by Mimi Barbour
“Paul Maxim at your service, Dr. Amy.” Determined to convince her not to complicate his already complicated life, he bent down through the open door. “I will be your tour guide for a week.” A charming smile plastered on his mouth, he captured her bewildered gaze and held it.
Her lovely baby blues caressed his face with a look full of surprise, and her full lips pouted in a “You?”
“Yes, Dr. Amy. I am an excellent driver with a good safety record. No accidents or fines.” He nodded several times and took pleasure in admiring her delicate features. “I would love to show you Paris. I hope you don’t mind because my prince would fire me if I don’t do my job.”
“Oh no. No, no. Of course, I wouldn’t want to have you fired. It’s just that this hotel is too...too much for me. I’m not used to all this luxury.” The flexing and twiddling of her fingers attested to her nervousness. “And I don’t know how to repay him for all...this.” Her chin tilted in the direction of the hotel.
“Relax.” He squeezed in next to her and she scurried to the other end. Throwing his arm on the back of the seat, he leaned forward and inched toward her personal space. When she suddenly spun her head and her ponytail brushed his face, a subtle scent of vanilla and jasmine swirled around him—discreet yet more intoxicating than his favorite whiskey.
“Luxury is a normal way of living for our prince and his family. Prince Edward wouldn’t have offered this hotel and vacation if he couldn’t afford it. I suggest you accept it graciously and send him a thank you note.”
Still hesitating, she bit her lip.
He raised his hand in protest and almost begged her to stop torturing that adorable lip he was suddenly eager to taste. Narrowing his eyes, he decided not to give her more time to ponder the pros and cons of lodging at the fabulous George V Hotel. “People are waiting for us.” He lowered his hand from the back of the seat to her arm. “Please let’s go, Dr. Amy. Remember, I need my job and my head,” he added for good measure.
“Your head?” She sounded so confused.
“Yes, the prince may chop it if he found me at fault.”
She chuckled at his joke. “If you insist I should accept the prince’s hospitality, I won’t be difficult.”
“Thank you.” And thank God for Amy being so reasonable.
He climbed out of the car and offered his hand. She took it and slid out but lifted a surprised eyebrow at him when he bowed over her hand and straightened too suddenly.
Damn it, he’d forgotten his role. A tour guide would never brush a client’s fingers with a kiss in a European baise-main. Which reminded him he should release the warm hand he was still holding.
“Since we’re staying in this high-class hotel, I’d better make myself more presentable.” With a swift pull, she removed the elastic ribbon holding her ponytail and shook her hair over her shoulders, combing the long strands with her fingers, and then dug out of her bag a lipstick tube and a small mirror to apply her makeup. “Am I okay now, Paul?”
No woman had ever asked him such an innocent and beguiling question. Usually his dates arrived dressed and coiffed to the hilt when meeting him. His gaze danced over her blond curls and then trailed down her gorgeous figure. And his blood raced in all directions and tightened his muscles. He inhaled and almost forgot to exhale.
Good Lord, she was more than okay. “Perfect,” he grunted with a husky voice that grated his throat. She would make a perfect Princess of Rensy, if…
But he was far from being okay, especially with the tour guide charade he had started. Now she considered him an employee paid by the Chief of Security to perform a job. What if she resented his compliments and accused him of harassment?
Available on Amazon
This book is part of a series, Modern Prince Series.
Prince Paul, our hero, has a brother and two sisters. Each will have a story.
I am currently working on Book 2: A Husband for Princess Charlene
Charlene falls in love with Dr. Scott Pratt, the ex-boyfriend of her sister-in-law, Princess Amy. A man that her brother can’t stand. Scott is an excellent doctor and Amy called him to save her baby, but Charlene wonders if he’s over his love for Amy.
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Contact
Mona Risk can be found at:
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About the Author
A tireless traveler, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Mona Risk writes contemporary romance, medical romance, and romantic suspense novels, all simmering with emotion, sprinkled with a good dose of humor and set in the fascinating places she visited— or in Florida, her paradise on Earth.
