Page 39 of Grateful Hearts

That was all the encouragement Zach needed. He leaned down, brushing his lips against hers. The first kiss was slow and tentative as if testing the waters, but it quickly deepened, becoming something neither of them could deny they wanted.

The kiss soon deepened, growing from sweet and tender to something more urgent, more consuming. Her fingers curled into his shirt as his hands slid to her back, pulling her closer. It was everything and more—soft, electric, and utterly perfect.

Then the pantry door flew open.

“Holy—” Jenelle gasped, her voice quickly turning to laughter. Clover stood beside her, a grin splitting her face.

“Well, well,” Clover said, crossing her arms. “Looks like the pantry is the hot spot this week.”

Chantel broke away from Zach, burying her face in her hands. “Oh my god.”

Before she could say anything else, the commotion in the kitchen drew more attention. Bear appeared behind Jenelle, followed by Ethan and Justin.

“What’s going on in here?” Bear asked, peeking around his mom before his eyes widened and shit eating grin formed on his lips. “Ohhh, pantry shenanigans, huh?” He looked at Zach with an amused expression.

“First Bear and Jocelyn, then Clover and Joker, and now you two? Should we just rename it the Spice Chamber or maybe the Snack Shack of Shame?” Ethan said, his voice was full of amusement.

The room erupted into laughter.Zach, however, was completely unbothered. He laughed, his hands still on Chantel’s waist as he turned to address the crowd. “Alright, alright, the show’s over. Everyone out.”

As the family slowly dispersed, still laughing and teasing, Zach leaned close to Chantel and whispered, “Guess we’ll have to finish that kiss later.”

Her cheeks burned, but she smiled. “You’re impossible.”

He grinned and kissed her cheek. “And you love it.”

Justin then interrupted them.

“Hey, Zach! Are you still planning on going to the pool hall tonight?”

Zach had completely forgotten about their Annual Thanksgiving pool hall night. It was a Walker sibling tradition. Every Thanksgiving Eve, the Walker siblings would head intotown for a night of fun at the local pool hall. It was also their way of catching up with friends who they didn’t get to see often.

He looked at Justin. “Yeah. I’ll be there,” he told him, then looked at Chantel.

“Do you like to play pool, Chantel?”

She bit her lip. “I can’t say that I’ve ever really played. But I wouldn’t object to learning,” she told him as she smiled at him.

He grinned. “It’s a date then. We’ll head out around six.”

“I’ll be ready.”

Chapter Sixteen

The pool hall was buzzing with Thanksgiving Eve energy, familiar faces, and old friends coming together to celebrate before the big family meals tomorrow. Zach leaned against the wall, pool cue in hand, watching Bear and Joker challenge each other at a game on one of the tables. His younger brother Ethan was somewhere in the crowd, reconnecting with people he hadn’t seen in a while.

Zach tried to focus on the easy banter and laughter around him, but his mind kept drifting to Chantel. He’d made himself stay out of her way all day, knowing she was busy preparing food for Thanksgiving, but it hadn’t stopped him from sneaking a few peeks whenever he got the chance. Every time he caught a glimpse of her, the memory of their kiss flooded back to him, filling him with a warmth he hadn’t expected.

That kiss. He could still feel the way she fit perfectly in his arms, the softness of her lips, the spark that lit him up from the inside the second they connected. He’d dated before, sure, but nothing had ever felt like that. And now, he found himself craving more—more of her, more of those moments. He couldn’t help but feel a little anxious tonight, knowing that she’d be walking through those doors soon.

“Yo, Zach,” a voice called, snapping him out of his thoughts. He turned to see Johnny, one of his old high school friends, leaning casually against the bar, giving him a grin. Johnny had always been a ladies' man, a big-time flirt known for leaving the pool hall with a different girl on his arm each night. Zach liked Johnny well enough, but that reputation didn’t sit well with him tonight. Not with Chantel on his mind.

As if on cue, the door to the pool hall swung open, and Zach’s heart jumped. Chantel walked in, arm-in-arm with Clover. She looked stunning in a pair of form-fitting jeans and a soft green sweater that hung off one shoulder, her thick, brown hair cascading down her back. His fingers practically itched to run through it.

He couldn’t quite believe how strong his feelings for her were becoming. He’d never planned on letting himself fall for someone, not with his life in the military. It didn’t seem fair to anyone, with his schedule being so unpredictable. But maybe he’d been wrong. If Bear could make it work with Jocelyn and their two kids, and Clover could be engaged to Joker, then maybe, just maybe, he could make it work with Chantel.

His gaze followed her as she and Clover made their way through the crowd. Clover quickly went over to Joker, leaving Chantel to make her way toward him. His pulse quickened as she approached, each step making him feel more nervous and excited.

But just before she reached him, Johnny stepped in front of her, blocking her path. Zach’s jaw tightened, irritation flaring in his chest. He watched Johnny smile at her with that charming grin and heard him say, “Well, hello, gorgeous. Where did you come from?”

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