by Elena Aitken
“Santa doesn’t think anything is stupid.” Except the fact that he was pretending to be Santa when all he really wanted to do was show the woman who sat on his lap that he was Mr. Wonderful and if she’d just open her eyes, she’d see that her Christmas wish had already come true. “How has a woman like you not met that special someone yet?”
He knew he was fishing, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself from asking.
“I thought maybe I had,” she said. Her confession was so unexpected it took Ryan off guard for a moment. He held his breath. “But now I’m not so sure.”
He could no longer help himself. He slid a hand up her back and she turned, surprise registering in her eyes as she realized whose lap she sat on. Before she could escape, Ryan moved his hand to the back of her neck and held her close, so his eyes gazed directly into hers. “I think you were right the first time,” he said. “You already found him.” He pulled her close and kissed her deep, leaving no room for doubt.
When he released her, their eyes locked. There was so much he wanted to say. “Julie, I—”
“I’m sorry.” She jumped and took off into the crowd. “I have to go.”
Ryan stood to chase after her, but at the last moment remembered himself and the role he was playing and sat back down. He’d find her soon enough and show her exactly why her Christmas wish had already come true.
10
It must have been the champagne. It had to be the champagne. That was the only explanation why she would have behaved the way she did. She just wasn’t the type of person who sat on a stranger’s laps and kissed them. Even if that stranger was Ryan. Especially if that stranger was Ryan.
He’d been there the whole time. He’d listened to her talk about Mr. Wonderful and he just sat there and…she felt so stupid.
Julie pushed her way through the crowd. She needed to clear her head and think.
That kiss.
That look in his eyes.
There was something there. But what?
She couldn’t think. There were too many people. Too much noise. Everything was happening too fast.
“Mom.”
Shay grabbed Julie’s arm and spun her around.
“What’s wrong?”
Julie forced a smile on her face. “Nothing. I’m good. I was just looking for you. Where did you go?”
Shay ignored the question. “Did you tell Santa what you wanted for Christmas?” There was a glimmer of mischief in Shay’s eyes that gave her away.
“You knew.” Julie shook her head. “Well, nice try. But it’s not going to work.” She turned away, looking for an exit.
“What’s not going to work?” Shay caught up to her. “Mom. I just wanted you to ask Santa for what you—”
“No, Shay.” Julie turned on her. “You can’t play with people like that. It doesn’t work that way. You have to…” She let her words trail away. It wasn’t Shay’s fault. All her daughter had ever done was try to help her. She just wanted her to be happy and be in love. Even if her methods were messed up, her heart was absolutely in the right place. “I’m sorry.” She grabbed Shay’s hand. “It’s not your fault. I know you’re just trying to help. But the truth is…”
“What?”
“The truth is I don’t need any help.” Julie’s thoughts flashed through the last few days she’d spent with Ryan. She didn’t need help, not in finding the man for her.
No.
She’d found him.
She was just too stupid to realize it. Until right now.
She needed to talk to him. She shouldn’t have run the way she had. She’d been scared; he’d taken her off guard is all. She refused to keep running. And that’s all she’d been doing. Putting up walls and running from what was only a good thing because she was scared of getting hurt. But not anymore. No. She needed to talk to him. There was still time. Julie turned and looked back to where she’d left Ryan on his Santa throne but it was empty.
She spun and scanned the room, but she couldn’t see him among the people enjoying the party.
“He’s gone.”
Julie hadn’t realized she’d spoken aloud until Shay put her hand on her arm. “He’s not gone, Mom.”
Something that felt a little too much like relief washed through her. Maybe she was just too much of a scaredy-cat to go after what she really wanted. “You know what,” she said. “It’s probably for the best. I don’t think I would even know what to say. And sometimes there are just too many signs that are pointing at one thing that you can’t ignore them. So maybe I should start listening and just give up.”
“Mom, I think you should—”
“I think we should go and enjoy our Christmas.” Julie forced a smile. “After all, this holiday was supposed to be about us, right?”
Shay smiled softly, but shook her head. “Do you know why I wanted to come up here, Mom?”
Julie waited. She’d been asking for weeks why Shay was adamant about coming to the Lodge for Christmas but she wouldn’t tell her. Not beyond saying it was the most Christmasy place she could imagine. But Julie knew there was more to it and over the last twenty-four hours, she was pretty sure she’d figured it out. “You wanted me to fall in love, didn’t you? Because you think that there really is some sort of magic up here at the Lodge but it’s just a myth, Shay. Come on, let’s go make a hot chocolate and put on our Christmas pajamas.”
Julie wanted to stop thinking of love. She wanted to stop thinking about what could have been and Christmas magic, the magic of the Lodge or any other type of magic that she was supposed to be experiencing. She wanted to forget about all of that and just enjoy the evening with her daughter.
Shay allowed herself to be led out of the ballroom by her mother although Julie could tell she still had a lot more she wanted to say to her. Some things you couldn’t force, though, and it was definitely time to let it go. At least for the night.
