Perfect Embrace (Mason Creek)

“I have been thinking about it.”

“Good. That’s all that I can ask for.” The chime on the door alerts me to a customer. “I have to go. I’ll call you later. Kiss Trace for me, and tell him to enjoy his ice cream.”

“Will do. Talk to you later.”

“Bye,” I say, ending the call and turning to face the counter.

“Miss Waken!” two gorgeous little girls greet me.

“Hello to you too,” I reply with a smile. “How are you today, ladies?” I ask them, making eye contact with their grandmother Christine.

“We’re so good,” Harlow replies. She’s just a little shorter than her twin sister, Hayden. It took me a few visits to be able to tell them apart, and now it’s easy to see. Harlow is also the more outgoing twin. Both girls have energetic personalities, but Hayden seems to be okay with letting her sister take charge. Hayden is also just a little taller than her sister.

“Nana Chrissy said we can both get a new book!” Hayden exclaims.

I can’t help but smile at the two of them. “Well, you better start looking.” The words are barely out of my mouth before they’re sprinting off to the children’s books. “How are you, Christine?” I ask their grandmother. It’s usually Grayson’s mom, Jackie, who brings them into the store.

“Those two”—she shakes her head—“are impossible to say no to. Grayson tells me that I spoil them, but I just—” She shrugs as tears well in her eyes.

Reaching out, I grab her hand, giving it a soft squeeze. “I’m so sorry for your loss.” I don’t know what else to say. It’s been three years since Grayson Davis lost his wife and the mother of his twin girls. Holly was also Christine’s daughter. Her pain radiates from her. Then again, she lost two daughters that night. Holly’s sister, Heidi, was in the same accident. Mason Creek is a small town. We all see how she clings to the twins, and not one single person can blame her for that. It’s her only connection to her daughter Holly.

“How about a coffee?” I ask.

“That would be wonderful.” She smiles. “I was headed to Stitches next door, and those two insisted on stopping. I know Jackie usually brings them. They talk about you and this place all the time.”

“About once a week,” I tell her as I get to work making her coffee. I have a variety of coffee and tea, as well as a few bottled drinks and pastries for my customers. No, I don’t make them. I mean, I know how to bake, but not on this level. I stop by the bakery across town every morning and grab a small selection to serve to my customers throughout the day. At the end of the day, I usually walk what’s left of the treats, if there are any, to the firehouse. Those guys work hard and enjoy the treats. At least they seem to.

I mean, giving them some leftover pastries is the least that I can do after the show they give me. I live in a small apartment above the bookstore. The firehouse is just down the street. The guys wash the trucks behind the building closest to my building, and I’m not ashamed to admit that I’ve peered out my window a time or two, taking in the show. Trust me. You would too if you were me.

“Here you go.” I hand Christine her usual.

“Thank you, Laken.”

“Nana, look!” Hayden comes running. “It’s bunnies.” She smiles.

“I see that. What about your sister? Did she find one?”

“Yep!” Harlow skips over to where we stand and holds up her book.

“Sheep. Good choice, ladies.”

“Will you read to us?” they ask at the same time.

“Girls, Nana has to run next door to the seamstress to see if the shirt I dropped off for Pap is ready. Maybe another time.”

“You can leave them here,” I tell her.

“I don’t know. I can’t imagine Grayson liking that.”

I try not to let her comment sting. I know he’s protective of his daughters. “The offer stands.”

“Just… let me call him.” She steps away, and I hear her talking on the phone. She comes back and smiles. “He’s just getting off work. He’s going to be right over. As soon as he gets here, I’ll walk next door.”

I try not to let it get to me that the sexy Grayson doesn’t want me left alone with his children, but it kind of stings. Then again, I understand. He lost their mother tragically, and those two angels are all that he has left of her. The sting, though, it’s still there.

“Why don’t you ladies go grab a spot in the reading nook and I’ll be right there?”

“He’s protective,” Christine says once the girls are out of earshot.

“It’s fine.” Walking behind the counter, I reach for the sign that says Reading in session, please ring the bell for service and place it on the counter. “All set.” Grabbing my coffee, I smile at her. “He’s their father, and even though we’ve all lived in this town our entire lives, I’m a stranger to him and to them.”