Sweet Cinderella (A Christmas Novella) (The Klaus Brothers Book 4)

by penny watson

  “You’re now the self-appointed defender of the De Luca family? Give me a break.” Gregor shot him an exasperated look.

  “I care about Andi and Hannah. The whole family. They’ve been through so much—”

  Gregor held up a hand. “I know their story. And you don’t have to worry about me and Hannah. The truth is . . . I’m crazy about her, but she’s pushing me away.”

  Sven’s jaw dropped. “You’re kidding me. She’s pushing you away? Why?”

  “She has some asinine notion that we’re from two different worlds, and we’re not compatible.” Gregor tipped his head back on the chair and stared at the ceiling. “I’ve tried everything. I showed up at her apartment every day for a week and treated Hannah and the twins to every holiday activity I could think of. Clearly, it wasn’t enough to push her over the edge.”

  “What do you mean . . . compatible?” Sven looked confused.

  “She feels . . . threatened by our wealth and status. She’s very self-conscious about her apartment and simple lifestyle, which means nothing to me. In fact, she’s impressed the hell out of me. In spite of their tight budget, she manages to make an unforgettable Christmas for the whole family. She even volunteers at the food bank. She’s an inspiration, and she has nothing to be ashamed of. But hell if I can convince her of that.” Gregor ran a shaky hand through his hair.

  “You can convince her.” Sven walked over to the bar and helped himself to a holiday beer. “Christmas is coming up. You know what to do.”

  Gregor stroked his beard. “What do you mean?”

  “You have to show her how much she means to you. And it has nothing to do with money.”

  Gregor frowned. “Go on.”

  “Andi told me they have their big celebration on Christmas Eve night. A special dinner and exchange of gifts. You need to be there, man. You need to be very thoughtful about the gifts. It’s not about how much they cost—”

  “They need to be meaningful.” Gregor placed his empty glass on the table.

  “Exactly.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you’re brilliant? For a lumberjack anyway.” Gregor smiled at his brother.

  “Lumberjacks are way underrated,” Sven said with a smirk. “Now I just need to use my superior thought process to win Andi and make her my wife.”

  “Thank you,” Gregor said quietly. “I appreciate the advice. Good luck with Andi.”

  Sven nodded. “Any time, bro. You don’t need to muddle through things on your own all the time. We’re all here to help. We want to help. That’s what brothers are for.”

  “I’ve been feeling . . . numbed out lately. Completely detached from the whole Christmas thing. And it’s not just because I live in Manhattan. I . . . sort of lost my way.”

  “I was wondering about that. You haven’t seemed happy for a long time. I’ve been worried about you.” Sven pounded his brother on the back. “You okay now?”

  “Yeah. Thanks to Hannah. Her love of Christmas is infectious. And seeing the holiday through her eyes, and through Matteo and Anthony’s eyes, has been a wake-up call for me.”

  Sven nodded. “So we’re ready to do this? We need to head back to Manhattan and win over the De Luca sisters.”

  Gregor started to chuckle. “I’ve used elfin Magik, manipulation, seduction, and straight-up desperation to try to win Hannah De Luca Andersen. I think it’s time to use some good old-fashioned Christmas spirit.”

  Sven slung an arm around his brother’s shoulders. “It can’t lose. We’re not part of the Klaus family for nothing.”

  Gregor fist-bumped Sven. “Damned straight.”

  Shirley knocked on Gregor’s front door. His house was usually the least decorated of the Klaus brothers’. He hardly ever bothered with wreaths or lights, unless his mother sent over an elf brigade to do the honors. Today—Christmas Eve—it was bursting with energy. Lights flowed around the corners and swirled over the roof. Sternschnuppen giggled in the window boxes and raced over the front stoop.

  Something was going on.

  The door flew open. “What? Shirley, what are you doing here? I’m busy.” Gregor looked completely disheveled.

  “I heard you were heading back to Manhattan today. I wanted to send some candy canes with you. You know . . . just in case.” She walked into his foyer and spied an enormous sack.

  “Just in case what?” he snapped.

  “Just in case you’re going to see Hannah again.”

  He raked a hand through his tousled hair. “I’m going to see Hannah again. Today. I’m—I’m working on my outfit.”

