We Need a Little Christmas by Sierra Donovan

stomach. Her whole face softened, and their rough moment seemed to be over. Rachel never had been one to stay in a bad mood for long. But Liv didn’t want to get off the hook that easily.
    â€œI’ve got a lot to make up for,” Liv said. “Work me like a dog while I’m here.”
    â€œLike I could stop you.” Rachel smiled ruefully. “Don’t think I’ve forgotten all the times you did my chores for me when I was backed up on my homework.”
    â€œYeah, but what you really wanted was for me to do the homework .”
    â€œI’ve grown up since then.”
    Impulsively, Liv stood up and hugged her. “I noticed.”

Chapter 9
    â€œHave you got me on speed dial yet?” Scott caught himself grinning as Liv opened Nammy’s front door.
    She regarded him with one of her serious looks. “This is only the second time.”
    Put me on speed dial anyway.
    He couldn’t help it. The more dressed-down Liv got, the more she got to him. Today she’d tugged her long chestnut waves up into an impatient ponytail. She wore jeans again with a different sweatshirt, this one with an anchor logo. In what was quickly becoming a habit, Scott looked down at her shoes. Tennies again. With little anchors.
    She stepped back to usher him in, and Scott entered with a sense of déjà vu. A new to-go pile stood stacked near the front door, so they’d made some progress since he was here last. The living room furniture was still untouched, but as he followed Liv, he saw the kitchen was taking on a stripped-down look, with more boxes and chaos.
    He greeted Rachel, and Faye, who sat in the same chair with her foot propped on a footstool. Scott turned off to the hallway leading to the garage and the heater. He was pretty sure what he’d find, and the method he’d tried before was clearly a temporary fix at best. He’d have to own up. He hated that.
    Scott made a note of the manufacturer’s name. He’d contact them first. That way he’d have something more concrete to tell Liv and her family.
    He got back into the dining area in time to hear the whoosh as the heater kicked on.
    Liv stood waiting near the stove. “Now, Scotty, we’re not taking no for an answer this time,” she said. “We really appreciate your help. But you need to tell us what we owe you.”
    She wore her best serious, all-business expression, and Scott suspected she was trying to make him forget the way she’d crumpled up in front of him the other day. He could understand that. But she did have a way of overcompensating.
    â€œI didn’t really do much of anything,” he said, more truthfully than she knew.
    â€œWe’re taking time away from your work,” Liv insisted.
    Scott leaned against the frame of the doorway between the kitchen and the hall. “We went over this the other day. You know the answer. You don’t owe me anything.”
    He wanted to add, Don’t make me clunk you with a stick. It might startle Liv into a smile. But out of context, it wouldn’t sound right to Faye and Rachel.
    Rachel joined the debate. “Scotty, picking Liv up at the airport is one thing. This is your livelihood.”
    Liv sent her sister an appreciative nod.
    â€œSeriously, Scotty—” Liv’s mother began.
    Scott put up his hand. “Here’s the story. Olivia was my favorite customer. Anything I can do for you ladies, I feel like I’m doing for her. So I’d appreciate it if you’d stop giving me guff about it.” He smiled to lighten the jibe. “Besides, with all the business she threw my way, I’m halfway to retirement already.”
    He hoped they wouldn’t see through that one. In point of fact, he hadn’t taken money from Olivia half the time either. Especially when he ended up taking her on one of those home-improvement store runs. More often than not, when they got back to the house, she ended