After they got back to the suite, Julie knew she’d made the right decision. The Holly Berry Ball had been nice, and extremely festive, but all she really wanted to do was sit around the Christmas tree with her daughter, wearing the cozy new flannel Christmas pajamas that Julie bought them each year. And that’s exactly what they did until Shay’s eyes started to close and she started to drift off.
“Go to bed, sweetie.” Julie shook her gently. Shay groaned, but got up from the couch and allowed her mom to give her a kiss on the forehead before she disappeared down the hall to bed.
As tired as she was, Julie couldn’t shut her brain off. She stayed up and stared into the twinkling lights of the tree. Everything with Ryan had been a roller coaster ride over the last few days. Something she never would have expected when she originally planned the crafting night. But it hadn’t been an entirely unwelcome surprise. Quite the opposite, in fact. And maybe it wouldn’t work out with Ryan, but maybe Shay was right and there was magic at the Lodge.
That was the last thought Julie had before she drifted off to sleep on the sofa.
* * *
It seemed like forever after Julie ran away from him that Eva did the last call for the Santa visits and Ryan was finally allowed to make his exit. However, when he returned from changing, half the ballroom had already cleared out and Julie was nowhere to be seen. He spent a few minutes looking for her, but he knew she wasn’t there. Eva only confirmed his fears when he cornered her handing out goody bags at the ballroom doors.
“I saw her and Shay leave about fifteen minutes ago,” she told him. “I didn’t realize you were a couple.” She flashed him a naughty grin, clearly making more out of his relationship with Julie than there was.
“We’re not.”
“By the look of that kiss, I’d say you’re definitely a couple.” Eva winked. “There was passion there and it wasn’t all from the jolly old elf, if you know what I mean?”
He did know what she meant. He’d felt it in her kiss, too. Julie was working so hard at pushing him away, but he knew a spark when he felt it, and it was definitely
there.
Ryan nodded. “There’s something there,” was all he could say.
“I think there’s a whole lot more there than just something.” Eva handed out another goody bag before she left the children in the competent hands of her elves. “I’m no expert,” she said to Ryan as they walked a few steps away. “But I know love when I see it, and that woman is just as into you as you are into her. The difference is, she just doesn’t know it yet.” She threw her head back and laughed a little. “Seriously,” she said after a moment. “Sometimes it’s not as easy as you want it to be. Julie’s a single mom and she’s been hurt before. By the looks of it, I’d say she’s been hurt badly. She’s going to move slowly. She just is. And she might need a bit more convincing that taking a chance on love is worth it.”
Ryan nodded slowly, letting Eva’s words soak in. It was nothing he didn’t know, but he hadn’t actually considered that the reason Julie was so hesitant on following her heart was because she was guarding it. That made perfect sense. “Do you believe in the magic of Castle Mountain Lodge?” he asked after a minute. “I know it sounds stupid, but everyone keeps talking about it. It’s even become a thing when people book rooms.”
“Really?” Eva looked genuinely surprised. “I mean, I do believe that there’s magic up here in these hills.” She grinned. “After all, I fell in love here, too.”
“It’s true.” Ryan nodded. He’d heard about Jeff and Eva’s story, too. Just the way he’d heard about all of them.
“But people are really booking rooms here, looking for the magic? There could be an event in that,” she added. “I’m thinking Valentine’s Day.”
He laughed. Eva was always thinking of the next party.
“But seriously.” She changed tacks again, focusing on the question at hand. “I do believe it’s here and I think she probably does, too. Especially because it’s Christmas. Maybe she just needs to be convinced of it. Sometimes you need a little reminder that magic really does exist.”
Her words set a plan into motion and soon Ryan’s head spun with an idea. “The same way Santa exists,” he said absentmindedly.
“Sure.” Eva looked at him strangely. “I guess so.”
The plan solidified in his mind. “Can I borrow the suit for a bit?”
She shrugged. “I don’t see why not. And if it’s all for love, who am I to stand in the way?”
“Thanks, Eva.” He gave her an impulsive hug and she laughed.
“Go get the girl, Ryan. And Merry Christmas.”
* * *
It took him another thirty minutes to get dressed and make his way to her private suite down the trail. It wasn’t until he stood outside the front door that he realized it must be almost midnight. She might be asleep. No, she was probably asleep. It was Christmas Eve, after all. For a moment, he hesitated and almost changed his mind. But one look down at the suit he was wearing and the decision was made for him. His plan would only work on Christmas and he wasn’t willing to risk losing her by not following through.
No.
The snow had started to fall on his walk over and snowflakes dotted his suit, flashing in the dim light of the porch. He grinned at himself and the knowledge that not only was he counting on the mythical magic of Castle Mountain Lodge but that he also looked magical. Before he could second-guess himself again, he reached out and knocked on the heavy wood door.
He waited.
Nothing.
He waited some more and knocked again.
Finally he heard footsteps and then the door was unlatched and opened. And then she stood there, her petite form clothed in a one-piece flannel red and green flannel pajamas. Her hair was tossed as if she’d been sleeping, and she blinked a few times as she focused on who stood on her porch.
“Ho, ho, ho,” he bellowed. “Merry Christmas.”