Other books by Mona Risk
SWEET ROMANCES:
An Unusual Christmas: In a far away country, a baby girl, four little boys, and a handsome doctor may teach Dr. Jillian the true meaning of Christmas.
Holiday Babies Series:
Holly Jolly Christmas: Prequel to the series.
Christmas Babies: A sweet and powerful Christmas Story.
Valentine Babies: Can he love a woman expecting another man's baby?
Mother's Day Babies: Never too late to find love and happiness.
Wedding Surprise: Is it the worst or best wedding surprise?
Christmas Papa: Who's my Papa, Mommy?
On Christmas Eve: We want a mommy for Christmas.
The Senator’s Family Series:
Her Christmas Cruise: The perfect fiancé is a cheater and the fabulous Christmas wedding is off. But the would-be honeymoon cruise may fulfill the dreams of Julia and her unexpected companion.
Two Loves For Christmas: Her German shepherd is her only friend until a senator’s son refuses to have her for fake fiancée and teams up with her dog to protect her.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCES:
Set in romantic or exotic international places, these romance novels are sizzling with passion, emotion and sensual tension.
A Bride For Prince Paul: Who wouldn’t fall for a prince? Her patients back home or the man she loves?
Her Greek Tycoon: A sexy and humorous Romeo and Juliette Greek style, set in Mykonos Island.
Her Russian Hero: Clash of cultures and intrigues between an American scientist and the Major General of Belarus.
Her French Count: Are his statue and chateau worth endangering the life of the impetuous young woman who's turned his life upside down
Neighbors and More: Too close for comfort for condo owners in a Florida High Rise after a man drowns in a hot spa.
Husband for a Week: Sicilian vendetta, fake husband, and an irascible matchmaking grandmother complicate Jonathan and Isabella’s lives. Can love conquer all?
Doctor’s Orders:
Babies in the Bargain: "ER" and "Grey's Anatomy" in the NICU.
Right Name, Wrong Man: What's a girl to do when she whispers another man's name in her fiancé's arms?
No More Lies: A lie that brings a smile or a truth drawing tears?
My books are also part of these multi-author boxes:
Love, Christmas
Unforgettable Romances: Unforgettable Heroes
Unforgettable Heroes: Unforgettable Passion
Kiss Me, Thrill Me
Dangerous Encounters: Love on the Edge
Sweet and Sassy
Mystic Lovers: Enchanted Worlds
Love on Fire
Sweet Christmas Kisses 2
Sweet Christmas Kisses 3
Sweet Christmas Kisses 4
KISS ME SANTA
Patrice Wilton
New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Copyright © 2014 by Dreamscape Press
All rights reserved.
Book Description
Widowed teacher, Cindy Harris, takes her son to meet Santa at the mall, but instead of jolly Saint Nick, they get grumpy Brad Williams. He’d stepped into the red suit to help out his brother, not promise the impossible, like deliver a daddy by Christmas
. Brad is the new real estate agent Cindy hired to sell her family home, and sparks fly between them.
Will the magic of Christmas open their hearts, and offer the best gift of all: love?
Praise
“It is really a fast read and kept me interested from the very beginning. I highly recommend this book. I look forward to reading more of P. W's work.”~ M.E. Miller
"Loved Kiss Me Santa. Patrice has a way of pulling the reader into the story - you're feeling Cindy's emotions, her little boy's, and Brad's too. Love the second chance at romance angle, and the sparks between Cindy and Brad. Makes me wish for a Holiday romance!"~ Frances Cross
“Kiss Me Santa is one of those books that as soon as I read the first few lines I was hooked. I read it in one sitting and couldn't put it down. I am fairly new to Patrice Wilton's writing, but I have a feeling that I will be reading a lot more by her in the near future.” ~Literature Litehouse
“What a great book! This book had me laughing, crying, and swooning. Patrice Wilton did such an amazing job with this Christmas story! Yes, this is a Christmas story, but it is so much more. It is about finding love after a travesty. You can feel the emotions with Cindy Harris as she works through what are right for her and her son. I cannot wait to read more of Patrice’s books in the near future.”~Sarah Reads
“I had a silly grin, misty eyes, and just wanted to clap my hands when I finished reading Kiss Me Santa by Patrice Wilton. The story was touching and the characters grew on me.” ~ Brooke Bumgardner
Chapter One
“Oh, look, Tyler. There’s Santa. See all the kids lined up? Wouldn’t you like your picture taken with him?”
