Page 46 of Always Be Mine

Lucy looked to Craig, who mimicked his daughter, dramatically dragging out each syllable of the word.

She gave in with a laugh. “Okay, okay. I’ll have some hot chocolate before I go.” She accepted the mug from Craig and moved to the table. “You two sure know how to lay on the guilt trip, hey?”

“It’s kind of Meri’s specialty.” Craig winked at his daughter as he took his seat. “And it’s not something I encourage.” He tried to look stern. “But in this situation, I think it’s warranted.”

His face grew serious as he looked at her, and Lucy felt that same heat wash over her as earlier when he’d wiped the snow from her cheek.

She picked up her mug more as a means to hide behind it than to drink her hot cocoa. Whatever that had been outside, it had affected her more than she cared to admit.Had they almost kissed again?

The way he’d looked at her…his breathing…it felt like…

She shook her head clear, unwilling to let her thoughts travel down that path.

Professional distance was important. And given the fact that her stomach did a crazy flip every time he was near, that distance was going to be crucial.

“You really don’t have to rush off when I get home, Lucy. I want you to feel comfortable here. I mean, you are spending a lot of time here and…well, I don’t want you to feel like youhaveto linger either.” Flustered, he waved his hand in the air. “I mean, I know you have things to do and dates and…anyway. I think I’m making a mess of this.”

“It’s okay.” His awkwardness was endearing and oddly, it put her at ease with him. “I don’t mean to rush out, it’s just?—”

“Dad, can I watch a show before dinner?”

Lucy sat back and watched as Craig negotiated one thirty-minute show with his daughter before she helped set the table, who was happy enough to accept the offer. She gulped down the rest of her hot chocolate and jumped down from her chair.

But before running from the room, Meri wrapped her arms around Lucy. “Thank you for our snow princess,” she said. “It was the best day.”

Lucy returned the hug, but before she could say anything in return, Meri had turned and skipped from the room. She pressed her hand to her chest and swallowed hard.

“I think she likes you.”

Lucy blinked and turned to Craig, who was beaming. “I really like her, too. She’s a great kid,” Lucy answered honestly. “I think it’s going really well.”

“I’m really glad to hear it.” Craig put his mug down and placed both hands on the table in front of him, his demeanor suddenly serious. “I don’t think it’s a secret that I wasn’t sure about this whole thing, and I hate to admit that my little sister might have been right, but I think having you around is going to be really good for her.”

And me,Lucy thought. The longer she spent with Meri in the little town of Trickle Creek, the more she could feel herself starting to heal.

Maybe everything really did happen for a reason, and everything she’d gone through with Ross back in Vancouver had led her to the mountains and this job.

“I know it’s not ideal. And I’m really sorry about the short notice, but there’s really nothing I can do about it.”

Lucy shook her head as she realized she’d completely missed what Craig was saying. “Sorry? I was…do about what?”

The look on his face worried her. He wouldn’t meet her eyes.

“Craig? What can’t you do anything about?”

“I’m sorry, Lucy. This whole situation is a little crazy, and I know that living here probably wasn’t what you were looking for when you took this job but?—”

“Wait.” She set her mug down a little too hard on the table and hot chocolate splashed out over the rim. “What are you talking about, living here?” Her mind raced to keep up—or catch up—with the conversation. “I’m living above the Sugar Shack. You said I could stay there since you?—”

“I know what I said.” He cut her off gently. “And I know this is coming out of left field, but when I offered you the apartment, I didn’t think it through, and Chase has offered it to our new chocolatier and…” He waved away the explanation he was muddling through. “I guess it doesn’t really matterwhyit’s happening, but itishappening, Lucy. I’m really sorry.”

She shook her head and blew out a breath. “So you want me to live here? In this house? With you and Meri?”

“The short-term rental situation in Trickle Creek is crazy because of the tourism, so there’s really not a lot of options. I have a spare room, and you’d still have all your time off to do whatever it is you want. I’d respect your boundaries and?—”

She held up a hand to stop him. As hard as it was to wrap her head around everything he was telling her, she could see how difficult it was for Craig to bring it up. She placed her hand atop his.

Slowly, Craig looked up into her eyes. “I really am sorry to spring this on you, Lucy, and I really hope we can work it out because Meri…” He shook his head. “Well, because Meri’s doing really great with you, and I’d hate to ruin all that because of this.”

---