Chapter 21

CHAPTER 21

Mason

I checked my appearance in the mirror, smoothing down the front of my sweater with a flicker of sadness. When Nick had called to tell me that my date would be at the Ugly Christmas Sweater Party, I’d nearly called off the whole thing.

I’d teased Ford so many times about getting him into an ugly Christmas sweater that meeting someone else there didn’t seem right. But wasn’t that why I’d gone down this matchmaking road to begin with? To get over Ford?

Watching him transform my house from DIY nightmare to gorgeous fixer-upper wasn’t doing a lot to achieve that. Nor was coming home to a glowing house full of life instead of a dark, empty shell.

All week, Peppermint Bark had greeted me at the door, all excited yaps, and right behind him was a beaming Charlie, ready to tell me about every cute thing my pup did for the day. She’d tell me all the town gossip that Grandma Dottie shared with her too. Ford watched with an indulgent smile, eventually intervening to set me free and give me an update on the progress at the house.

He’d loosened up a lot, so the matchmaking had served its purpose there.

Midway through the week, the awkward tension dissipated. He started smiling at me again. Teasing me about my upcoming mystery date. He’d even stayed for dinner the last couple of nights when he worked late to get the floors fully refinished.

My family would descend in two days, and Ford went the extra mile to make sure I was ready. I never would have gotten there without his help.

But tonight was about moving on from Ford.

I grabbed my wallet and keys and headed outside. This time of year, the air was sharp enough to bite. I ducked my chin down, snuggling into my scarf, and dashed to my car, cranking the engine and begging the heater to warm up.

Of course, I was already parking in front of The White Elephant by the time the heat kicked in. Ah well.

I parked and went inside, scanning the pub for a glimpse of my date. I’d been given his name and a rough description: six feet tall, sandy hair, clean-shaven. But it was difficult to focus on faces with so many hideous sweaters on display.

There were deformed-looking reindeer with bulging eyes, naughty-looking elves, and snowballs in very inappropriate places. I caught sight of Martha, a volunteer from the museum, in a very naughty sweater with Mrs. Claus whipping a ‘bad’ Santa. Wow. Wouldn’t have seen that one coming.

Hank Beaufort was also in the crowd—wearing a jersey-style sweater that featured a Santa with a hockey stick on the front and a number on the back. He was with a guy, so it looked like my Thanksgiving Single Mingle buddy was no longer flying solo. Good for him.

The manager, Elaine, was working the hostess stand. She offered to sit me at a table for two with the promise she’d send Todd along when he showed up. If he showed up. My stomach flip-flopped, and I wasn’t sure if I’d prefer he arrive late or not at all.

I followed Elaine past booths lining the walls to a table near the back. Sliding doors led to a private nook called The Snug, and those doors were open tonight. I could see a few people holding up gaudy decorations, as well as a couple posing for photos with Christmasy props.

Elaine noticed where I was looking.

“There’s extra materials in The Snug if you need to ugly up your sweater tonight,” she said. “Later, we’ll judge them all and award a prize for the best one. At least, for those who made their own. No prizes for shopping at Target.”

I chuckled, opening my coat to reveal my burgundy sweater with garland and twinkling lights affixed to the front.

“I’m not taking home any awards, but I’m good.”

The sweater was boring compared to most of this crowd, but I hadn’t wanted to get too weird on a first date. I didn’t even know if Todd had a sense of humor, though I had listed it as a desirable quality.

I wanted someone who could handle some good-natured teasing, as Ford had when I’d brought up getting him into a Christmas sweater. Someone who could dish it out too, as Ford had when he teased me about my mystery date.

“What if he’s shorter than you?” Ford had asked the day before. “Who will get the items from the top shelf of the pantry?”

“I can reach the top shelf!” I’d protested with a laugh. Though, to be fair, I had to go up on my tiptoes. But that was because it was an exceptionally tall pantry!

“What if he’s a total Scrooge who never donates to charity?”

“I’ll convert him,” I said confidently. “You didn’t like the idea of charity, and I won you over.”

“Only taking charity. I’m happy to give it.”

“I know,” I said, heart melting a little. “That’s one of the things that I—” I stopped short, biting my lip.

“That you what?” he prompted, eyes boring into me.

I shook my head, unable to voice my thought. I couldn’t tell Ford that it was one of the things I loved about him. That would only send him running and rightfully so.

Ford let me dodge the question.

“What if he’s allergic to dogs?” he asked, going back to our little game.

I glanced toward Peppermint Bark, my temporary companion for the holidays. My foster dog who waited for me at the door every day, who greeted me with the biggest doggy smile, happy yips, and licks to the hand.

Shoot. Elias had been right all along. I couldn’t give him up.

“Then he’s toast. I’ll have to dump him and try again.”

Ford had laughed then, a deep rumbling sound that warmed my core. “Good answer. Pepper is your family, and whoever you end up with has to love him like their own.”

Would Todd like dogs? Would he like me? I didn’t kid myself into thinking this would be a love match. I was too hung up on Ford.

This date was a necessary step toward reality and away from the dream that sleigh ride had put in my head.

Away from Ford.

Who was…walking toward me right now.