Cindy Harris held her five-year-old son’s hand, his chubby little fingers sticky from the candy cane set alongside his hot chocolate a few minutes ago. Tyler’s enjoyment of the sweet peppermint was worth a temporary sugar high, but between that and the chaos of the mall, his mood bordered on testy.
Quaker Bridge Mall was crowded, as expected the first week of December. The beautifully decorated tree—and the winter wonderland that housed Santa and his helpers— had been up since Thanksgiving, but this was the first time she’d brought Tyler shopping.
“Wow. Is that really Santa?” he asked. “How did he get here? Where are the reindeers? Can I feed them?” He looked up at her, excitement shining in his eyes.
“I think he left the reindeers in the North Pole,” Cindy said, automatically playing along. “They’re resting up for the long journey ahead.”
“But how did he get here?” Tyler questioned. “Can he fly like Superman?” He jumped up and down. “I want a Superman costume so I can fly around all over the place. I could fly up to Heaven and see Daddy.”
Cindy swallowed a lump in her throat. “That’s a real long way to fly, honey. Even Superman would have trouble with that one.”
“What about Santa? I bet he could zoom through the sky and get there in no time.” He yanked at her hand.
She laughed. “Why don’t we get in line and then you can ask him?” Her plan was to get Tyler’s picture with Santa Claus, then grab dinner and finish shopping–home by eight, so they could unwind from a long week.
“Okay.” He ran the extra few steps while she followed more slowly, wondering what this fascination with his daddy was all about. Only three-and-a-half when his father had been killed by a drunk driver fifteen months ago, she’d kept David alive for Tyler through pictures and stories. His grandparents also were happy to answer any questions that Tyler had about the father he’d lost—their much loved son.
Still, it seemed lately that Tyler wouldn’t let the subject go.
Although her grief had marginally lessoned, she still clearly remembered trying to make it through the holidays last year without her husband at her side. The pretense had been unbearable. Smiling, pretending everything was all right, when inside she was dying and knew that nothing would ever be the same again.
Cindy put her hand on her son’s shoulder as they stood in line with the other thirty or forty excited children and their parents. She smiled at a few of the mothers and glanced with a touch of envy as fathers played with their kids and lifted them high upon their shoulders so they could see Santa and his little helpers.
Elves happily chatted with the children in line, creating excitement and a make-believe-world.
Cindy lived in a make-believe-world, a daily pretense that everything was fine. That bubble was the only protection she had from the heart-breaking reality that Tyler’s dad, her beloved husband would never see his child grow up, or marry, or become a father himself. Would the pain ever go away completely?
They inched closer to Santa. “So what do you want this year?” she asked her son, knowing that he had every toy a child could imagine, and then some. His grandparents and aunts loved nothing better than buying him stuff. It was as if filling up his bedroom with hundreds of “things” could distract him from the hundreds of nights without his daddy’s hugs and kisses.
“I want uh...uh...a pony. And riding lessons. And boots.”
She’d taken him for some riding lessons this past summer, and though he’d enjoyed it the cost was too prohibitive to do on a regular basis. “We’ve talked about that, sweetheart. It’s something we can do as a special treat. Like hot chocolate and a candy cane, it’s fine in small doses.” And better suited to her tight budget.
“I want a pony.” He kicked at the ground, scuffing his new sneakers.
