“But...what about the window display contest?”
“You let me worry about that. Win or lose, it doesn’t matter. Your debt has been paid.”
She looked as though he’d slapped her in the face. “Oh my God, I am such an idiot.”
Now he was the one to frown. “I’m not sure I follow you.”
She clenched her jaw and glared at him. “Oh, I’m sure you follow me exactly. Cold and ruthless doesn’t begin to describe you. You never cared about winning that contest. You simply refused to release me from my punishment until I gave you what you wanted. You’re worse than Scrooge. You’re a coward. And to think I let myself fall in love with you.” She whirled around and fled, leaving Nathan stunned and reeling, with a room full of guests who’d overheard every word.
He glanced out over the crowd and watched face after face turn into frowns of disapproval and glares of anger. He couldn’t blame them. He was mad as hell at himself. He’d only tried to give her what he thought she wanted. He’d had no idea she loved him, too. He still didn’t think he was good enough for her. What if he brought her down with him? What if he ruined her life? What if he made her sad? What if he changed her, too? He’d never forgive himself.
He was scared to death and, for once in life, let everything he was feeling show raw and real across his face.
“What the hell is wrong with all of you?” Roz barked. “Can’t you see he loves her, too? In his foolish, misguided way, he’s trying to save her from himself because he doesn’t think he’s worthy. He has no idea how much he’s changed. He does deserve to be happy, no matter how much the opposite has been drilled into him.”
Could Roz be right? Did he and Samantha actually stand a chance? This time when he looked up, half the room was teary-eyed right along with Roz and himself.
“What are ya waiting for, Mr. Snow?” Betty said, sniffling.
“It’s plain as day you two belong together,” Sal added.
“Come on, son, go after that girl,” Bob chimed in.
“It’s all just so romantic,” Cindy said on a dreamy sigh.
“They’re right,” Nancy, his longtime rival, said quietly. “You have changed. It’s awful to love someone and not have them love you back,” she let her longing for him show on her face as she looked him in the eye, “but to have someone love you back and not tell you would be a downright shame. Forget the contest. I forfeit, and you win, so don’t be stupid. Life’s too short not to go after what you really want. Be happy, Nathan. And who knows. Maybe we’ll find a way to work together someday.” She smiled her first ever genuine smile toward him.
Roz stepped forward and hugged him hard in a rare display of affection, then she pulled back and donned her most stern expression. “Well? What the hell are you going to do about it?”
His smile came slow and sweet as he responded with a twinkle in his eye, “I think it’s time I gave a Christmas present to myself, don’t you think? Take the next two days off, folks. For the first time ever Snow’s Antiques will be closed for the holidays. Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.” He winked as the room broke out into wild and rowdy cheers, and he ran to his car.
It was Saturday morning. Christmas Eve. Samantha’s favorite time of the year. Yet the last thing she felt like doing was celebrating. Last year when her fiancé had cheated on her, it had been heartbreaking enough. Yet it somehow didn’t compare to finding out a man she barely knew didn’t love her. That was simply devastating. It was her own fault. As much as she wanted to hate him, she couldn’t. He’d made it clear right up front that he wanted no strings attached. She knew he had commitment issues, yet she’d let herself fall anyway.
He must be one hell of an actor.
She’d been positive he’d felt something more for her. How could he possibly have looked at her and held her and made love to her that way if he didn’t love her? She was usually so good at reading people, and his actions had said so much more than his words ever could. She’d known he had a hard time expressing himself, but she’d been so sure.
She was a fool.
He’d been so formal and cold and distant. How could he have sent her away so easily? The second after he’d gotten what he wanted from her, he’d turned right back into his old self. And it hurt like hell. She’d driven to her parents, poured her heart out to her mother, and then went to bed early and cried herself to sleep. Now today her parents had been acting strangely all day long.
When she’d finally come out and cornered them, they told her she’d ruined the surprise. They had invited Amber and Ellen to their annual Christmas Eve party. Her sister’s family and brother’s families would be there like always. Sam had complained that she was in no mood for a party, but they insisted she not break tradition. That this was exactly what she needed to cheer her up.
It was their house and their holiday, too. What could she say? She’d gone along with it because she had no other choice, even though the spirit of Christmas was nowhere to be found within her soul this year. The doorbell rang. Her brother and sister and their families were already there.
“Samantha, can you get that?” her mother asked from the kitchen.
“Sure thing, Mom.” Sam went to the door, plastered on a fake smile, and opened it.
“Hey, babe, what’s shakin’?” Elfish Ellen asked, giving her a quick hug and barging right on in.