Her face flashed with confusion, before giving way to realization. “Ryan, it’s—”
“Christmas, Julie.” He took a step forward and she didn’t move away. “Earlier you made a Christmas wish.” He took her hands in his and held them.
“And I suppose you came to grant me that wish.”
He shook his head. “No.” He pulled her close so they were only inches apart. “I came to tell you it already came true.” His lips connected with hers and he tasted the sweetness of her, slowly at first and then with more urgency. She let out a small moan and he pulled her even tighter to him, wrapping his arms around her. One hand slid up into her hair, cupping her head gently in place as he continued to kiss her. He wasn’t ready to let her go, but finally it was Julie who pulled away, not much, just enough to look at him. She ran a finger down his cheek and into his white Santa beard.
“Shay told me I needed to believe.” She had a little grin on her face. “She reminded me that if I believed in Santa, my wish would come true.”
“And do you believe now?”
She tilted her head and looked at him. “You’re standing here, aren’t you?”
“I am.” He kissed her softly. “And I’m not going anywhere. Because if you’re willing to believe in magic, I want to make all of your Christmas wishes come true.”
11
February 14
* * *
Looking out the window at the snow that started to fall even harder, Julie was glad she’d made the trip up to the Lodge the night before. Not that she hadn’t driven through the mountains in a snowstorm before—she’d done it a few times that winter alone to get up to Castle Mountain to see Ryan—but she’d rather not if she had a choice. In fact, if anything, she’d prefer to be snowed in up at the Lodge, where she could spend more time with Ryan. Not that it had been a problem.
Ever since their trip at Christmas, Julie had not only believed in love at first sight, but more importantly, the magic of Christmas—specifically, the magic of love that Castle Mountain Lodge was known for.
Her relationship with Ryan had only grown stronger with every day that passed, even the days they were apart from each other, which was more often than she’d prefer. But they each had their careers and for now, the distance between them was working. Especially since she’d implemented her idea to start three generation ancestry arts and crafts weekends. Not only was Julie’s business booming, it was allowing her to spend time at the Lodge—with Ryan.
“What do you think?” Ryan joined her at the window and gazed outside with her. “Do you think the weather will keep people away tonight?”
“I hope not. Eva’s been working really hard on this party. She’d be so disappointed.”
“She would.” Ryan wrapped his arm around her waist and spun her so she was in his arms. “I’m just happy you’re here. I can’t think of anything cozier than cuddling up in front of the fire with you tonight.”
“After the party.” She kissed him gently on the lips. “If we start cuddling now, we’re never going to want to leave.”
“I’m okay with that.” He kissed her again and pulled her closer.
Julie laughed and wiggled herself out of his grip. “I’m not. Eva would kill us.”
And she would, too. After getting the idea on Christmas Eve to have a special Valentine’s event for singles, she’d immediately ran with it and pulled together a weekend-long singles event where the main selling feature was experiencing the magic of the Lodge. As part of the festivities, some of the couples who’d met and fallen in love at Castle Mountain had agreed to tell their stories as inspiration to the singles that it could happen to them too. And as the newest couple to meet and fall in love, Julie and Ryan had agreed to put in their appearance as well. Especially considering Eva’s urging had played a role in their relationship.
“It’ll be fun.” Julie gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. “Come on. We should get going. The sooner we make an appearance, the sooner we can get back here and warm up by the fire.”
“Sounds good to me. But, I still think—”
“I know what you think, but don’t forget it was the special magic of the Lodge
that brought us together.” She pulled him close to her. “It’s kind of our responsibility to make sure we pass it on and make sure everyone believes in love at first sight. After all, if it can happen to us, it can happen to anyone, don’t you think?”
“Julie…” Ryan put a hand on each side of her face and held her. “It was more than magic that brought you to me.”
He looked so serious she couldn’t help but giggle a little. “If it wasn’t magic, babe, then what was it?”
“That’s easy.” Ryan’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “It was Santa.”
THE END
If you enjoyed Holiday Gifts, you’ll enjoy Destination Paradise, a new series coming Winter 2016. Read an excerpt at the end of this book! And for more free books and exciting news make sure to stay in touch with Elena!
Also by Elena Aitken
Castle Mountain Lodge
Unexpected Gifts
Hidden Gifts
Unexpected Endings - Short Story
Secret Gifts
Mistaken Gifts
Goodbye Gifts
Tempting Gifts
Holiday Gifts
A Castle Lodge Collection (Books 1-5)
* * *
The Springs Series
Summer of Change
Falling Into Forever
Winter’s Burn
Midnight Springs
Second Glances
She’s Making A List
The Seasons: Volume 1
The Seasons: Volume 2
* * *
The Springs—Stone Summit
Summit of Desire
Summit of Seduction
Summit of Passion
Stone Summit Trilogy
About the Author
Elena Aitken is a USA Today Bestselling Author of more than twenty romance and women’s fiction novels. Living in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her twins and two cats, Elena escapes into the mountains whenever she gets a chance and can often be found with her toes in the lake working on her next book and dreaming about happy ever after endings.