Silly question. Paper flew in all directions. Hanna glanced up to see Brad watching intently.
Crissy had the lid pried off an instant later. Her jaw dropped, mouth opening in a wide, comical gasp. “My books!”
Hanna leaned in closer to discover the top of the box held a layer of children’s books, some paperback, some hardcover.
Familiar titles, all of them.
Crissy snatched up a book in either hand and jumped up and down excitedly. She whirled toward Hanna and shoved her hands forward. “There’s Andrew and the Wild Bikes, and The Secret World of Og, and—” She laughed, digging into the box again as Hanna’s heart filled with joy.
She glanced at Brad who was watching Crissy with delight. “Where did those—?”
“This isn’t a book,” Crissy interrupted, her face folding into a confused frown as she lifted away another layer of stories to reveal a sturdy plastic box.
Hanna opened the lid then lost her breath.
Inside were photographs. Pictures of Crissy as a baby—some in Hanna’s arms, some not. Crissy as a toddler, often with other children. As Hanna flipped through there were images from every stage of life since they’d come to Heart Falls. Even a few from before—
Everything she’d thought completely gone, destroyed by the fire. All those bits of memory were right there in front of her.
It was her turn to stare slack-jawed at Brad. “How? How on earth?” Her throat closed off, and she swallowed hard, her breathing turning ragged.
“I asked around. Teachers, friends. Everyone who might’ve had a shot of either you or Crissy. Projects from school that asked for baby photos. All your friends went digging this past week and made copies. You have to do the work to put together a scrapbook, but now you’ve got the pictures to do it. And one of the pictures showed part of Crissy’s bookshelf, so I blew it up and pulled the titles so I could order a few.”
Crissy raced over to hug Brad fiercely before darting across the room to Patrick’s side so he could admire her refound treasures.
Hanna’s hands shook as she carefully placed the photo box aside, sliding from her chair and moving across the room to stand before Brad.
Maybe the days on the calendar said it was too quick, but she was without a single doubt. This man who’d been so careful and gentle with her and her daughter—he cared. He cared enough to help them find a bit of their past. The sweet memories that would’ve been hard to let go.
This was the man she wanted to walk beside into the future.
She stood beside him as she attempted to find the words. He waited patiently— Of course he did, because he was Brad, and he was exactly who she needed in her life.
His smile slowly widened. “I’m glad you like my gift.”
“I love you.” The words escaped because they were pounding through her very soul.
The room went quiet, Patrick and Crissy suddenly motionless in the background.
Brad’s eyes fixed on hers.
She said it again, and this time it was easier and it felt even more right. “I love you. So much.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Soft and tender, his arms cradling her. He pulled back just far enough to whisper against her cheek. “I’m glad, because I love you too.”
She buried her face against his neck and took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of him. Feeling his strong arms around her.
She must’ve been high on Christmas fumes or something, because as shocking as it was to admit to him how she felt, she didn’t stop there. “I don’t want to be your girlfriend anymore,” she said firmly.
He pushed her back and lifted her chin. “Ummm…”
“Crissy wants a daddy for Christmas, and I think Santa should deliver.” Barely above a whisper, but very, very clear.
She’d expected him to look confused, or shocked, but what he did was tip his head back and laugh. A deep, happy sound that rolled up from deep inside before he grabbed hold and squeezed her tight.
He kissed her cheek and whispered against her ear. “I’d be proud to be Crissy’s daddy, and very happy to be your husband.”
He kissed her again, and all the hurts that had been tangled around her heart—the rejection and loneliness—burned away, leaving her pristine clean like the snow outside the remote cabin.
Shining with love.
* * *
He’d never had presents under the tree like this, but Brad wasn’t about to ask why he’d been so lucky. Hanna was in his arms, and Crissy was sneaking forward with a confused but hopeful expression on her face.
“Why’s Mommy crying?”
Brad made room for Crissy to snuggle close. “Because she’s happy.”
“Oh.” She eyed Brad’s arms around Hanna, considered, then shrugged. “Okay.”
Crissy crawled up on his knee so she could lean her head against Hanna’s. “Don’t cry, Mommy. It’s Christmas.”
Hanna raised a hand so she could stroke her daughter’s hair. “I’m happy, sweetie, Brad’s right. Sometimes when really good things happen, it makes tears come.”
“Like being glad Blackie is safe?”
“Exactly like that,” Brad told her. He glanced down at Hanna, waiting for permission to share their perfect news.
She stole a tissue from the box beside the chair, taking a deep breath before turning to her daughter. “We have something special to tell you.”
Crissy tilted her head and waited.
Brad took a peek across the room at his father. Patrick had leaned back and was grinning in anticipation. There was no surprising that one.
“Your mommy and I are going to get married,” he told Crissy. “Because I love her very much. And I love you too.”
Her mouth hung open as she glanced from Hanna then back to him. “Seriously?” she demanded.
