Page 69 of A New Chapter

Chapter 33

After that day, Emma and Zack’s relationship slowly expanded to include Gracie. They still exercised caution in how they interacted around her, adopting a mostly “hands-off” policy, and saved their affection for when they were alone. Emma and Zack had agreed to give Gracie more time to get used to Emma’s presence before they revealed that side of their relationship. For now, Gracie accepted Emma as a “friend,” and that was good enough for Emma.

The weeks rolled by, and soon, the holiday season was upon them. Emma held a special Halloween version of story time where the kids got to come in costume. Gracie had been thrilled to show off her Rapunzel costume that they had chosen together. Emma had even joined Zack and Gracie for trick or treating, and then she’d sat on Zack’s living-room floor to help Gracie sort through her pile of candy.

Once November hit, business picked up at the bookstore, and Emma started working longer hours. Kelly also worked overtime, devising various promotions and events to boost sales for Christmas. Emma saw Zack as often as she could, but he complained that it wasn’t nearly enough. Secretly, Emma was pleased that he missed her so much, and thought that it made the time that they spent together that much sweeter.

“Once the holidays are over, we’ll have more time again,” she said one weeknight after they had just eaten dinner. Emma had made dinner for him at her house, her first attempt since the burnt chicken fiasco weeks ago.

“Speaking of the holidays, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?” Zack asked nonchalantly.

They sat on her couch, holding hands and relishing the few hours that they would get to spend together that evening. “I don’t know. I hadn’t really thought about it.” The truth was Emma had thought about little else. Up until this year, her holidays had been booked, first with her parents and then with Mark. Emma’s mother had called a couple of weeks ago and said that they wouldn’t be coming until Christmas, so Emma was on her own. Or so she thought.

“You’re welcome to come to my folks’ house with Gracie and me,” Zack offered, his expression hopeful.

“That’s really sweet of you, but I couldn’t impose on your family like that.” Emma hadn’t even met Zack’s parents yet, so she couldn’t imagine just showing up to their Thanksgiving dinner.

“Impose? You obviously don’t know my mother. She lives to feed people, Em. Believe me, she would be thrilled to have you there.”

“But what about Gracie?”

Zack pulled her onto his lap. “Em, my daughter loves you. Of course she would want you to come.”

Wait a minute—loves? Emma’s throat closed up.

“Unless you don’t want to…”

“No, no, I’ll come,” she said. “Will there be a lot of people there?”

“Yes, if my mom has her way. You’ll even get to meet Damian. He’s flying in from California, and he’ll be here through the holidays. I offered to let him stay with me, but he hasn’t given me an answer yet.”

All of a sudden, Emma sat up straight and covered her mouth with her hand.

“What is it?” Zack asked, alarmed at her expression.

“I don’t think I can come after all.”

“Why not?”

“Because I just remembered a conversation I had with Kelly last week. Her parents usually fly up from Florida, but her father’s been ill, and they might not make it this year. I’d feel terrible if she were alone on Thanksgiving.”

Zack gave her a reassuring squeeze. “That’s no problem. We’ll invite her too.”

Emma smacked her lips on his in rapid succession. “Really? Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

“How about if you continue thanking me upstairs?” He stood up with Emma securely in his arms and headed toward the stairs.

“How much time do we have left?”

He glanced at his wristwatch. “One hour.”

“That’ll work,” she said and nuzzled against him.

Zack set her down once they reached her bedroom, and they both hurried to undress. They stood in the middle of the room, facing each other with their clothes pooled at their feet, and simply admired each other for a few beats.

“I will never get tired of looking at you,” Zack said, his voice reverberating through her.

Emma closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around his waist. She breathed in his all-male scent of spice and musk and gazed into his smoky gray eyes. “You’re not so bad yourself,” she whispered.