Page 25 of Grateful Hearts

Chantel nodded. “Really.”

“Mommy, did you hear that? Ms. Chantel is going to teach me to make her secret mac and cheese.”

Jocelyn chuckled. “I did hear that.”

Without another word, Amira darted back inside the house, saying that she was hungry.

Chantel was smiling as she stood back up.

“That was very sweet of you, Chantel,” Jocelyn said.

“It’s my pleasure. I was around Amira’s age when I first got interested in cooking. You never know. Maybe you’ll have a little chef on your hands.”

“She loves learning new things,” Jocelyn told her, then glared at Bear. “Though some are not kid-appropriate.”

Bear’s cheeks turned a shade of red. “Joce, I’ve already apologized, and you have to admit, I’ve been watching my words around her.”

“Bear, she called her classmate a chicken shit.”

Chantel tried not to laugh, but then Zach started laughing. His deep, resounding sound sent tingles through Chantel’s body. Even his laugh was sexy.

As if sensing his brother’s need to get out of the situation, Zach spoke up.

“Well, you guys are probably tired from the drive. Plus, Amira said she was hungry. There’s plenty of pizza left.”

“Saved by the brother,” Jocelyn teased, which made everyone laugh.

As they headed back inside, Amira’s voice echoed through the house, excitedly announcing her new role as “soup chef” to anyone who would listen.

Before Chantel stepped back inside the house, Zach stopped her, placing his hand on her arm. When she looked up at him, his eyes were full of affection.

“Are you sure that you’re okay?” he asked.

She knew he was referring to Mario’s message.

She smiled up at him. “I’m good. You have a wonderful family.”

He grinned. “I think they think that you are pretty great too.”

Chantel felt a lightness settle over her, the earlier tension from Mario’s message fading with each laugh and shared moment.

As she followed Zach back inside, the warmth of the house wrapped around her like a blanket.

For now, she was content. Mario could wait another day.

Chapter Nine

The following day, Chantel groaned as her alarm buzzed earlier than usual. She’d set it with the intention of surprising Zach and his family by making breakfast for them.

Blinking her eyes open, she reached for her phone on the nightstand and hit the snooze button.

The sun wasn’t up yet, and neither was her brain. Half-asleep, she pulled herself out of bed, made her way over to her suitcase, and grabbed her toiletry bag and her clothes for the day.

She opened the bedroom door and listened. The house was quiet, making her believe that everyone was still asleep, which was perfect.

Her bare feet padded lightly against the hardwood floor as she crossed the hall, making her way to the bathroom.

She turned the knob on the door and stepped inside.

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