Page 48 of Mistletoe Mischief

“Isn’t she adorable?” his mom asked, pushing past him into the house. “We have all her supplies in the back of the car, but we can get them later.”

Pike shot his father a desperate look, but the man only chuckled. Traitor.

“Don’t look at me,” his dad said. “This was all your sister and your mother.”

Pike turned to face his mother, who was removing her coat. “Why did you get me a dog?”

“It was your sister’s idea, but I agreed. She’ll be a good companion for you.”

“I don’t need a companion.”

“Nonsense. You live alone,” his mother said, settling onto his couch.

“I like living alone.”

“Plus, she can go on all of your excursions with you, which will help you get a girlfriend. Women are goners for men who love animals.”

“I don’t love animals, especially pint-sized ones. And how am I going to take this thing to work with me? Strap her to the back of the snowmobile?”

His dad closed the front door and offered, “They make those little dog car seats.”

“Don’t help, Dad,” Pike snapped.

“Do not talk to your father that way,” his mother clapped back.

Pike took a deep breath. “I am sorry, but I’m not putting a dog car seat—” Pike stopped himself. “Do you know what? Never mind. I am not going to argue about this.” He walked over to his mom and set the dog in her lap. “Thank you for thinking of me, but please take that thing back to wherever you got it.”

“Your sister got it from a breeder in Arizona, so I cannot take it back.” His mom handed the dog to his father, who passed it back to Pike.

“Then you keep it,” Pike said, heading back for her, but she held up her hands.

“No, I will not keep it. This is your dog.”

Pike looked to his dad for help, but the other man just shrugged. “Women, what are you gonna do, huh?”

Pike looked down at the fluffy puppy, who stared back at him with big brown eyes. The little puffball was cute, but this wasn’t something he’d been looking for.

“I don’t even think I can have a dog here.”

“Well, maybe that’ll be the incentive you need to move out of this bachelor pad,” his mother said. When her husband sat down next to her, his parents faced him like a united front, although Tracy did all the talking. “Really, Pike, don’t you think it’s about time you bought a house and started planning for the future?”

“Why do I need to buy a house when it is just me?” he asked, bringing the pup against his chest when his arms got tired. The tiny beast snuggled against him, sticking its wet nose in the crook of his neck.

“Now it isn’t just you,” she said, pointing to the dog. “And eventually, you’re going to get married.”

“Considering how my last few relationships worked out, the odds are not really in my favor,” he said.

“You never know what the future will bring.”

This time, Dale acknowledged Pike’s silent plea for assistance and interjected, “Honey, do we have to dive right in to this the minute we see our son?”

“Yeah, Mom, do we?” Pike said snarkily.

His father shot him a glare, and he shut his mouth.

“I’m sorry,” Tracy said, sighing. “It’s just with your sister getting married—”

Pike cut her off. “She’s engaged? Since when?”