  For the first time, she noticed his clothes. Gregor was wearing dressy slacks, Nike running shoes, and a polo shirt. With a thin leather belt.

  “Um, what the hell are you doing?”

  “Trying to dress casual. You know, so I fit in with Hannah’s family. She teased me about my ‘high brow’ clothes.” He peered at himself in a mirror next to the front door. “What do you think? Is this okay?”

  She winced. “Um, actually . . . yeah, I’m gonna have to vote a big fat no on that one.”

  “No?” He crossed his arms belligerently. “Why no?”

  “Don’t take this the wrong way, Klaus, but you look like a dork. Have you never dressed like a normal human being before?”

  “I work in the financial district of New York. I dress appropriately.”

  “I get that. But what about casual outings? Like a baseball game? Or a movie night?”

  “Most of my dates are right after work, at trendy restaurants. I wear a suit and tie.”

  Shirley nodded. “What did you wear when you took the twins ice skating?”

  Gregor looked embarrassed. “A suit and tie.”

  She laughed. “Okay. I got this covered. Just a minute.” She took a cell phone out of her patent leather purse. “Hey. Greta. Could you please bring a pair of vintage blue jeans over to Gregor Klaus’s house? And some cool old rock T-shirts, fitted sweaters, thick leather belt, and chukka boots. All in Gregor’s size. Yeah, thanks.” She hung up her phone. “Don’t worry about a thing, Klaus. We’ll get you all spiffed up to see Hannah and her family.” She pointed to the sack. “Are those gifts?”

  Gregor nodded. “Yes.”

  She opened the bag and dropped in her candy canes. “Be sure to pass these out to Hannah and the kids. They’ll love them.”

  “I’d better trim my beard and work on my hair . . .”

  “No! Your beard looks good scruffy, and you gotta lose the gel. You look perfect. No cologne. Nothing. Just wear the clothes I ordered for you, and you’ll be all set. Got it?”

  Gregor laughed. “Got it. Thanks, Shirley. Have I thanked you yet for all of your help?”

  “No, you have not. And I would love a pair of new combat boots. In purple. So . . . add me onto your Christmas list.”

  “You got it.”

  Shirley left the house, humming a One Direction song and smiling to herself. “Dress slacks and sneakers. Oh my God!”

  Chapter 11

  Hannah lit the candles on the table. This is what Christmas Eve should look like.

  A roast turkey sat nestled on a platter, garnished with sprigs of rosemary and thyme. Bowls of mashed potatoes and stuffing—and of course Uncle Dominic’s favorite onion casserole—surrounded the mismatched plates. Matteo and Anthony had been in charge of decorating, so creative dioramas made with Lego figurines covered the table top. Santa knickknacks and dancing reindeer and pomander balls were scattered along the tablecloth. It was a mishmash for sure, but Hannah wouldn’t have it any other way.

  She pulled fresh rolls out of the oven. Cooking in her parents’ apartment was always hectic, but it was necessary to ensure that everyone was comfortable on Christmas Eve. Uncle Dominic got too nervous changing his routine, and her dad needed a handicapped accessible place for this wheelchair. Her mom also knew how to maneuver in this familiar spot—she felt safe here. So this was where they hosted all the family dinners.

  Hannah was
usually bursting with happiness on this day. Dominic had curated the perfect holiday music mix. It played softly in the background. Her parents were drinking eggnog and entertaining the twins. But Hannah couldn’t shake her melancholy mood. All she could think about was Gregor . . . what he was doing, if he was happy. She had the most awful feeling that she’d made a horrible mistake the last night they’d spent together. And she had no idea how to fix it.

  Her night with Gregor had been full of revelations. Santa was real! And the defining moment of her childhood—an unexpected visit that had changed her forever—wasn’t just a dream or wishful thinking. Shirley the Elf was real and not merely a figment of her imagination. How glorious that the Klaus family was surrounded by Magik and Christmas spirit all year long. But the real magic of that evening was making love to Gregor Klaus. No matter how hard she fought to protect her heart, the intensity between them was undeniable.

  To make matters worse, Sven Klaus was here with Andi and the two of them were ridiculously in love. He seemed right at home in their cramped apartment. With his bushy blond beard and flannel plaid shirt, he looked like a lumberjack. The boys peppered him with questions about Klaus toys and wood-working, and Sven was gracious enough to oblige them.

