Page 46 of Must Love Mistletoe

“Especially then. Retreat, Samwise.

Sam beamed. “Are you really going to be my dad?”

“Yes. Not a replacement. I know who sired you and loved you, but I will always be there for you for as long as I live. You want a piggyback?” Because he was as strong as an ox, as true as the North Star, and he could carry that load.

“I can walk. But you could piggyback Mom. She feels a bit cold.”

So, Cal forged his way back to the barn with a guard dog taking point, Beth on his back, and Sam holding on to the edge of Cal’s coat as he tucked in behind them.

“Wolves, man,” Sam said when he reached the barn and the various Caseys who’d arrived and had just been about to head out after them. “Unbelievable. They came for Bo, because I’m pretty sure Bo’s part wolf. And Chessie must have been like, running with the wolves, except she and Bo got left behind so she came and found people who could protect her and Bo. But Bo wants to be a wolf more than he wants to be with people, so he begged to be one again, and they weren’t sure they should take him, and they didn’t like me being with him at all. You should have seen the standoff. It was wild! Is that what you think happened, Cal?”

“Sounds about right.” Maybe this motormouth kid could teach him a little something about keeping a crowd spellbound.

“And guess what?” Sam told the people gathered. “I’m going to be a proper Casey.” He hiked a thumb in Beth and Cal’s direction. “They’re getting married!”

Chapter Fifteen

Christmas morning dawnedcold and clear, and Sam soon-to-be Casey couldn’t wait to get up and greet it. He’d spent Christmas Eve at Cal’s place in a bedroom Cal had decorated just for him, and they’d have Christmas breakfast here before moving on to Nanna Savannah’s for lunch and then back home for dinner with his cousins and aunts and uncles and other grandma. Those guests were already at the house, because his mom had kept her promise to make it the biggest and best Christmas they would ever have in the house he’d grown up in. He missed his dad and always would but second chances like these were rarer than elephants in a snowstorm and he was going to hold on to it as hard as he could.

Sam was going to make sure Cal Caseyneverregretted taking a chance on him, and that was a promise.

He let his hand flop off the bed and soon enough it met a wet nose and the fur of Chessie’s head. Ever since her pup had left, she’d been allowed inside all the time, and she always found her way to Sam’s side eventually. Cal even had a dog bed set up for her. “I made you a collar for Christmas, Chess. You’re gonna love it.” He’d made other gifts, too, and he couldn’t wait to give them out. He had a big family to care for now. Huge. And he loved being part of it.

His mom was still taking the rental in town for when she worked night shift or when Sam had baseball practice, because he was on the team now, and the rest of the time they’d be living right here with Cal.

Seth had already drawn up the plans for a second story.

The wolf pack had gone but Sam figured they’d return one day. He hoped so, for Chessie’s sake.

It’d be good to see Bo again.

Flinging the bedcovers aside, Sam made his way out of bed and into the kitchen, and he really needed to learn how to make plenty of noise when he was coming or going, because Cal and Mom were already in the kitchen, and there was a little velvet ring box on the table, and country music was playing sweet and slow, and the kettle was whistling, and it probably wasn’t going to make a lick of difference how noisy he was, because they were kissing again, all wrapped up in each other with not one inch of daylight between them.

Kissing beneath the mistletoe.

*

Looking for another fabulous Kelly Hunter Casey family Christmas story? Try this excerpt from Must Love Christmas! It’s the start of Jett and Maddie’sstory.

*

“Morning, Lila.” MadelineLove, only offspring of Wall Street moneymaker Jonas Love, tried to glide rather than rush toward the skyscraper’s bank of private elevators. “Is it midday yet?”

“Two minutes to go.” The elevator doors opened, and Lila put out her arm to keep them that way until Madeline got in. “Great outfit. Love those colors on you.”

“You think so? I try.” She always tried to look her best when meeting her father. Today she wore suede boots and a matching skirt in the exact same caramel color as her eyes. She’d addedan ivory silk shirt with an off-center bow at the neck and topped it with a lightweight cashmere coat in Persian blue. Her coat ended just above her skirt and the slender cut made the most of her slight curves. “My father’s taking me out to lunch, fingers crossed.”

The doors closed on Lila’s, “Good luck.”

Knees and heels together, Madeline leaned forward to check her appearance in the mirrored wall. She tidied her silky auburn waves as best she could before leaning closer and checking her teeth for lipstick. By the time the lift doors opened she was a picture of hopeful serenity.

She wasn’t late. She was right on time.

The lift opened into her father’s outer reception area and the first person she saw was her father’s loyal executive secretary. “Good morning, Symonds.”

“Happy birthday, Miss Madeline.” He gestured to an enormous bouquet of peonies peppered with whimsical greenery. “Don’t forget to pick up your flowers on the way out.”

“You never forget. And you always remember the flowers I like best. Is he free?”

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