I nudged Easton with my foot. “Can I have a private word with you?” I spoke through gritted teeth, and his guileless grin was full of fake innocence. Like he didn’t have a clue what I was pissed about.

Once we were in the privacy of my room, I counted to ten before turning to face him. I was on the verge of losing my temper, and I wouldn’t ruin Christmas for my kids.

“Go ahead, let me have it.” He leaned against the closed door, arms crossed over his chest, and a huge, unrepentant grin on his face. His smugness infuriated me.

“What were you thinking?”

“All kids need a dog.”

“That’s not a dog, that’s a buffalo.” I paced the floor trying to work off some of my anger. “He weighs more than me and the kids combined.”

“She… And I doubt she weighs that much.”

“Now you’re saying I’m fat?”

“No, nothing like that.” Momentary panic flashed in his eyes. He’d crossed the line and was floundering to find his way back to safe footing.

“They love Mona.”

“But I do not. Take her back where she came from.”

“Not possible.” His chin jutted out stubbornly. He was digging in, and I was going to have a battle on my hands.

“Anything is possible.”

“I’m not returning her. The kids need a dog.”

“Says who? The guy who’s been a dad for a few months?”

“Yeah, that guy.” His brown eyes flashed with an anger of their own.

“We’re not keeping her. We can’t have a huge dog like that in this condo. Who’s going to take her for walks and groom her and feed her?”

“I won’t lie, that would be you—and I’ll help, of course. So will the guys.”

“When you’re here.”

“She’s just what Heath needs to come out of his shell.”

“You’re an ass. How dare you do this without running it by me first? And about the riding lessons… Horses are dangerous. I don’t want my little girl getting hurt.”

He suppressed a smile, which didn’t go over well right now. “You’re a worrier. You can’t keep them from every little thing that might hurt them. Hockey’s dangerous, too.”

“But he’s a little boy and she’s a girl—”

“That’s a sexist remark,” he chided me, as if trying to prod me out of my serious mood and back into something lighter.

“You upstaged me. I spent a lot of time and money on their gifts, and you come in here and do this. Did you ever think about discussing your intentions with me?”

“So that’s what this is about? You’re jealous?” His knowing smirk raised my ire even more.

“I am not.”

“Yeah, you are.”

“The dog goes.” I glared at him, and all he did was snort.

“Fine, you tell them.”

“I will.” We weren’t keeping her. I pushed him away from the door and marched into the living room, ready to put an end to this dog before the kids got too attached. I stopped and stared. The dog was chasing them around the living room. The twins screamed with joy, and the dog barked joyously as drool flew everywhere.