  Hannah was genuinely thrilled for her sister. But she couldn’t elude her own sense of loneliness.

  “Mommy! Mommy!” Matteo came running into the kitchen. “Somebody’s here.”

  Hannah didn’t bother to look up. She buttered the rolls and placed them in a basket. “Lots of people are here, honey. Granny and Grandpa, Uncle Dominic, Auntie Andi, and Sven . . .”

  “No, Mom. Someone else.”

  Hannah’s head snapped up. “What do you mean?”

  “Hello, Hannah. Merry Christmas.”

  That deep, rich voice, slightly rough and filled with emotion, made every hair stand up on the back of her neck. Gregor Klaus filled the doorway to the kitchen, and he looked . . . like a man on a mission. He held a sack of toys on his back, and surprisingly enough, his clothes were not the usual impeccable business attire. He was gorgeous in dark denim jeans and chukka boots, a hunter green sweater that made his eyes shine, and a grey scarf around his neck. The scarf. The one she’d left at his place after their Zeit einfrieren. He unwrapped the scarf from his neck and handed it to her.

  “I think you forgot this,” he said.

  She nodded, scared to speak as tears welled in her eyes.

  “Any chance you can squeeze in one more guest at the table? I’m sorry to show up uninvited.” Gregor’s voice was low and shaky. The look on his face was filled with nervous apprehension.

  Gregor Klaus was afraid.

  Hannah was stunned by the vulnerability she saw there. “Of course. You’re always welcome.” She touched his hand, hoping to offer some reassurance.

  He expelled a huge sigh of relief.

  “I’m so glad you’re here. I wanted to be with you today, but I wasn’t sure . . .” Hannah whispered.

  “Not sure about what?”

  “I wasn’t sure, after our last night together, how you felt about me. Or spending time here.” She lowered her gaze, reluctant to look at him.

  “You know how I feel. This is the only place I want to be.” He slid his arm around her waist. “I would love to meet the rest of your family.”

  What would he think about her family? “Come with me.” She held out her hand and he slipped his fingers through hers.

  She closed her eyes at the wonderful sensation. Nothing made her feel as safe as touching Gregor Klaus. If there was only some way to make this work. Some way to join their two disparate worlds together.

  Hannah led him into the living room.

  Sven stood immediately. “Hey. Good to see you!” The two brothers hugged. “You know, you sort of look like Santa Claus with that sack on your back.”

  Gregor laughed. “Do I?”

  “Yep. Sure do.” Sven and Gregor exchanged a funny look.

  Gregor shook his head. “That’s . . . unexpected.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not.” Sven stroked his chin thoughtfully. “You lost the buttoned-up routine. No tie. No dress shirt. No suit.” He smirked. “It’s a good look for you, bro. Pretty soon I’ll have you wearing flannel shirts.”

  “Don’t hold your breath, lumberjack.”

  Sven roared with laughter, and Andi jumped up next to him. “Hello, Gregor. It’s nice to see you again.”

  “You remember my sister, Andi?” Hannah asked.

  “Yes, of course,” Gregor said.

  Andi blushed. “I’m not with The Scoop anymore. Just want you to know . . .”

  Gregor kissed her on the cheek. “I know. Congratulations on your engagement to my brother. Hope you’re okay with lots of sawdust in your house.”

  “Not a problem.” Andi snuggled against Sven’s side.

  “I’m glad everything worked out. No worries, all right?”

  “Thank you.” Andi winked at Hannah, and she knew her sister was sending her a vote of approval.

  “Gregor, these are my parents, Gianni and Martha De Luca.” Hannah bit her lip as her father frowned. “Mom, Dad, this is Gregor Klaus. Sven’s brother. He’ll be joining us for Christmas Eve dinner.”

  Her father glanced at their clasped hands and raised a brow in understanding. “So that’s how it is. These Klaus boys must be something special.”

  “Gianni, what are you talking about?” Hannah’s mother whispered. “What’s going on?”

  Hannah’s dad leaned closer to his wife. “They’re holding hands, Martha. I think our girls have fallen for these Klaus men.”

