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She nodded slowly. “I didn’t think so, but I suppose I am.”
“Well then, I hope you’ve invited them to the tree lighting? I’d like to meet him and Ava.”
“Um, I haven’t yet. But I will. And …” What the hell. “And Grady’s coming over tomorrow. He’s going to be one of my twelve guys in the calendar.”
Jacob chuckled. “Are you telling me that I get to meet him – or to stay away because you’ll have him out at the cottage shirtless?”
She laughed. “Honestly, I’m not sure which I meant. But how about I bring him over here to say hi at some point?”
“I’d like that. If you want to do it. But don’t feel that you have to.”
She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight, feeling closer to him than she had since they were kids. “Thanks, Jacob.”
Chapter Eight
“Oh, you little sweetheart!”
Hannah grasped the wriggling puppy to her chest while it kissed her face. It was adorable!
She looked at Ellen who’d brought the puppies over from the shelter. “Is this a boy or a girl?”
“That’s Scooter. He’s a boy.”
“Hey, Scooter! Aren’t you the cutest little thing?” She hugged him to her. She’d forgotten what it was like to have a dog, but the way her heart felt as though it was melting in her chest with love for this little guy, she had a feeling that she was going to be reminded soon. “Sorry.” She gave Ellen an apologetic smile. “I promise I won’t be like this all day.”
“It’s fine by me. They need all the love they can get. Just seeing your reaction to them puts my mind at ease.”
Hannah frowned. “You were worried?”
Ellen dropped her gaze. “I know you’ve been out to the shelter a few times, but it’s a different matter having them in your home.”
Hannah had a feeling she knew what Ellen meant. Unfortunately, the family name made a lot of people automatically assume that she was a spoiled rich bitch. “It goes with the territory,” she said with a smile. “If you want the cuteness of puppies, you have to be prepared for the messes and poop that come with them.”
Ellen nodded. “I didn’t mean to be rude. I was a little concerned, that’s all. I do appreciate you doing this calendar for us.”
“That’s okay. I hope I can set your mind at ease. This is all about the shelter and bringing in some money for you and the good work that you do there. No matter what you might have heard, I’m not some diva. Not Cruella,” she added with a smile. “I love dogs. I love puppies. I know there’ll be some mess and some chaos, and as far as I’m concerned, it’ll add to the fun.”
Ellen blew out a sigh of relief. “Thanks for laying it out there. And please don’t think that we’re not grateful for what you’re doing.”
“I don’t.” Hannah smiled. She was glad they’d cleared that up, but it’d left a bitter taste in her mouth.
“And you’re sure you want all the puppies in the house? We can keep them in the van if that’s better?”
“No! Please. Bring them in. It’s too cold outside. And like you said, they need all the love they can get. Shortly, there will be twelve big strapping, mostly very nervous, guys here. All waiting to take their turn in front of the camera. I think they and the puppies will have a much more enjoyable time if they’re all in here together.”
Ellen smiled. “You have a point there. And I don’t mind having to keep an eye on them.”
Hannah smiled back. “On the puppies, right?”
“Yes. Just the puppies—not the twelve hot men, honest!”
Hannah laughed. “I don’t want to shatter any illusions you might have; they are all good-looking guys, but I have a feeling that they might not live up to your imagination. They’ll be nervous and more like little boys than anything else.”
Ellen laughed. “You’re probably right. But I don’t mind finding out.”
They both turned when Ellen’s two daughters came in carrying crates containing more puppies.
She smiled at Hannah. “These two will probably benefit from having their illusions about hot men shattered or at least, toned down a little.”
