Chapter 10
“She’s not what I expected,” his dad said as they were setting up the Christmas tree in the stand for the living room.
Nick agreed but didn’t want to discuss Cora while she was still in the other room. But he wanted his dad’s insights because he needed all the help he could get. “In what way?”
“Her moral compass is strong. I’m trying to understand why the Yearweave would bubble her name up.”
“Well, she’s an interesting one. I’ve been getting to know her, trying to find out where it all stems from. She says she never received a present from you.”
“Never had a present? Are you sure?” Nicholas was shocked. “How can that be?”
“According to her, the gift was from her stepmom,” Nick said.
“I’m sure we wouldn’t have missed her. We always send a gift to every child who is ten, regardless of whether they believe in Santa or not.”
Ten was the threshold year. The last winter before the world began to harden around a child.
Every child received something—not because they believed, but because they were about to stop.
The gift wasn’t about the gift itself, more about leaving a spark strong enough to survive what comes next in life.
“Regardless, she didn’t receive it. She has a huge influence over the holidays around here, which is why I’m focusing on her. If she believes in the magic of Christmas, she could spread that to so many others.”
“But if she doesn’t…” Nicholas warned.
That was the crux of his problem right now. He had less than a month to open Cora’s eyes to the magic that was around her. To the power of doing one good deed and seeing it spread like crystals in a sparkling frost. But until he got her to trust him, that wasn’t going to happen.
Trust took time.
“Her thread is knotted and gray.” Nick struggled to understand why because when they were together she seemed different.
There were moments when some clues were revealed—like, she’d fired someone who hadn’t adhered to her rules, but there’d been a hint of guilt in her voice.
She hadn’t wanted to do it, but her sense of fairness—her moral compass—had made it impossible for her not to.
Those choices were weighing her soul down, Nick would wager.
It felt like Pete had been keeping her in line over the last few years but this year …
the Yearweave didn’t see a path back to the Nice List for Cora.
His dad didn’t say anything until they’d gotten the trunk of the tree secured in the stand and they both stood back to admire the nine-foot blue spruce.
It was a thing of beauty. This moment was one of his favorites.
The official start to Christmas for his family.
Because everything was building toward his big ride on Christmas Eve, these moments were special, this time when anticipation started to build in his family and in so many families around the world.
The Earth was entering its dormant period. The season of light and goodwill was down to the purview of man. It was only through the efforts of humanity that they’d all keep their spirits up through the long winter months.
“You’ve got a big task ahead of you,” Nicholas said, “but I’m sure you’ll pull off a miracle.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Nick said dryly. But his father clapped him on the back and then pulled him into a giant bear hug.
They carried the tree into the living room, where Cora was surrounded by his family and their friends. They were all chatting as they unboxed heirloom ornaments and untangled cords of lights to decorate the tree and it sent a shaft of pure joy through him.
Bing Crosby was crooning Christmas classics in the background and Cora came up to Nick and threaded her arm through his. “I heard you’re obsessed with stringing popcorn.”
It was true. “I am. Have you ever done it?”
“Never. Your mom told me you’d show me how. She’s got a bunch of it popped and ready to go.”
“Come on,” Nick said, taking her hand. Tingles spread up his arm. Ignoring that, he focused instead on showing her how to string corn. It wasn’t difficult but being so close to Cora, with her attention focused on him, made it hard for him to concentrate.
They were alone in the dining room but the music and voices from the living room were still audible. She stopped stringing popcorn and put her hand over his. “This is one of the best holidays I’ve ever had. Thanks for including me today.”
“You’re welcome. I’m so glad you’re enjoying it. What do you normally put on your tree?” he asked her as they started stringing popcorn again.
Their hands brushed as they reached into the bowl at the same time. He liked it far too much.
“Nothing. I don’t put one up at home. I’m mostly at the festival all the time so it’s not worth the effort.”
“What? The Queen of Christmas doesn’t have her own tree?!”
