Page 48 of Grateful Hearts
Zach shook his head, giving her hands a gentle squeeze. “They don’t think that. In fact, they were pretty upset with me at first.” His grin broke through, disarming and full of warmth. He scooted a little closer, leaning in, his eyes intent on hers. “But they understand. And so do I. You were hurt in the worst way by someone who you trusted your heart with.”
His face was only inches from hers now, his voice a low murmur. “You’re the only woman I have eyes for, Chantel. I want nothing more than to see where this can go, to see where we can go. I know my job will make things hard sometimes, but if you’re willing to try, so am I.”
Her heart raced, the promise of his words sinking in. She nodded, unable to fully speak the emotion bubbling up inside her. She felt a thrill of warmth, a quiet sense of joy she hadn’t felt in ages.
Zach’s hand moved to her cheek, his thumb tracing her cheekbone with gentle reverence. His voice was hushed, filled with emotion. “We can figure out everything else later, but right now, all I want to do is kiss you.”
Without waiting for a response, he leaned in, his lips finding hers in a tender, lingering kiss. It was gentle at first, full of unspoken promises and the sweetness of a fresh beginning. Then, as his hand slid to the back of her neck, pulling her closer, the kiss deepened, filled with a passion that sent warmth flooding through her.
Wrapped in his arms, the doubts that had haunted her vanished, replaced with the undeniable pull between them. She kissed him back, matching his intensity, her fingers threading through his hair as she held him close, knowing this was exactly where she belonged.
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As they pulled apart, Zach kept his hand resting on Chantel’s cheek, his thumb brushing gently along her skin. Her eyes shone with a mixture of emotion, and he could see the faintest shimmer of tears. It was all he could do to keep himself grounded, to resist pulling her back into another kiss right then and there.
“Come home with me,” he murmured, his voice softer than he’d intended. “With us. It’s where you belong.”
Chantel looked down for a second, biting her lip, before meeting his gaze again. Her expression was tender, a bit overwhelmed, but a smile broke through. “Yes,” she said, voice thick with emotion. “The last few days with your family and with you it’s been the best holiday I’ve had since my parents passed. I want to see where this can go, too.” She took a breath, hervoice softening. “I know it won’t be easy, but I’m ready for a challenge.”
Zach’s heart swelled, and he couldn’t help the grin that broke over his face. “You know,” he said, keeping his tone as casual as possible though his heart was racing, “North Carolina has its fair share of challenges. It’s not quite as festive as Gatlinburg, but it’s got me.”
Chantel chuckled, rolling her eyes at his attempt to play it cool. “I’m up for wherever you are, Zach.”
The simple, heartfelt admission sent a surge of warmth through him. This was real. She was here, and she wanted to stay. “That’s all I needed to hear.”
They stood there for a moment, words not quite enough to capture what they were feeling. Zach couldn’t help himself. He wanted one more kiss, and he needed to feel her close to savor this rare moment of happiness. He leaned in again, catching her lips in a kiss that was soft but unhurried, filled with the promise of everything they hadn’t yet put into words. He could feel Chantel smile against him, her hands resting on his shoulders as she kissed him back, her warmth grounding him in a way he hadn’t felt before.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps and a round of voices approaching broke through their bubble. They pulled apart, but not fast enough, as Zach’s entire family emerged from around the corner, smiling and looking entirely too pleased with themselves. It was funny.
“Ewww!” Amira, Zach’s youngest niece, scrunched up her face, her hands dramatically covering her eyes. “Uncle Zach, you’re smooching!”
Laughter rippled through the group. Zach groaned, running a hand over his face, though he couldn’t keep a smile from tugging at his lips.
Chantel giggled, her cheeks flushed, but she looked happier than ever, taking it all in stride. Zach’s mom leaned in, whispering just loud enough for the group to hear, “Welcome to the family, Chantel.”
“Thank you,” Chantel said, her voice soft with sincerity.
His brothers didn’t miss a beat, clapping Zach on the back in an exaggerated show of support. “Nice work, Zach,” Ethan said with a wink. “I have to admit. I had my doubts that you could win her over.”
Zach chuckled, shaking his head but letting them have their fun. They’d driven all this way to bring her back, after all. With a grateful smile, he slipped his arm around Chantel’s shoulders and steered her toward the family.
“Alright, everyone, let’s go,” he said, glancing at Chantel.
Chantel smiled, leaning her head against him as they began to walk together, everyone chatting and laughing, blending into the holiday crowd as if they were just one big, happy family. At that moment, Zach felt like the luckiest guy in the world.
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The brisk November air brushed against Chantel’s cheeks as she walked hand-in-hand with Zach. Happiness warmed her from the inside out, drowning out the cold. His family trailed behind them, their cheerful chatter creating a comforting backdrop. Chantel glanced at Zach, her heart swelling.
She squeezed his hand and smiled. Zach wasn’t just kind and thoughtful. He was genuine, the kind of man who made her want to believe in love again.
When they reached the hotel and entered the lobby, her steps faltered, and her stomach dropped. Standing by the concierge desk was Mario.
Chantel’s grip on Zach’s hand tightened as disgust washed over her. Mario hadn’t changed. His tailored suit screamed arrogance, and his slick smile only deepened her unease. How dare he show up here, of all places. An even better question was, how did he find her?
“Chantel,” Mario said, his voice low and cutting as his eyes narrowed at her and Zach’s clasped hands.
She drew herself up, glaring at him. “What are you doing here, Mario?”