The small white flowers in winter is the giveaway! It is sweet box, Sarcococca hookeriana var. humilis, a slowly spreading, dry shade tolerant groundcover. Very happy in acidic conditions, it is an ideal companion for rhodies and camellias, etc. And those tiny white flowers are amazingly fragrant, hence the common name (also known as vanilla plant).

Thank you gardengal, I think that's it! I was invited to dig and scavenge in a homesite that is going under developement. It had been the home of nursery people, 2 acres of mature camelias, rhods and azaleas, awesomely beautiful! Makes me cry, but I think they have contracted someone to move the big stuff. Most things were too big to dig with a shovel, but we did manage to get out some self layered plants and seedlings. And this delicious patch of ground cover that looked exactly like some big bushes I was lusting after. From your lead, I'm thinking they are S. confusa. and the little ones we did get are the S hookeriana var. humilis. Now I know what these sweet plants are and where to plant them.
Thank you for replying : )
Annie