“I’m giving her to Heath this morning.”

“Oh, yeah, and that’s going to go over well with Caro,” Kaden said.

“I want to be there when you do that and watch her kick your sorry ass.”

I sighed. Maybe I hadn’t thought this through as well as I should’ve. Caro loved animals and winning her over wouldn’t take long. The dog was supposed to be well trained, but I was having my doubts. She appeared to be housebroken, except for the incident with Steele, but that’d happened on the balcony, which was technically outside. I didn’t know if Mona liked cats either, and that could be a deal breaker, yet I had a good idea Rusty would hold his own.

“So, guys, here’s the plan. I’ll go over there in about an hour, and I’ll text when it’s time to bring the dog over. Don’t forget to wear the Santa hats.” I pointed at the Sockeye Santa hats I’d bought at the team store yesterday.

My buddies rolled their eyes in unison.

“You should be grateful I wasn’t able to rent any Santa and Mrs. Claus costumes this close to Christmas.”

“Too bad. Kaden looks great in an apron. He could’ve been Mrs. Claus.” Steele winked at me. Kaden placed his plate on the coffee table and fired a pillow at him, pegging him in the head.

Steele narrowed his eyes, ready to reciprocate.

“Hey, don’t throw that at me. You’ll hit the dog.” Mona rolled on her back, her head on Kaden’s lap, and made an odd sound between a whimper and a growl. Kaden ran his hand over her long, glossy coat. “I really don’t like dogs.”

“She loves you.”

“She’s smelly and hairy and needy. Three things I avoid in a woman.”

Steele threw back his head and howled. Mona’s devotion to Kaden was fucking hilarious, especially considering his repulsion to animals. Mona was secretly evil and getting a kick out of torturing the one person in the house least enamored of her.

Steele and I laughed our asses off until we were exhausted. Even though the scowl on Kaden’s face threatened to start us all over again, we managed to keep our emotions under control.

Kaden pushed the large dog off his lap and stood. “It’s time to prep for Christmas dinner. Who’s going to help?”

Steele and I exchanged glances.

“I’m delivering my presents to the kids.”

“I’m taking the dog for a walk,” Steele said quickly. Neither of us had any interest in peeling potatoes or chopping veggies or whatever Kaden had in mind.

“I’ll take her for a spin in the park down the street and wait for your text.”

“Do you have doggie bags?”

Steele reached in his pocket and withdrew a few black plastic bags. “Right here.” He grabbed a leash, and Mona forgot all about the love of her life, exchanging him for a new one, the guy with the leash. She danced around until Steele corralled her long enough to put the leash on her. Together, they exited out the door.