  Her mother grinned. “That’s wonderful. Another guest. Dominic, we have Sven’s brother here this evening.”

  Dominic nodded but kept his eyes on the floor. He tapped his foot to the rhythm of the music. Hannah was amazed. Normally any break in his routine was cause for anxiety, but he seemed to be coping well with the Klaus brothers so far.

  Gregor slipped the sack off his back. “I brought a few things for your family. I hope that’s okay.”

  Matteo jumped up and down. “Yay!” He hugged Gregor’s leg. “Can we go ice skating again? Anthony and I want to try some new moves on the ice.”

  “That sounds fantastic. I think you and your brother have a future in ice hockey.”

  Anthony tugged on his jeans. “Do you really mean it? Mom says you have a big, important job and you probably don’t have a lot of time to spend with us.”

  Hannah’s breath caught. The look in Anthony’s eyes made her feel sick. He’d been through too much this year. There was no way he could deal with any more disappointment.

  Gregor leaned over and squeezed his shoulder. “You need to know something about me, Anthony. I don’t make promises I can’t keep. And to be honest, I would much rather spend time skating with you and Matteo and your mom than hanging out at a boring meeting. I have plenty of assistants who can get the job done.”

  Anthony smiled at him, his face lighting up with total adoration. Hannah’s heart was about to burst.

  She was falling hopelessly in love with Gregor Klaus.

  “What’s in the bag, Gregor?” Matteo tried to sneak a look.

  Gregor reached into the sack and pulled out two holiday tins. “These are for your mom and dad. Homemade Pfefferkuchen cookies. My brother Nicholas, who’s a very talented baker, tried to coach me through this. I made them myself.” Gregor shrugged at Hannah.

  Matteo plopped the tins onto his grandfather’s lap. “Here, Nonno. Cookies! Are you gonna share?”

  “Of course.” Hannah’s father opened the box and laughed. “Mr. Klaus, I wouldn’t quit your day job.”

  Sven sauntered over and peered into the tin. “Oh my God, Gregor. What did you do?”

  Gregor rolled his eyes with embarrassment. “It was my first time baking. So they don’t look perfect. But they still taste okay.”

  Anthony crammed a cookie into his mouth. “They taste great.”

  Hannah’s
mother nodded. “They’re delicious. I love gingerbread. Thank you very much, Gregor.”

  Hannah wanted to hug her mom. The look of relief on Gregor’s face was palpable.

  He pulled out another package from the bag. “Andi, here’s a old-fashioned journal for you. Sven told me you like to write poetry this way.”

  Andi looked surprised. “A gift? For me?” She unwrapped the ribbon and leafed through the journal. “It’s beautiful. And very thoughtful. Thank you.”

  “I have something for Dominic, too.” He reached into the sack and pulled out a CD. “You told me he still likes to use CDs for his music, right?”

  Hannah nodded. “Yes. He loves circular things, and he loves to organize his CD collection.”

  Gregor slowly approached Dominic. “It’s nice to meet you. Hannah has told me how much you love music, so I thought you might like this new holiday collection. Merry Christmas.”

  Her uncle took the CD without making eye contact. A few minutes later the music started to play, and everyone stopped to listen. It was pure magic . . . traditional carols sung by angelic-sounding voices.

  “Oh, my. This is lovely.” Hannah’s mom was mesmerized by the music.

  Hannah turned to Gregor. “What is this?”

  He whispered in her ear. “Elves. Their choir. I knew your mom and Dominic would love it.”

  Dominic had a small smile on his face as he tapped his foot to the music.

  Hannah’s eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know how to thank you for this.”

  “You know how. I want you to give us a chance.”

  Gregor’s fierce expression stunned her.

  Before she could answer, Matteo and Anthony skipped over to the bag. “Gregor, do you have something for us?”

  He reluctantly pulled his gaze from Hannah. “Hmm. Let’s take a look . . . .” He kneeled on the floor and reached into the sack. “Do you boys like candy canes?”

  “Yeah!” Matteo yelled.

  “A friend of mine sent these.” He handed the twins a package. “And there are enough in there to share with everyone.”

  Hannah peered at the tag attached to the gift and gasped. “This is from Shirley?” She lifted her eyebrows.