She flushed. “Stop it. You know people like to throw labels around. I admit I do too. But it’s just me at my place, and I work such long hours…”
“Just you. Don’t you like the lights and the way they warm up the room when you’re in there?”
There was discomfort on her face as she shook her head. She brushed some stray kernels off her hands and stood up, pushing her chair back. “I didn’t realize it was getting so late. I think it’s time for me to go.”
Nick had touched a nerve but he wasn’t sure how.
He followed her from the room, putting his hand on her shoulder.
She turned and her hair brushed the back of his hand.
They were closer than he’d realized, so close he could see the flecks of gold in her eyes as they widened.
She sucked in a breath and her lips parted.
Memories of their one kiss flooded him. His own mouth watered at the thought of tasting her again. His hand slid down her arm, taking her hand in his and lacing their fingers together.
She leaned toward him and he could smell her delicious scent. How he wanted her!
Here with his family so close, that had stupid written all over it. Honestly, that should have been enough to make him drop her hand and back away but instead he tugged her toward the butler’s pantry again, where they’d be hidden from view. Why did they keep ending up in here?
As soon as they were nestled between the large, built-in china cupboard and the countertops he pulled her into his arms. He didn’t hesitate this time, just brought his mouth down hard on hers and took the kiss that he’d been craving since she’d shown up here today.
Ah, hell, who was he kidding? He’d wanted her back in his arms from the moment she’d slipped out of them. This woman had him tied up in knots—the kind that wouldn’t be easy to untangle. She was his solution, his salvation, and also his downfall.
Because there was no way he was going to be able to walk away from her.
Not now. Her tongue slid over his and her finger rubbed over his knuckles.
When she cupped his butt and pulled herself closer to him, his dick jumped in his pants.
Her breasts pressed against his chest, soft and billowy and he groaned as her hand slipped up under his sweater, her fingers cold against his abdomen.
This was definitely naughty, and he didn’t care.
What a day. She was all over the place with her emotions, which she hated, but kissing Nick took the edge off.
She wanted him and she wasn’t going to pretend that she didn’t.
Seeing the family he came from should have given her the hives and made her want to run away, but instead it was more like she’d gotten a glimpse of her own secret dreams come true. The ones she’d thought she’d outgrown.
Those horrid Christmases that had defined her stirred fear up inside of her.
This was temporary. It wouldn’t—couldn’t—last, and that was all she needed right now.
Some mindless, dirty sex with the hot toymaker.
There were worse ways to spend Thanksgiving.
Hooking up in his mom’s pantry, though, that wasn’t on her bingo card.
She’d just have to put this in the wild square.
Moving her hand lower on his rock-hard stomach made her long to see him naked. She stroked his erection through his jeans and enjoyed the little sound he made in his throat. He cupped her butt and lifted her against his body.
She wrapped one leg around his thigh, rocking herself against his hard-on. She pulled her mouth from his and looked into his eyes, noting they were heavy-lidded, and his face was flushed with desire. He was as turned on as she was and that made it even hotter.
A lock of his thick chestnut hair fell across his forehead and she reached up to push it back.
The silky strands were soft and cool against her fingers and she enjoyed the sensation.
She enjoyed even more his hand going under her sweater, up and over her stomach, and then she felt his touch against the curve of her breast. He traced the lace pattern of her bra until her nipple hardened and a smile teased the corners of his mouth.
Pushing the cup of her bra up, his palm rubbed over her sensitive skin and a shaft of desire went through her, pooling between her legs.
She sucked her lower lip between her teeth to keep quiet and all she could think about was pulling up her sweater so he could take her nipple into his mouth.
“Is this naughty enough for you?” he asked.
Though she’d told him she’d done some naughty things, she almost felt too exposed here in his parents’ house, but then he lifted her up on the counter and stepped between her legs, and she stopped thinking at all.
They were eye level now and she wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he pushed her sweater up, his tongue tracing over that one exposed nipple.
His mouth hot as he suckled her, it was everything she’d imagined and more.
She needed to touch him in return and wished they were at the right angle so she could reach into his jeans and take his erection in her hand.