He could see her mind spinning to figure out what it was he was saying, and he gave a slight nod to Rosalie. She stepped forward with a garment bag, and Cam held it so Talia could open it and viewers would see the contents.
“And this is the costume?” she challenged before unzipping the bag.
He nodded.
“But if I don’t like the costume, I can go back to being Jingle the Elf this year?”
He nodded again, though panic started to seep in. What if she liked the elf costume and didn’t want to do anything else? This conversation could go off the rails at any moment.
The sound of her unzipping the garment bag was amplified in his ears, though no one but the two of them probably could hear it. She opened the bag enough that all she saw was red velvet. “You want me to be Santa this year?”
“You might want to look closer.”
Talia did as directed and pulled a classic Mrs. Claus suit from the bag. With the skirt, there was no question it wasn’t for him.
For a moment longer than what he’d thought was necessary, Talia kept her eyes on the costume. Was she avoiding looking at him? Finally, her eyes lifted to his in a look of shock and question—and was that a hint of anticipation?
Rosalie pulled the ring box from her jacket pocket and handed it to Cam. He really should have had a pocket sewn into his soccer shorts.
“There’s another part to the costume.” Cam dropped to one knee in front of Talia and flipped the velvet cover open to reveal a sparkling round engagement ring. Every facet caught the stadium lights and reflected brilliantly. “Talia Joy Thomas, I love you. With my whole heart. Will you give me the pleasure of being my Mrs.—” He paused, emphasizing the break before he said, “—Claus? For this Christmas and all future ones and everything in between?”
For one second, Talia didn’t move, her expression completely frozen. She was going to turn him down. His confidence started to crack. It was a good thing he’d scrapped the plan to broadcast the marriage proposal over the jumbotron. The entire stadium would have witnessed his humiliation. As it was, he hoped she edited this part out before posting to her MyHeartChannel.
Talia swallowed and took a breath, her eyes filling with love. Relief filled the cracks as she pulled him up and threw her arms around his neck. “If you’re asking me to marry you, the answer is yes.”
Her lips were warm and soft and passionate and promising. He welcomed her kiss, this sealing of their engagement, and never wanted it to end. Except that they were on camera.
He ended the kiss but tipped his forehead to hers. “Of course I am asking if you will marry me. I would be crazy not to. This past year, you have made my life complete. You are the elf to my Santa, my other half, the love of my life. You balance me. You complete me. Every day, you help me see the good in the world around me—and you are the good I see.”
He cupped her cheek with his hand, unable to look away from the one person he could never tire of seeing—in front of a camera or behind it, dancing at a car steering wheel or on a ballroom floor, in Cobble Creek snow or a warm Texas Christmas. He loved her everywhere, and his love for her filled his entire heart.
“I love you, Talia,” he whispered, allowing the words to settle around them like Christmas wishes and falling snowflakes—right before he leaned forward to claim one more of her amazing kisses.
About the Author
When Maria Hoagland is not working at her computer, she can be found combing used furniture stores and remodeling houses with her husband. She loves crunching leaves in the fall, stealing cookie dough from the mixing bowl, and listening to musicals on her phone.
Maria has several published works in the sweet romance and women’s fiction genres. She enjoys hearing from readers and book clubs and can be found online at mariahoagland.com.
For updates on new releases and a free copy of the novella New Year’s Resolutions, sign up for Maria’s newsletter on her website.
More Christmas!
If you’re looking for another heartwarming, clean and wholesome Christmas romance, there are three more MyHeartChannel romances being released this Christmas season!
Try
Charming Christmas
By Erica Penrod
Maria Hoagland also has another contemporary Christmas novel. Check out some hammer-swinging, paintbrush-wielding sweet romance.
Start reading now!
Home for the Holidays
Thank you for reading Santa Cam. I hope you enjoyed it.
One of the fun things about Santa Cam is that it has tie-ins to three different books!
If you’d like to read that time Camden and Talia met in Seattle through other characters’ eyes, read Mary Alice and Ryland’s story in
Falling for Her Billionaire Best Friend
Seattle’s Cove takes on unexpected twist inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
If you’d like to read more about Zeke and Kendall, check out Love for Keeps, a heartwarming, clean and wholesome sports romance.
Love for Keeps
♥♥ Love is a challenge worth taking head on. ♥♥
The Cobble Creek Series
And how about Cobble Creek and country singer Brooke Holt? Try the Cobble Creek series.
Escape into the small town of Cobble Creek, Wyoming where neighbors help each other, Main Street holds the heart of the community, and love finds a home. Three interconnected books are now available.
The Inventive Bride
Upcycling Sweet Romance
The Practically Romantic Groom
When words don’t come easily . . .
The Combustible Engagement
A fake engagement they fight to contain.
Santa Cam Page 18