Amazon Amber rolled her eyes and then looked at Sam and chuckled. “She’s a character.”
“To say the least,” Sam said, but couldn’t quite bring herself to laugh.
Amber hugged her and stepped inside as well. “How are you?”
“I take it Mom told you,” Sam said, not surprised in the least.
“No...did,” Amber said quietly, surprising Sam.
“He did?”
She nodded. “He never wanted to hurt you, you know.”
“Speaking of that. I have a bone to pick with both you and Ellen for warning him about exactly that. If you hadn’t made that phone call, he wouldn’t have pulled away and then been so freaked out when we finally did sleep together.” She held up her hands. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. He ended up hurting me anyway.”
Ellen joined them with a glass of spiked punch just as Sam finished talking. “He’s hurting too, hon.”
Sam scowled at her. “Yeah, hurting all the way to the bank. He got exactly what he wanted: sex with me, a new image, and a winning window display.”
“Ever think that maybe he set you free because he thought he was giving you what you wanted most? Your freedom and Christmas with your family?” Ellen asked gently.
“No, yes, I don’t know,” Sam said miserably, tearing up all over again. “I’m so confused. I could have sworn he loved me, too.” She was outright sobbing now. “You should have seen how much he changed. He has more Christmas spirit than even I do, yet he won’t admit it. He loves those kids at the orphanage, he loves the town of Redemption, and I thought he loved me. I guess I was wrong.”
“You know what you need?” Amber asked.
“What?” Sam snuffled.
“An early Christmas present.” Amber hugged her hard. “Now wipe your nose. The Santa your mom always hires will be here soon.”
“Great.” Sam blew her nose. “Do I look awful?”
“No,” Amber scoffed.
“Liar.” Sam attempted a smile. “I’d better get that star on top of the tree I guess.”
“Come on. We’ll help.” Ellen led the way into the living room where Samantha’s brother, sister, their families and her parents were waiting.
“Here you go, sweetie.” Sam’s mother handed her the star and tried not to get teary-eyed.
“We’re so happy to have you home in time to do this, pumpkin.” Her father wrapped her in a bear hug, not even attempting to hide his teary eyes.
Sam almost started crying all over again. She took the star and climbed the ladder her father held next to their seven-foot-high Christmas tree while her family looked
on in anticipation. Reaching high and placing the star in the perfect spot, she smiled a genuine smile for the first time since leaving Redemption.
Just as her brother plugged in the tree and the star twinkled on top, the doorbell rang. Her sister went to answer the door while her nieces and nephews squealed in delight and then shouted, “Santa’s here, Santa’s here!”
Sam’s parents did this every year. It had become a tradition that no one outgrew. A second later, jolly ole Saint Nick rounded the corner with a bag full of presents. He sat in a big chair that Sam’s father had placed right beside the Christmas tree.
“Ho, ho, ho,” said Santa, in his big booming Santa voice. “Who wants to sit on my lap first?”
The children quickly lined up in front of him without a single fuss about the order they wound up in. They all knew that Santa had a way of finding out who was naughty or nice, and being naughty meant all you got was a lump of coal. Needless to say they were all on their best behavior.
One by one they told Santa what they most desired for Christmas this year. When they were done, Santa told them all that they had been very good boys and girls, and then he reached into his bag and gave them each a present. Finally, he turned to the adults. He didn’t make them sit on his lap. He stood and went to each of them, one by one, and asked what they wanted most. It was the same every year, no matter how old they grew, they still had to face judgment day in front of Santa and tell him if they’d been good or not. And then he would give them a present as well. Sam’s parents had always pre-selected the presents and paid the Santa to hand those out as well.
This Santa was good. He had the scoop on everyone and knew just how far to go in teasing each of them, and then finally giving them their gift. The children loved the thought that their parents and aunts and uncles and grandparents weren’t always perfect, either.
Finally, it was Samantha’s turn. Her friends had been right. This was exactly what she needed, and she found herself smiling and enjoying her favorite holiday despite the heartache that had taken root and refused to let go.
“So tell me, Ms. Darling, have you been naughty or nice this year?” Santa asked her as he stood in front of her, his enormous belly bouncing as he talked.
“Well, a little of both, I guess,” she said honestly, suspecting her parents had given him an earful.
“I see. And are you sorry for what you have done?”
“Yes and no. I’m sorry for breaking the law, but I’m not sorry for what resulted because of it. As painful as it might be, I will never forget my time in Redemption.” She stared off thoughtfully. “The people, the store, my boss...all of it.”
