Chapter 2 Gracie
“Poor Olivia,” Benny said, shifting in his seat behind Gracie as she navigated the road that might have seen a snow plow this morning. Or maybe not, judging by the occasional whine of her bakery van tires.
“Poor? Not in this neighborhood,” Gracie joked, getting glimpses of some of Park City’s nicest real estate in the upscale and gated community that Marshall Hampton and his daughter, Olivia, called home.
“But she has to go to Los Angeles for Christmas!” Benny shook his head, cuddling Newt, his Cavapoo, closer for comfort.
“I feel bad for her. And, trust me, she’s not happy.
” On the next turn, he balanced the big Christmas bag with exploding tissue on the seat next to him.
“I wonder if she’ll be allowed to pack this science experiment kit in her suitcase so she has something to do. ”
Gracie laughed softly. “I’m sure her mom has plenty planned for her to do—there’s a beach in L.A., you know, and…stars.”
“Well, yes, there is an incredible observatory called Griffith. She’ll definitely go there, since all she wants to do is be an astronaut. But, still, it’s a horrible fate.”
“Going to see her mom?” Gracie asked, not following. With one glance in the rearview mirror, she knew the fate was horrible for him, not Olivia. Benny and his best pal would certainly miss their time together, but…did that mean Gracie wouldn’t see Olivia’s father over the holidays?
She hoped not.
No surprise, her thoughts slipped back to Marshall Hampton, the man she was…could they call it dating? They’d made a gingerbread house together, they’d kissed—a decent amount—and he’d been her plus-one at Aunt Cindy’s wedding two days ago.
They texted like teenagers, couldn’t stop smiling when they were together, and had already talked about the possibility of combining their competing bakery businesses in Park City.
Yes, this was…something. She could not wait to find out what.
The house appeared between aspens—modern but warm, all stone and timber nestled into the hillside. Big windows caught the noon light like silver mirrors, the whole vibe perfectly understated but wealthy, just like the former NFL running back who owned the home.
Gracie had dropped Benny off here before, but only exchanged quick hellos and goodbyes from the driveway. Today, she felt invited and welcome, and her heart had been fluttering since breakfast even though they were just there to drop off Olivia’s Christmas present.
Olivia opened a front door that was three times her size with a huge smile and an excited wave.
Behind her, a brindle border collie—the dog named Kat—trotted out, probably sensing her buddy Newt was in the car.
Olivia’s espresso braids had recently been redone, falling in lovely cascades over her narrow shoulders, the style accentuating her big brown eyes.
She looked like a mini version of her father right there, with rich dark skin and more confidence than Gracie could imagine having at eleven. At any age.
“Benny!” she called, prancing onto the spacious front porch in snowflake Christmas socks. “We got fresh snow! We can finally have our epic battle!”
“Do we have time, Mom?” Benny asked, clutching the bag and letting Newt run free up the stairs.
“We have a little bit of time before I have to get to work,” she said, “and these guys have to go to the airport.”
“It’s fine,” Olivia said, gathering Newt in her arms. “My dad said he wanted to talk to you about something, Miss Gracie.”
He did? Gracie hoped that “something” was another date. And maybe it would involve another few kisses because…
She closed her eyes and let out a soft sigh. All she wanted to do was kiss that man.
She hung back a few seconds, taking a deep and steadying breath while the dogs barked, circled, and sniffed, then climbed the stairs.
“Are you excited about a trip to California, Olivia?”
The little girl froze, crossed her eyes, stuck out her tongue, and fisted her hands next to her face to show nothing but total disgust. Then it all disappeared into a sweet smile.
“I can’t wait!” she exclaimed with undeniable eleven-year-old sarcasm.
“You’ll go to the observatory, of course,” Benny said, sarcasm missed. “I mean, I would on the first day.”
“The observatory?” she scoffed. “Have you met my mom? No, of course you haven’t. The only thing she observes is herself. I’m sure we’ll hit Rodeo Drive, though.”
“It’s pronounced ro-dee-o, Olivia, not ro-day-o,” Benny corrected, looking a little smug because one-upping his fellow genius and best friend was a rare opportunity, indeed.
She looked at Gracie and executed yet another eyeroll. “Gotcha. Come on in.”
Before Gracie took another step, Marshall appeared behind his daughter, one arm braced against the doorframe. He looked maddeningly relaxed in a soft gray sweater and jeans, his eyes easy and warm as he looked at Gracie.
There was just a hint of invitation in their dark depths, enough to keep her pulse a few beats too fast.
