Page 76 of Single All the Way

“Can we go too, Dad?” Evelyn asked.

“You’re our family, silly,” Xavier said.

“Close enough to go on the boat ride, anyway,” I said, laughing, not letting myself think about how much our group of six could easily feel like a family.

The girls asked to sit in the sleigh, so Ben lifted each of them, plus Xavier, up on the float, telling them to stay at the back, away from the llamas. Soon all four kids were settled into Santa’s sleigh, showing off candy and sharing it with Xavier. Skyler presented him with the mittens she’d chosen.

My attention went to Ben. Our gazes met.

“Can you believe it?” he asked as I went toward him.

There were people around, tons of them, but that wasn’t going to stop me from hugging him. Itwouldprevent me from kissing him till he forgot his name. I stretched to my toes and put my arms around him.

“I can’t believe any of it,” I said. “Never in a thousand years did I think you’d come up withthat.” I gestured with one hand to the float behind him but couldn’t quite pull myself away from him yet.

“It was mostly your son,” he said, pulling me in tight. “He had the idea for the sleigh and the llamas.”

“And you made it happen.” My eyes teared up. “Thank you.”

We managed to come out of the hug, conscious of the kids a few feet away and the rest of the world in view.

“We had so much fun, Ems. He has an incredible imagination. Plus I got to teach him to use power tools.

“He’s on top of the world. And that prize… A kayak, really?”

“A big, nice one from Lake Life Outfitters.”

“I guess I’m going kayaking next summer,” I said.

“And boating.”

“And boating,” I repeated.

The kids had found a fourth plastic bag, and the girls were absorbed in giving Xavier candy, piece by piece. I couldn’t help myself. I hugged Ben again.

“You get a special thank-you later tonight,” I whispered in his ear.

He growled low in his throat, which made me want to race home and thank him appropriately and privately right now. Unfortunately we had llamas and kids to see to.

I ended the hug long before I wanted to, still conscious of where we were.

“Working with Xav was sincerely my pleasure,” he said. “A complete joy. And today was a blast. Happy early Christmas to all of us.”

“Happy early Christmas,” I returned, unable to get the smile off my face.

“Now…we need to get these ladies home before they make an escape.” He gestured to the llamas.

I laughed and looped my arm with his in a friendly way as we went to coordinate llama transport with Knox.

This Christmas was looking like it could be the best ever.

ChapterTwenty-One

Emerson

Christmas was a week away.

The salon was having its best month yet, and in spite of all the hard work that entailed, my stylists were upbeat and festive, not to mention thrilled with their higher-than-usual holiday tips.

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