Page 24 of Oh My Secret Christmas Baby
“Do you want to know?” Hollis asks, letting me know it’s my choice.
“If you do.”
“Right now all I care about is keeping that precious smile on your face.”
“Can you write it down on a piece of paper? Maybe we could open it on Christmas.” I’ll be here for Christmas, right? I already just assumed without a thought.
“I love that idea,” Hollis says in agreement, confirming it.
Yeah, and I think I might be falling in love with him.
Chapter Twelve
HOLLIS
It's hard to get a read on Candy. I think she might be in shock, but I can also tell she wants to tell me something. I could see that when she was on the exam table. I have been trying to show her that it doesn’t matter what it is. I’ll handle it. That there’s nothing she could say that would deter me from loving her, wanting her, and making her mine forever.
I watch as she talks to Rosemary, the owner of Snowflake Sweetery. It was the last stop before we headed back to the house. My phone has gone off a few times, but I’m ignoring it for now. I’ll handle whatever it is later. If it was big, then Kindred would have popped up.
“Now try this one.” Rosemary gives her a small spoonful of icing covered in green and red sprinkles. Rosemary is known for her frosting. People travel here for it alone.
I take a sip of my coffee and wink at Candy when she glances my way. I’ve sat down at one of the little tables that makes me feel like more of a giant than I already do.
A small moan leaves her, and I grit the back of my teeth. I swear I can still taste her sugary sweetness on my tongue. Rosemary says something to her that has Candy throwing back her head and laughing. It makes me smile in return.
When I moved to New Hope, there were whispers about love and romance being different here. I hadn’t given it much thought. I was sure it was a small-town tale, but that said, it’s a fact that there has never been a divorce in this town. Hell, there aren’t any scandals either around relationships.
They say when you find the one in New Hope, you’ll be bound together forever. Now, I’m starting to think maybe I shouldn’t have ignored those tales or rolled my eyes when I heard them. That to me went way beyond Christmas magic, but I was wrong, and I’ll happily eat my words.
I quickly stand when I see the pile of boxes that Rosemary has put together.
"Oh my gosh, this is far too much."
"You have to do a taste test, and then you pick which are your favorites, and I'll make sure the Christmas party has them," Rosemary tells her. Candy flicks a glance toward me.
"We'd appreciate that."
I make a mental note to get Candy not only a credit card but also a bank account solely in her name. She doesn't need to be looking to me if she wants to spend money. I want her to do whatever makes her happy. Giving her a sense of security and stability is what does that for me.
It's not as though I don't have the money to spend. I have done well in my life, and I'm pretty modest. There isn't much for me to splurge on. I think I would bring me great pleasure watching Candy enjoy it.
She could do whatever her little heart desires with it. Whether it be for items for the house, herself, or the babies.
Babies.
That thought should freak me out, and it does, around Candy and her health. Giving birth to twins will be harder on her body, but the idea of having two little ones isn't a hardship for me.
It's interesting how you don't know how much you long for something until it's there and a possibility. I'm starting to wonder if I was trying to convince myself I hadn't wanted those things because I didn't think it was possible. Candy changed all that the moment she walked into my life. She ignited a piece of me that I didn’t know existed. The possibilities seem endless now.
“Is there anything else you need?” I ask Candy, coming up behind her and wrapping her in my arms. She leans back into me, and it settles something deep inside my chest. She was made for me and vice versa.
“I think I got more than enough.” She turns her head up toward me. I can’t stop myself from leaning down to kiss her. I easily engulf her small frame with mine. If anyone were to walk into the bakery, they wouldn’t even be able to see her.
"I don't want to interrupt," Rosemary says with a pleased smirk. "But I'm closing up. You two should get home for the night. A snowstorm is coming in."
A snowstorm is always coming in, but it's endearing how the town is fully in support of Candy and me.
"It was really nice seeing you," Candy tells her. "Thanks for everything."