“Honey, don’t do that.” She frowned. As a teacher, she expected good behavior, with or without reward, and discipline hadn’t been necessary until lately. Tyler’s disposition used to be sweet as they come. “We’ll be seeing Santa in a few minutes. Won’t that be fun?”
“I’m telling him I want a pony for Christmas,” he stated, glancing at her before turning back to Santa. “He’ll get me one. Just wait and see.”
“We don’t have room for a pony. How about a new hockey stick?” Cindy kept her tone light. Even if she wasn’t squeezing pennies, a horse—big or little, wouldn’t be on her shopping list. They were going to sell their family home. Downsize to a townhouse, not a farmyard.
His jaw set. “I want Daddy to come back. He can be my present.”
Cindy bit her lip and fought back a sting of tears. She knew Tyler was upset because some mean kids had teased him at school. He was angry and frustrated, not understanding why he had to be different. Why had his father been taken away? he’d asked her more than once. She wished she had had answers, instead of only empty words of comfort.
“Tyler, I wish it were that simple.” She hadn’t even dated anybody in the year and a half since David passed away. It felt too soon, and she had yet to meet a guy that held a candle to the one she’d lost.
The line grew smaller and they could now see Santa. Cindy thought he was a pathetic looking Santa, to be sure. He was too thin, for one thing. Couldn’t he have stuffed himself with a pillow or something? His hat was askew, and his face, even behind the big white beard, looked far too youthful. Guy was probably only in his thirties or so. Although small compared to some, surely this New Jersey mall could afford the picture-perfect Santa for all the youngsters that climbed in his lap each day. This one didn’t fit the bill. Not at all.
She pinched her nose, feeling a slight headache coming on. The shopping, the pretense, and the whole holiday spirit was suddenly too hard to handle and Cindy felt as grumpy as Tyler. Hum-bug with the whole holiday thing! If she had her way, Christmas would be cancelled this year and for many more to come.
Carols played merrily throughout the mall, and the window shops were decorated festively. Fake snow was heaped around Santa’s chair, as well as big, pretty presents under the giant tree. Yet, all the Santas and all the glitter in the world couldn’t make hers, or her son’s, holiday bright.
“Merry Christmas,” Santa boomed, beckoning Tyler. “Come tell Santa what you want for Christmas.”
Tyler held on to her hand a little tighter. “Do I have to go
, Mommy? Do I?”
“Well, we did wait twenty minutes. Just speak to him for a second. I’ll be right beside you.” One good picture for the mantle and they could hit the food court.
“Okay, Mom.” His eyes brightened. “Maybe he can bring me what I want most in the world!”
Sadly, she smiled. “Ask for a toboggan sled. Wouldn’t that be a nice thing for the two of us? We have several big hills right behind our place.”
Tyler stepped forward and when he got in front of Santa, he spoke in a quiet, hesitant voice. “I want a new daddy. Can you get me one? Please?”
Santa glanced from her son’s face to Cindy’s, and she felt her cheeks grow warm. He gave a big false laugh, and patted his bony knee. “Come. Sit. Think about a great new toy. I came all the way from the North Pole to give you something special.”
“I don’t want a toy. Just a daddy.” Tyler lifted his eyes and looked at Santa. “He’s in Heaven. Is that near the North Pole?”
Cindy blinked back tears, and put a hand to her mouth. Her poor, poor son. She was tempted to pick Tyler up, and run away from Santa and the crowds. Instead, she stood frozen. Desperate for Santa to say something, and make everything right.
He shifted his weight, and looked from one unhappy face to the other. “It’s a thousand miles away, at least.”
Tyler seemed to consider this. “That’s far, but if you’re really Santa and I’m a good boy, can’t I have anything I want? Anything at all?”
“That’s what I do best. Deliver presents to kids all over the world. Not the bad ones though. Only good children get presents, right? So, what’s it going to be? I bet you have a big list. Trucks, a Wie game, an I-Pad?”