See?his bear said smugly.Perfect.
Holly turned, as if sensing his presence, and their eyes met. Something passed between them, a spark of recognition thatmade his breath catch. For a wild, hopeful moment, Daniel wondered if she felt it too, this inexplicable pull.
He drew a steady breath, determined to find and keep his composure this time. “Found you some dry clothes,” he said, his voice impressively normal considering the riot of emotions beneath it. “Nothing fancy, but they’re warm.”
“Thank you,” Holly said, her smile weary but grateful. “You’ve been so kind.”
She’s ours to take care of,his bear insisted.Always.
“Where should I change?” she asked, accepting the bundle from him, her fingers briefly brushing against his. Even that fleeting contact sent a jolt through him.
“The spare room is just upstairs, first door on the left,” Daniel replied, fighting the urge to touch her again. “Bathroom’s across the hall if you need it.”
“I’ll show you!” Teddy bounced excitedly, reaching for Holly’s hand again. “I know where everything is!”
“Thank you, Teddy,” Holly said with such genuine warmth that Daniel felt his heart expand even further, if that was even possible.
As Teddy led Holly upstairs, Daniel finally allowed himself to exhale shakily, bracing his hands against the back of the sofa. He needed a moment to process the intensity of being near her, of having her in his home, of breathing in her scent.
“Dad?” Maisie’s voice made him straighten quickly. She stood in the hallway, clutching a pair of purple socks with silver unicorns stitched across the ankles. “Do you think Holly would like these? They’re my favorites, but she can borrow them.”
Daniel’s throat tightened with emotion. Maisie guarded those socks fiercely. They were a birthday gift from last year that she never let anyone wear. That she was offering them to Hollyspoke volumes. His cautious, careful girl didn’t hand out her favorite things lightly.
“That’s really thoughtful, Maisie,” he managed, his voice rough with feeling. “I bet she’d love them.”
Maisie nodded decisively and bounded up the stairs, calling out, “Holly! I have special socks for you!”
Daniel listened to the muffled voices upstairs, smiling to himself at Maisie’s eager explanation about the unicorns’ magical properties, Holly’s gentle thanks, Teddy’s running commentary about which rooms were whose. The sound of his children accepting Holly into their home so naturally made something in him melt.
Let’s hope the snow doesn’t,his bear said.The more it snows, the longer she’ll have to stay.
Daniel chuckled.Let’s hope the kids don’t overwhelm her.His two enthusiastic whirlwinds could be…a lot, even on a normal day.
They’re just excited,his bear said confidently.They can sense she is our mate.
Daniel wasn’t sure about that, but he couldn’t deny how seamlessly Holly had slipped into their lives, as if there had been a Holly-shaped space waiting to be filled all along.
He headed to the kitchen, needing to keep his hands busy. Opening the fridge, he pulled out the leftover chicken soup from yesterday. Holly looked exhausted and probably hadn’t eaten all day. He’d heard that brides rarely ate before their wedding, too nervous and busy to remember food. The thought of her as someone else’s bride made his bear growl possessively. A low warning sound that had nothing to do with logic and everything to do with instinct.
Not anymore, his bear reminded him.She’s here now.
Daniel set the soup to warm on the stove, gathering mugs for hot chocolate on autopilot. The familiar ritual helped calm him as he lined up four mugs…not the usual three.
The change felt incredibly significant and symbolic.
He smiled to himself as he grabbed the chocolate from the pantry, along with the cinnamon and vanilla extract.
The thundering of feet on the stairs announced the kids’ return before he saw them. Teddy skidded into the kitchen in his sock feet, Maisie close behind.
“Holly’s changing,” Teddy announced unnecessarily. “Can we start making the hot chocolate? I want to show her how we do it.”
“Sure thing,” Daniel said. “You know the drill.”
“We’re making it with melted chocolate!” Maisie noted.
“Of course we are, this is a special occasion,” Teddy said. “Holly’s a princess, remember?”
“Are we going to make hot chocolate, or just talk about it?” Daniel asked as he grabbed the large chocolate bar and broke it into chunks, dropping them into the saucepan. “Maisie, can you get the milk from the fridge, please? Teddy, grab the measuring cups.”