Hanna burst out laughing, delight dancing around the room like sparkling lights flickering off the shiny ornaments decorating the tree. “She already sounds like you,” she teased Brad before answering her daughter. “Yes, seriously.”
It took a while before all the hugs were finished, and there were a few more tears to wipe dry when Crissy suddenly realized this would make Patrick her grandpa.
Hanna got teary-eyed too as Patrick slipped an arm around her shoulders and held her tight, pressing a kiss against her temple.
They didn’t have to say the words. Brad knew how much it meant for her to have an extended family again.
Eventually they moved the party into the kitchen to serve up slices of Patrick’s cake. They were just about to sit down when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it.” Brad wondered who on earth would’ve dared the drive.
He opened the door to find his brother standing there, hat literally in one hand, the other holding a bag that held wrapped presents.
“You should slam the door on me, but I hope you won’t,” Mark said in a rush. “I know I’m stupid enough that I’ll probably say the wrong thing at some point, but I want to stop fighting. I want my family back, and I’m ready to apologize.”
Brad’s head was spinning, but he backed up and gestured his brother in. “We’re in the kitchen. Let me go warn Dad.”
But Patrick already stood in the doorway, leaning heavily on his canes as he stared in shock at his oldest son.
Mark hesitated. “Merry Christmas, Dad.”
Patrick’s face crinkled with emotion then he nodded his head firmly. “Merry Christmas, Son.”
He stood motionless for a moment before Mark stepped forward to give him a big hug, patting him on the shoulder before backing away with the pretense of organizing his gifts. “I brought a few things. Just trinkets, really, but I didn’t want to show up empty-handed.”
Brad paused, wondering if he should rush ahead to warn Hanna, but the chaos continued because she was there as well. Brad’s jaw nearly hit the floor when she snuck around Patrick to offer Mark a hug.
Post-hug, his brother escaped into the kitchen as if he wasn’t able to sp
eak. Patrick followed, Crissy dancing between them, eager to be introduced to this new family member.
Brad caught Hanna by the wrist before she could disappear. “What just happened?” he demanded.
Hanna glanced over her shoulder into the kitchen then back at Brad. “It looks as if someone decided to put his head on straight.”
“From the looks of things, I should ask if you were involved in his straightening up.” He smiled as she tucked herself tighter against him, the pride on her face all too clear. “You, Hanna Lane, are one amazing woman.”
“I’m going to be Hanna Ford,” she reminded him. “We’re engaged, right?”
“You definitely get my name. You’ve already got my heart,” he told her before pointing overhead. “Oh, look, mistletoe.”
She glanced up. “I don’t see anything.”
“Strange. I do.”
Then he proceeded to kiss her the way he planned on kissing her for the next fifty years and more, whether there was mistletoe or not.
* * *
I hope you enjoyed Brad and Hanna’s story. The next book in the Heart Falls world will be A RANCHER’S BRIDE, the third book in the Stones of Heart Falls series.
Welcome to Heart Falls, where there’s more at stake than the future of the Silver Stone ranch.
With the ranch teetering on the brink of disaster, accepting an invitation to the gala of the year is a top business priority for Luke Stone. Having a significant other on his arm isn’t merely a good idea, it’s a necessity. Doesn’t matter that he’s currently single—there’s a logical solution. Kelli is easy company, a vital part of ranch operations, and willing to sing Silver Stone’s praises all day long. She’ll be perfect.
Kelli James has kept a lot of secrets over the eight years since she boldly walked onto the ranch. Her biggest challenge, though, has been hiding her crush on the sexiest cowboy she’s ever laid eyes on. When Luke informs her they’re headed to the mountains for a week-long, work-related event, she’s not sure what to expect.
That he signed her up to play the part of the perfect rancher’s bride-to-be wasn’t it…
Pre-order A RANCHER’S BRIDE today!
Stones of Heart Falls
A Rancher’s Heart
A Rancher’s Song
A Rancher’s Bride
About the Author
With over 2 million books sold, Vivian Arend is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over 50 contemporary and paranormal romance books, including the Six Pack Ranch and Granite Lake Wolves.
Her books are all standalone reads with no cliffhangers. They’re humorous yet emotional, with sexy-times and happily-ever-afters. Vivian pretty much thinks she’s got the best job in the world, and she’s looking forward to giving readers more HEAs. She lives in B.C. Canada with her husband of many years and a fluffy attack Shih-tzu named Luna who ignores everyone except when treats are deployed.
www.vivianarend.com
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
A Firefighter’s Christmas Gift
Copyright © 2018 by Arend Publishing Inc.
ISBN: 9781941456293
Edited by Anne Scott
Cover Design © Damonza
Proofed by Angie Ramsey & Linda Levy
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations.
First electronic publication: September, 2018
www.vivianarend.com
A Firefighter’s Christmas Gift: Holidays in Heart Falls: Book 1 Page 16