Free A Little Bit of Holiday Magic by Melissa McClone

little body underneath. It was like holding on to a stuffed animal.
    Grace snapped more pictures. The kid stuck in the carrot.
    “That’s much better.”
    The click of the camera continued.
    “Good job.” Bill released Liam. “Does Frosty need anything else?”
    The kid studied the snowman like an art dealer appraising a van Gogh. “Frosty good.”
    She took another picture. “Awesome.”
    The darkening sky told Bill more snow was on the way. Best to make the most of the reprieve from the storm. “Time to make snow angels.”
    “Snow angels?” Liam’s scarf muffled the words.
    Grace stepped forward. “Georgia Christmases are more green than white. We’ve never done that before.”
    “Then it’s a good thing you came to Hood Hamlet, because we always have white Christmases.” Bill held Liam’s hand. Bill’s dad never taught him to do anything outdoors. It had been his mom, then Nick and Jake. “I grew up making angels. I’ll show you how.”
    Bill walked to a canvas of fresh snow in front of a semicircle of tall pines. He released Liam’s hand. “Do you know how to do a jumping jack?”
    Liam did five.
    “That’s all you have to do, except you’re not standing up.” Bill lay on the snow with his arms extended. The cold seeped into him, a familiar feeling. “Get down like this, then do a jumping jack.”
    He flapped his arms up and down, scissored his legs in and out, flattening the snow on either side of his body. He carefully rose, then motioned to his creation. “Look what I made.”
    “Angel. Angel.” Liam’s eyes widened. “I want to make one.”
    “You can make as many as you want.” Bill looked at Grace. “Trigger finger ready?”
    She positioned her camera. “The first one is going on video.”
    “Start here, bud.” Bill pointed to a patch of snow. “Lie down.”
    Liam did.
    Bill talked him through the steps.
    The padding of winter clothing hampered the boy’s movements, but he didn’t give up. The grin on his face grew with each sweep of snow. Giggles filled the air.
    Bill clapped, his gloves muting the sound. Playing with Liam and making Grace smile was like a siren’s call, but no matter how seductive, he wasn’t ready for a family long-term. He would end up blowing it just as his dad kept doing. Bill needed to hold on to reality. His reality. “You’re an expert angel-making boy.”
    “Again. Again.”
    “Let me help you up so you can make another.” He held out his arm and pulled Liam to his feet, then glanced at Grace. “I’m going to have a yardful of angel Liams.”
    “He doesn’t—”
    “It’s fine.” Bill aimed a disarming smile in her direction. One he hoped told her she could relax. All was well. And would remain that way today.
    Liam fell on his butt. Instead of standing, he made an angel right there.
    Grace snapped a picture.
    Bill motioned to a fresh patch of snow. “Give me the camera. I want to see you make a snow angel.”
    She just clutched it tighter. “I’m taking pictures so I can make a scrapbook page.”
    “Capturing memories is good, but making them is better.”
    Her nose scrunched. “I like both kinds.”
    “You make the angel. I’ll take the pictures.”
    She gripped the camera. “I don’t—”
    “Mommy angel.” Liam was covered in snow and smiling. “Mommy needs to make an angel.”
    Her mouth quirked.
    Way to go, little dude.
    Grace was trapped.
    About time.
    Bill couldn’t get her up in the tree this morning, but he’d damn well get her down in the snow now.
    Come on, Gracie. Let go. Show me what you’re made of.

CHAPTER FIVE
    M ORE   SNOW   FELL   from the sky, bigger flakes than before. Bill extended his arm toward Grace. “I’ll make sure I get this on video, too.”
    She gave up her camera, then stuck out her tongue.
    He focused the lens on her. “Do that again.”
    She feigned innocence, raising her hands in the air, palms up. “Do what?”
    Grace Wilcox had a devilish side. That intrigued him. A good thing