Wearing a gloriously ugly Christmas sweater with a cut-out felt shape that looked kind of like a dog with big googly eyes and antlers strung with blinking lights.

He pulled out the chair and sat down across from me.

“What are you doing? I’m waiting for my date.”

“He’s not coming.”

“What?” I pulled out my phone to check for messages. “How do you know that?”

“Because I’m your date tonight.”

What?

My phone beeped in my hand with a message from Nick.

Change of plans. I hope you’ll forgive me if I got it wrong, but I’m pretty sure Ford is the right match for you. Enjoy your date!

“I hope it’s okay that I’m here instead of Todd,” Ford said, sounding a little nervous.

I set my phone down and met his gaze. “That depends on why you’re here.”

Ford licked his lips. “Uh, well, I realized…” He cleared his throat. “I’m tall.”

“You realized you’re tall?”

“I’m taller than you.”

I leaned back in my seat, frowning. “Okay?”

“This is coming out wrong. What I’m saying is I’ll get the items off the top shelf of the pantry for you, and I’ll help you paint rooms and finish floors—not for a paycheck, for you— and I’ll donate to charity every year, volunteer to help others and support you as you do the same, and I will love Peppermint Bark as much as you do. If you give me a chance, I’ll do all of those things. I’ll be the guy for you.”

“But what about…” I leaned forward and whispered, “Charlie’s mom?”

He blinked. “What about her?”

“Aren’t you trying to reconcile? Charlie said something about you asking her to stay with you when she got out of rehab.”

Ford started shaking his head before I’d even finished. “Not like that. Only over the holidays. She wants to take Charlie and run, and I really don’t want that to happen, especially on Christmas. I love that girl. I need to know she’s going to a safe, stable home.”

“Of course you do,” I said soothingly. “I misunderstood. I thought?—”

I was saved from explaining my foolish, jealous thought process by the server appearing at our table. “Good evening. I’m Indrani. What can I get you to drink tonight?”

“Whatever’s on special,” I said without looking away from Ford. It was probably rude, but my head was still spinning over tonight’s turn of events. “It’s a night for surprises.”

Ford’s lips quirked. “Same for me.”

“Very good,” she said. “I’ll be back shortly.”

She melted into the crowd, seeming to understand we weren’t up for chitchat. I wet my lips, suddenly nervous. “So you’re not getting back with LuAnne.”

“I am not.”

“But…” I swallowed hard. “I’m still a man.”

His eyes twinkled. “I noticed that.”

“You’re not turned off by it?”

“No.” He hesitated. “There’s really something I should have been doing every day since that sleigh ride with you.”

“What’s that?”

Ford leaned across the table and cupped my face. My breath caught. Surely, he wasn’t going to?—

His lips crashed into mine. This wasn’t a soft, tentative kiss like in the sleigh. This was a man who wanted to kiss the hell out of me. He came in hard and hot, his beard a soft contrast to his demanding mouth.

I gasped, and he swept his tongue in to slide along mine with a low growl that made my cock stir.

“Well, now I know why you didn’t take me up on that coffee,” a woman said with a huff.

Ford’s ex, Sasha, stood next to our table with her arms crossed over her sweater proclaiming her one of Santa’s hos. No lies detected there.

“Do you mind?” Ford said. “I’m trying to have a romantic moment with my guy.”

Her jaw dropped as she looked between us. I was just as stunned as her. Ford was claiming me in front of everyone.

She stalked away with the look of a woman ready to talk some shit.

“Are you sure you want the whole town to know?”

“Mason, I just kissed you in the middle of a festival event. The whole town already knows.”

I glanced around, catching sight of a couple smirking at us. Jess Calloway, Griff’s sister, flashed me a thumbs-up. Kody grinned and winked from his spot at the bar.

Even the more serious Indrani smiled extra big as she delivered our drinks.

Yeah, okay, everyone knew.

Ford took my hands in his and squeezed. “I’m sorry I took so long to get my head figured out. That whole night we were together, I…I felt things for you I couldn’t explain.”

I met his dark gaze. “And now?”

His voice dropped low. “I want you, Mason. It doesn’t matter that you’re a man. I was stupid to think it did. You’ve gotten to me from the very start.”

I hesitated, heart pounding. “Then prove it.”

Ford stood so quickly his chair slid a few inches, screeching loudly. Half the pub turned to watch as he grasped my hand and pulled me to standing.

“Take me home, Mase. I’ll show you exactly what I want.”

I shivered. This was really happening, wasn’t it? Ford Donnelly, the untouchable straight man, wanted to be with me .

“You know, you left something off that list of boyfriend qualities you had,” I said.

“What’s that?”

I stepped into his arms, resting my face against his chest. “Someone to snuggle.”

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight. “Yeah, that’s a good one.”

I grinned up at him. “Especially while you’re wearing an Ugly Christmas Sweater for me.”

“Well, I know you like this sweater, but what do you say we go so you can get me out of this ugly thing?”

I laughed. “Are you offering to sleep with me just so you don’t have to wear that anymore?”

“No, Mason,” he said seriously. “I’m begging you to let me touch you the way I’ve wanted to all week.”

I shuddered against him and pulled away, ignoring our untouched drinks on the table. “Let’s get out of here.”