch him hold her gaze for about ten seconds until she finally looks away. He finishes off his drink and goes over to the bar to order another one. It’s obvious that he likes her, and I think she likes him too. Hmm. I wonder what the New Year will bring for them?
“Look at that dog,” Cullen says to me, and I follow his gaze to see Miss Daisy sitting to one side of the dance area, looking up adoringly at where Hal is dancing with Izzy. “She adores you,” he calls out to Hal, gesturing at the collie.
Hal glances at her and chuckles, and Izzy grins. “She’s like that twenty-four-seven,” she replies. “Has been since the day he rescued her.”
He shrugs. “Women can’t resist me, what can I say?”
Izzy snorts, and we laugh.
“I think your position as Chief Dog Whisperer might be under threat now,” Noah says to Hal, where he’s dancing with his wife beside us. We follow his gaze outside to see a happyMax surrounded by about eight dogs who are all trying to get his attention.
“Hey, I hear congratulations are in order.” It’s Stefan’s voice—he’s dancing nearby with his wife, Jules. He appears to be talking to Noah and Abby.
Abby blushes. “Yes,” she admits, and looks at her husband. “You can’t keep a secret to save your life, can you?”
“Nope.” He smiles unashamedly.
“I’m eleven weeks pregnant,” she reveals.
We all cheer and stop for hugs and kisses. Noah adopted Ethan, and he loves him as if he’s his own son. But I know everyone’s going to be thrilled that he and Abby are having their own baby.
As we start dancing again, I reach out and touch Stefan’s arm to get his attention. “I just wanted to say thank you for talking to Noah about me,” I tell him. “I do appreciate it, and I’m so excited to be working at PAWS.”
“I was frustrated at not being able to offer you a job,” he states. “These guys are lucky to get you.”
“Thank you.” I’m incredibly touched by the compliment.
“You seem so surprised,” Cullen says as we move to the music.
“I didn’t think I was anything special,” I admit.
“You couldn’t have been more wrong,” he says softly. “With that in mind… I wanted to put something to you.”
“Oh?”
