Pappy watched, feeling like a benevolent grandfather when he realized the big dog was taking his gifts to the bedroom, which had to mean he was still his dog. When Sam opened the biggest and last package, which was the down bed, Alpha looked at it, then at Sam, then back to Pappy. He dragged it to the door. His meaning obvious. He wanted to take it to where Sam slept.

Sam, a stricken look on her face, stared at Pappy. “It’s all right, don’t worry about it,” was all Pappy could think of to say.

Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was Christmas, maybe it was a lot of things. “I’m not trying to steal your dog’s affections,” Sam said, a break in her voice. “I don’t know why he’s taken such a fancy to me.”

Pappy’s intention was to shrug and remain mute. “Maybe it’s because you’re easy to like, and he senses that.”

Sam blinked as she tried to absorb Pappy’s words. That was really personal.

Kyros almost stood on his head, his arms flapping every which way. At last, his son was getting it.

The others smiled slyly, some openly. Pappy gulped at the ouzo his father handed him.

He could feel it, he was on a roll.

Finally.

Chapter Thirteen

Christmas Day!

The recruits arrived at Pappy’s promptly at four o’clock, dressed in their Christmas outfits. Outside, the snow fell in big fat flakes. It was as near a perfect Christmas as anyone could wish for. Even Pappy was happy, as he stood at the door and greeted everyone. He thought they all looked like high-powered business executives attending their boss’s Christmas party. And they all appeared to be in a cheery mood. Even Sam, who smiled. She looked better than a million dollars, in a long red dress. At least in his eyes. And she was again wearing the diamond earrings. Then he wondered what kind of woman would spend a whole year’s salary on a pair of diamond earrings. His know-it-all father would probably know. He made a mental note to ask. What he didn’t like was the way Vandameer was at her side. Almost as though they’d partnered off, just the way Slick and Hawkins were partnered off even though they tried to pretend they weren’t. His father would have an opinion on that, too.

Sam accepted her flute of champagne as she listened with rapt attention to something Vandameer was saying. What they were actually discussing was how tidy the room was after the wild disarray of the night before. “Pappy probably just burned everything in the fireplace,” Sam said.

Pappy circulated, playing host, hoping to get close enough to the couple to hear what they were saying. He just knew they were talking about him. Eavesdroppers never heard anything good about themselves, but he didn’t care.