Page 21 of One More Yule Log
Then it was Liv’s turn, and she lit up the stage. Focused, practiced, and proud—she sang her little heart out and he soaked up every second.
His whole body felt full and his smile just kept stretching. God, he loved that little girl. And how nice was it to have someone there to hold his hand and enjoy it with him?
He thought Dale would approve. He hoped so, because he sure approved. He was tired of being lonely.
Not that Ben was going to be all serious about Gray after two…meetings? Dates? Was this a date?
It was a date. They were holding hands.
Totally a date.
He glanced over, and Gray was just beaming. Yeah. This was amazing.
As soon as they were done, Ben stood up, applauding and hooting and hollering.
Okay so, he was that dad.
Gray joined him, so he wasn’t embarrassing anyone but maybe his girl, though she was bowing to him.
The girls were the last to go, and he pulled out a box with three bouquets of roses, handing them to Gray. “Go on. They’ll be so pleased.”
“Oh are you sure? The others don’t know me.”
“Liv will introduce you.”
She needed another admirer, and he had three single roses for all of them.
Gray nodded before striding off to the stage area, where he handed each girl their wee bouquet. Liv bounced and twirled, and he could see her talking hard.
Gray was handsome, spending time with each little girl, turning the warm smile on each of them. Those dark brown eyes crinkled at the corners, that sunshot hair a little too long around the ears, but he could see hard work in every line of Gray’s wide shoulders and big hands.
He swallowed hard. That was so his type.
Gray looked over at him, smiled, and he melted.
“Did I do good, Daddy?” Liv pelted toward him to give him a hug, bashing him in the back of the head with her roses when he bent down to hug her.
“You were amazing. All that practice so worked out. I’m so proud.”
“Thank you!” She kissed his cheek. “That was so fun!”
“Thank you for inviting me, ma’am. I’m honored.”
“Daddy!”
He laughed, then bent to hug Emily and Rachel, who had dragged Gray with them. “Thank you for the flowers!”
“Thank you for the amazing show. I was blown away.”
“Thank you. My dad will send you the video,” Emily said. “Did you bring meatballs?”
“I did.”
“Shall we get a plate?” Gray asked. “I have to try them.”
“Absolutely. Y’all okay? You girls need anything.”
“We got this, Daddy.” She was so grown.
