Page 33 of Grateful Hearts

She spun around to see Zach, a snowball in hand and a smirk on his face. “You’re in a war zone now.”

The kids squealed and ducked behind Chantel as snowballs started flying from all directions. The men had clearly teamed up against the women and children, and chaos quickly erupted.

Chantel couldn’t stop laughing as she dodged and threw snowballs. Amira and Max tried valiantly to shield her, their giggles only adding to the fun.

Zach managed to lob one her way, but she narrowly avoided it—only to get pelted by Justin from the side.

“Traitor!” she called out, laughing so hard her sides ached.

Snow flew everywhere, and for the first time in many years, Chantel felt a deep sense of belonging. This wasn’t just Zach’s family. For a moment, it felt like her family, too.

Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Zach sneaking up behind her until it was too late.

“Gotcha!”

Before she could react, he tackled her gently into the snow. The impact was soft, cushioned by both the snow and his arms, but the cold against her back made her gasp.

She looked up at him, laughing breathlessly, as he propped himself partially over her, his face mere inches from hers. His gray eyes softened, his grin fading into something more serious.

“Having fun yet?” he asked, his voice low and teasing.

“More than I expected,” she admitted, her heart racing.

He leaned in, his breath warm despite the icy chill surrounding them. Her pulse quickened as their laughter faded into a moment of quiet anticipation.

“Uncle Zach!” Max’s voice shattered the moment. “Come on. We’re cold and hungry!”

Zach groaned, resting his forehead against hers for a second before pulling back with a sheepish grin. “Saved by the kids,” he muttered.

Chantel laughed, brushing snow from her coat as he helped her to her feet. A small part of her felt robbed, but another partwhispered that maybe it was for the best. Were things moving too fast between them?

Zach’s hand lingered on hers as they gathered everyone and headed toward the house.

“How about I make my famous double grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato rice soup?” Chantel offered as they stepped inside, the warmth of the house wrapping around them.

The kids cheered, and Zach’s smile returned. “You had me at grilled cheese.”

Her laugh echoed through the kitchen as she set to work, her heart lighter than it had been in years. Snow-covered and surrounded by laughter, she realized this wasn’t just a holiday with Zach’s family—it was the beginning of something new.

Chapter Twelve

Joker stood in the kitchen. The diamond ring he planned to propose to Clover with was sparking in his hand. He took a deep breath and practiced his speech for the hundredth time.

He was getting ready to walk into the dining room, where everyone was finishing up their late lunch, and he was going to propose to Clover.

“Clover, you are my everything, and I can’t imagine my life without you. I want our story to—”

He suddenly heard footsteps approaching. Panicking, he looked around for a place to hide. Seeing the first door his eyes found, he dashed into the pantry, gently closing the door behind him just in time as he heard Clover’s voice entering the kitchen.

“Hey, Dad,” Clover shouted, her voice coming from just outside the pantry door. “I’ll grab those oyster crackers that you like with soup.”

Shit!Joker’s heart started to race. His track pants had no pockets, and there was no place to hide the ring. Thinking quickly, he grabbed a box of Captain Crunch from the shelf and shoved the ring inside.

The slight jiggle of the doorknob threw his heart into overdrive. Before he could blink, the door swung open, and Clover stood there, her eyes wide with surprise, staring at him.

“Joker? What are you doing in the pantry in the dark and with a box of Captain Crunch?”

He forced a smile, trying to act nonchalant. “Uh, just getting some cereal,” he told her, holding up the cereal box.

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