“Thanks for helping us out, Blue.”Rory kissed Lacy as the guys headed outside.“We have some business to take care of.”
She smiled.
Then Blue came out of Rory’s bedroom as a bear, and Rory opened the front door for him so he could leave.“See you later.Good luck with your girlfriend.”
Blue grunted, licked his hand, and then he went out the door, and Rory closed it.Rory lifted Lacy in his arms and headed for the bedroom with her.
She was ready.
9
Florence couldn’t wait to attend the Christmas dance with Frank.She’d always enjoyed going to them and dancing with anyone who wanted to dance with her, but she was really excited to do it with her mate, making everything so much more special.
She and Ava were finishing up the last of the orders at the coffee shop.They just had a couple of humans eating in there.The cougar customers had gone home to dress for the Christmas dance.Nina was watching over her sister and Florence still, just in case Timothy showed up there.
“I keep feeling he’s close,” Ava said, as they cleaned up the kitchen.
“Yeah, me too,” Nina said.
“Timothy?”Florence asked.
“Yeah,” the sisters both said.
“So he has returned to Yuma Town?”Florence asked as the last couple thanked them and left the shop.Florence wished them a merry Christmas.
“Maybe.Or he plans to,” Ava said.
Florence turned off the Christmas music.She left some of the shop lights and the outdoor lights on.Then the ladies left the shop, locking the door.She headed home, with Nina following behind her to make sure Florence arrived safely, while Ava headed to her own place.
Once they reached Florence’s house, Frank greeted her, hugging and kissing her.
Florence hugged and kissed him back.Nina waved goodbye and left to go home to get ready for the dance.
Florence loved this part of coming home now.A warm fire was going on in the fireplace, Christmas music was playing, the Christmas lights were all on, and Frank was dressed to party.
“You look handsome.”
“Thanks.I’m ready for the dance.”
“Me too.I’ll go up and change clothes.”She was soon dressed in a red wool dress, boots, and grabbed her faux white fur coat.
He smiled when he saw her.“You are beautiful and very sexy.Just perfect.”
She smiled and felt like she was ready to walk on the red carpet with the man of her dreams.Even though they had disagreed about cases that they had worked on together, they had both had great ideas, and they’d solved their cases.But as a mate, he was perfect.
They drove over to the community center, where it was decorated with Christmas lights, a Christmas tree, garland, and red bows.Travis waved goodbye to them and then met up with his mate, who had brought him a change of clothes so he could enjoy the dance with her.
While they were there, they didn’t need to have anyone watching out for them, which Florence was grateful for.She looked around but didn’t see Lacy or Rory there yet.
They got some punch and a slice of angel food cake each.The cake was covered in chocolate and miniature sugar candy canes, making it spongy and crunchy, chocolate and peppermint all at the same time.Once they finished eating and drinking, they began dancing again.
Frank held her close during the waltzes, and she felt so connected with him.She was so in tune with him that she didn’t even see when Rory and Lacy had arrived.
But then Rory and Lacy bumped into them in playful fun on the dance floor.They switched partners so that Rory could dance with Florence and Lacy could dance with her granddad.
Florence told Rory, “I mated Lacy’s granddad.”She knew that Frank would tell Lacy.
What she hadn’t expected was for Rory to say, “That’s great.Lacy and I have also mated.”