Santa studied her for what felt like forever, and then he finally said, “Given the chance, would you do it all over again?”
“In a heartbeat,” she answered without even really thinking about it, and then blinked, realizing it was true.
It didn’t matter that she fell in love with a man who could never love her back. He’d given her as much of himself as he could. She realized that now and would never regret her time with him. She’d done what she’d set out to do: teach Nathan Snow what the spirit of Christmas was all about. And she now understood he had given her what he thought she wanted. Her freedom. He hadn’t tried to give her something monetary. He truly “got” it now. If he couldn’t give her himself, then this was the next best thing.
“You would do it over even knowing how it would all end?” Santa asked in a skeptical tone. “Why?”
“Because he was worth it,” she answered simply.
Santa smiled and then surprised her and everyone else in the room when he threw her over his shoulder and headed for the door.
“Wh-what are you doing?” she sputtered.
“Giving you your present,” he said without stopping, then added for the kids benefit, “Ms. Darling needs a good talking to before I decide whether or not to give her a lump of coal.”
They stepped outside, and he set her on her feet, closing the door on the gasps and giggles coming from children and adults alike.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked. Santa or no Santa, this guy had a lot of nerve carrying his job this far.
“Giving you your present,” he said.
“Let me guess...a lump of coal,” she said, scowling at him.
“No, this,” he answered, in a non-Santa familiar sounding voice seconds before swooping down and covering her mouth with his own. Before she could utter a single protest, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in close...or as close as his big belly would allow.
As soon as his lips touched hers, she knew.
She pulled away briefly to whisper, “Nathan?”
“I love you,” was all he said, as he stared into her eyes with all his heart.
She let out a cry as she threw her arms around him and pressed her lips back to his.
He broke away this time to say in a low growl, “Baby, I need you closer.”
She yanked off his hat and pulled his beard over his head as he unbuttoned his coat and tossed it aside with his fake belly. He had barely stepped out of his Santa pants when she launched herself at him, wrapping her legs around his waist. He caught her beneath her thighs and pressed her up against the door. She plunged her hands into his hair and her eyes nearly crossed as he tipped his head sideways to slip his tongue between her lips to mate with her own.
“Say it again,” she said on a soft sob, tears streaming down her face as she wiped away his own.
“I love you, Samantha Darling. With all my soul, for better or worse—which I can’t promise there won’t be a lot of worse—until death do us part. Please say you’ll marry me. I can’t live without you, baby.”
She gasped. “Yes, God yes! I love you so much it hurts, and there is no worse with you. None of us is perfect. You’re flawed and ornery and mine, McScroogy. And nothing but death will ever make us part if I have my way.”
“I am Santa, and it is Christmas Eve. The time when magical things happen. You loving me is proof of that. I have pull, and I say you can have your way in anything you want.”
“Good. I say I want you for Christmas, Santa baby.”
“Done.” He pressed a quick kiss to her lips and set her down. “We’d better get in there before the kids start to wonder.”
“Wait.” She grabbed his Santa Suit and hid it in the garage then took his hand and led the way inside.
“Aunt Sam, Aunt Sam, what happened. Are you in trouble with Santa? Did he give you coal?”
“I’d say Santa’s very happy with me. Look what he brought me?” She pulled Nathan into the room after her, and she met her mother’s eyes. “A fiancé.”
Jaws dropped, and everyone started to cheer. There were lots of hugs and well wishes, and then Amber said, “Got any brothers?”
Nathan chuckled and responded, “No, but I have lots of friends in very powerful places.” He winked.
“Careful, ladies. Being naughty can get you into a lot of trouble,” Sam said, staring up at Nathan and adoring every ounce of her trouble with a capital T.
“Being nice can be oh so boring,” Amber chimed in on a grunt. “Personally, I’ve had my fill of boring.”
“Cheers to that,” Ellen said and raised her glass of eggnog. “To being naughty and loving every minute of it.”
Oh, Nathan, Samantha thought, You have no idea what you just started....
The End
About the Author
Kari Lee Harmon lives in central NY with her own hero of a husband, her three strapping boys, and her little Darling Diva. When Kari's not writing about heroes, she's playing the role herself, for it takes someone pretty heroic to handle her wild crew.
Fun Facts
▪Kari is a closet karaoke wannabe singer.
▪She is an adventure addict and isn't afraid to try anything daring like parasailing, scuba diving, zip lining, etc. Next up on her list is hand gliding and bunji jumping.
▪She is deathly afraid
of rodents of any kind.
▪She loves country music.
▪Her first job was in an ice cream shop, followed by a grocery store and then a waitress.
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