Daddy's Little Christmas: A Small-Town MM Holiday Romance by Denver Shaw

Author:Denver Shaw [Shaw, Denver]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shaw's Sweetheart Books
Published: 2025-12-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Rudy

Lunch at Mae’s Inn was quiet in the way small places got right before the holidays—low voices, the scrape of cutlery, coats slung over chair backs like everyone was halfway ready to be somewhere else. The windows fogged from the heat inside, snow pressing faintly against the glass.

In front of me sat a bowl of chicken pot pie soup—thick, creamy, heavy on the carrots and potatoes—with a slab of crusty bread balanced on the edge of the plate. Mae had insisted. “You can’t do December on an empty stomach,” she’d said, already ladling.

I took a bite. It was good. Comforting in a way that didn’t try too hard.

It didn’t stop my thoughts from drifting anyway.

Last night stayed with me in quieter ways—the warmth of Graeme’s living room, the way the couch had dipped under our combined weight, how nothing in me had been braced for correction.

I hadn’t been watching myself. I hadn’t been measuring my reactions or waiting for the moment I’d gone too far. I’d used the pacifier without apologizing. I’d just been there, comfortable in my own skin in a way that felt unfamiliar and real.

After Home Alone, we watched something newer—Elf, which I’d seen, and then The Holiday, which I hadn’t. Snuggling in Graeme’s big, strong arms was amazing. I hadn’t had to earn the comfort.

Mae stopped at my table again, smiling as she glanced at my bowl.

“Looks like it hit the spot,” she said.

“It did,” I replied. “It’s really good.”

She smiled, pleased, and nodded at my mostly empty bowl. “I’m glad. Let me know if you want seconds.”

“Thanks,” I said, meaning more than just the food.

She gave my shoulder a light, familiar pat and moved on.

My phone buzzed against the table.

Daddy: How’s lunch, sweetheart?

My chest did that small, ridiculous flutter again.

Me: Mae is feeding me like she’s afraid I’ll blow away.

Three dots appeared almost immediately.

Daddy: Smart woman. You up for a book date later?

I stared at the screen for a second.

Me: A… book date?

Daddy: Walking. Browsing. No pressure. Meet me at my shop?

I swallowed, excitement blooming slow and warm.

Me: Yeah. I’d like that.

Holly & Pine smelled like evergreens and citrus when I stepped inside. Graeme was at the counter, sleeves rolled, focused on a customer I didn’t recognize. I wandered, pretending to look at ornaments while sneaking glances his way.

He wore a soft, deep green sweater that made the silver in his hair stand out more. Up close, his face didn’t match the gray at his temples at all—no deep lines, just faint creases at the corners of his eyes. The kind you got from squinting into winter light. From smiling at people.

When the customer finally left, Graeme flipped the sign to Closed, turned the lock, and rested his hand there for a beat.

He turned back to me, something warm and deliberate in his eyes. He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel the heat of him, his hand lifting like he meant to cup my jaw—like he was about to ask permission.

I didn’t wait.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.