A Family by Christmas (Little Shops on Heart Street) by Viv Royce

Author:Viv Royce [Royce, Viv]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: orphan, pilot, entangled publishing, Women's Humorous Fiction, Contemporary romance, heartwarming romance, sweet romance, small town romance, holiday romance, viv royce, chocolate maker, mountaineer, series romance, Contemporary Women's Fiction, Two-Hour Romance Short Reads, Holiday Fiction, Small Town & Rural Fiction, Christmas romance, Opposites attract, girl next door, widowed dad, Family Life Fiction, chocolate store, bliss
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Published: 2019-10-14T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

“More marshmallows?” Fay asked, holding the bag out in her direction.

Emma shook her head. “If I have any more, I’m going to turn into one.”

“White or pink? I would be pink.” Casey laughed. She lay on her stomach on the sheepskin in front of the fireplace in which a log fire crackled around freshly cut wood. Grant had brought it in after dinner and taken his time to build the perfect fire. He had even explained to her how to do it, but it had been a bit lost on her as the memory had replayed in her head of the moment she had almost fallen, and he had caught her. The safest place in the world had to be in his arms.

Grant checked his watch. “About bedtime, Casey.”

“Aaaaah, Daddy!” Casey rolled onto her back, pulling a plaid from the rocking chair across herself as if to hide under, become invisible.

With a smooth movement Grant came to his feet and went over. “I’m looking for Casey. Where can she be? She’s all gone. Has she hidden behind the couch?” He crouched behind it, feeling with his hands across the floor. “No, she is not here.”

Bursts of giggles came from underneath the plaid giving Casey away, but Grant continued his systematic search of the living room, even opening the buffet’s door to see if Casey was hiding inside.

While he was busy with that, Casey crawled away from the fire, under her plaid cover, taking up a new spot behind her grandfather’s chair.

Grant straightened up and rolled back his shoulders. “Where is she? Has anybody seen her?”

He let his gaze drift by his parents, sister and brother-in-law who all maintained puzzled or innocent expressions. Then his eyes met Emma’s. Electricity shocked through her upon the contact, the moment she looked full into that chocolate warmth. His smile deepened just a bit. For a moment, she wondered what it would be like if this was their house and he was chasing Casey and they would take her to bed together and then return here and sit on the sheepskin, her leaning into him and him locking his arms around her and kissing the top of her head. Togetherness, belonging.

She widened her eyes for a second to bring herself back to reality.

Grant’s eyes seemed to question her. “I haven’t seen Casey,” she said a little too loud.

He prowled through the room, looking behind the bookcases in the far corner. Casey was moving again, trying to scuttle behind the couch where he had already looked. But then Grant turned around suddenly and cried, “I see you! I’m coming for you!”

Casey shrieked and fled. Grant ran through the room and grabbed Casey, plaid and all, lifted her high and held her in his arms. Her laughter filled the room.

Emma’s eyes pricked at the idea of feeling so safe with someone, so sheltered, so loved.

Grant lowered Casey to the floor. “Up to bed, little one.” He gave her a gentle shove toward the stairs and after

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