“Welcome to Chez Hampton,” he joked, waving Benny in and reaching for Gracie’s hand. “Not one word about the lack of a Christmas tree, please.”
“You don’t have a tree?” Benny stopped mid-step, looking up. “It’s after Thanksgiving.”
Olivia laughed. “What can I say? He’s a rule-follower, Dad.”
“I like that about you, Ben.” He gave Benny a high-five, and then a secret, sexy wink to Gracie that darn near melted her on the front stairs. He always called him “Ben,” which Gracie knew her son loved because it made him feel like Marshall’s peer.
Inside, she stepped out of her wet boots and glanced around the formal entryway—hardwood floors, an Oriental rug that probably cost more than her car, and no place for boots.
“We never use this door,” Marshall said, seeing her dilemma as he lifted her boots from the floor. “Come to the kitchen where it’s warm and there’s coffee, tea, and a mudroom.”
“Also, Dad made almond flour monk fruit biscotti,” Olivia finished, leaning into Gracie. “I know how you love a sugar-free treat, Miss Gracie.”
Gracie just laughed and glanced into a glorious living room that somehow managed to be masculine and perfectly decorated.
Maybe a little too perfectly—definitely what she’d call “model home” flawless, with a floor plan that took advantage of a sweeping view of the snow-streaked mountain peaks and some ski lifts in the distance.
She checked it out while Marshall made small talk with Benny, and they all ended up in an enormous contemporary kitchen. There, more sunshine streamed over marble counters and pale oak cabinets.
Olivia bounced on her toes. “Benny! The snow is perfect and I’m going to stupid sunny Calif—”
“Liv.” Marshall gave a quick warning look. “It’s not stupid.”
“Well, I don’t know why Mom had to move there. If she was still in Pittsburgh, at least I could see my old friends. But, no, she had to go to California.” Olivia sighed dramatically, lifting a jacket from a hook in the mudroom off the kitchen where Gracie hung hers.
Gracie knew enough about Marshall’s shared custody arrangement to understand that he’d had Olivia last year for Christmas, so this holiday was for Bianca.
“How much time do I have left, Dad?” Olivia asked.
Marshall glanced at his watch. “Your mother lands in a few hours. She has to deplane, meet us outside of security, then get you back to the gate for the flight back to L.A. So, we have to leave here at one o’clock at the latest.”
“And I need to get to work, Benny,” Gracie said. “We should let the kids exchange gifts and get out of your hair.”
“My hair needs snow in it!” Olivia announced, grabbing Benny’s arm to yank him through the mudroom and back into his boots. “We have time for me to destroy you in a snowball fight. Can we take the dogs?”
“Until they get cold,” Marshall said, laughing at his whirlwind of a daughter.
Benny grinned. “You’re going down, Olivia.”
“Am not!”
Kids and dogs disappeared outside, and almost immediately, Gracie spotted them running off a snow-covered deck into the yard.
“I thought they’d do science experiments,” she said, laughing. “Instead, war.”
Marshall leaned closer, voice low. “War will keep them occupied.” He slipped his arm around her waist and pulled her into him. “And we’ll have…peace.”
He punctuated that with the lightest kiss, holding her against his broad chest, his strong athlete’s arm lifting her an inch off the floor with ease.
When she came back to Earth, breathing was…a challenge.
“So this wasn’t all just a dream,” she whispered.
He smiled and kissed her forehead. “It’s a dream, all right.” He looked down at her, nothing but warmth and kindness and goodness in his ebony eyes. “Can I get you something? Coffee or tea? Sugarless biscotti?”
“Tea would be great.” Somehow, she managed to ease away, nodding. “If it’s got peppermint and not…peptides.”
He groaned and punched his chest. “And she mocks.”
“Playfully,” she assured him, slipping onto a barstool at an island the size of, well, a football field.
He poured steaming water into two mugs while she watched the kids play, flashes of color and movement against the snow.
“Olivia’s going to be a mess before her flight,” she mused.
“I think that’s her evil plan.” He brought the mugs over. “Make her mother mad.”
“Do they not get along?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Bianca’s not maternal and Olivia is…a unique challenge.”
She shifted her gaze to catch that unique challenge clocking Benny with a snow explosion, making him collapse in laughter.
“I love her,” she whispered, barely aware of the confession. Then she faced him, expecting to blush, but for some reason her body cooperated. “She’s brought such a light to Benny’s life.”
He smiled behind his mug, taking a sip as he sat next to her. “That goes both ways, believe me.”