1
EMILY
“Sorry, babe, I’m not gonna be able to make it.” Josh’s voice already held that languid quality of someone who was well into a night of drinking. For fuck’s sake, it wasn’t even seven o’clock and he was already half lit. “It’s supposed to snow tonight, and I’ve already had a couple beers.” I ground my teeth together, trying to tamp down my irritation. If he’d just ridden up with me this afternoon like we had planned, this wouldn’t have been a problem. But when his friends invited him to a hockey game at the last minute, he ditched me in favor of hanging with them, promising he could still be here in time for dinner.
Well, dinner was over, and I had donned my elf costume for the party. Vance, my brother-in-law, had convinced me to play Santa’s little helper for the kids, and since I’d do anything for my nieces, Charlie and Ellie, I agreed. The only problem? Vance wasn’t the one playing Santa as originally planned. His best friend, Donny, was filling that role.
Donovan Hughes had been the object of all my teenage fantasies. He came into my life when Vance and my sister, Sarah—God rest her soul—got engaged. I was enamored with himfrom the moment I laid eyes on his chiseled jaw and chocolate brown eyes. The broad shoulders and nice ass didn’t hurt either.
“Are you there? Emily?” Josh’s voice yanked me back to the present.
“Yeah, I’m here. Um, it’s fine. I don’t want you taking any unnecessary risks.” I wasn’t heartbroken he wasn’t coming. More like annoyed and mildly inconvenienced. He was supposed to be my plus one at this little pre-Christmas gathering, and had I known he would flake on me like this, I would’ve brought someone else.
Now I would have to spend the weekend surrounded by happy couples and their children. I didn’t mind the children part, but I was ready to find that special someone. Everyone here was so disgustingly in love, and it made me realize what I’d been missing in life.
I had some serious wounds to lick when I moved back to Willow Brook Falls a couple years ago, but my heart was on the mend, and I was ready to jump back into the dating pool. Josh was only my second attempt—my ex had done a number on me, and it had taken a long time to heal from that toxic relationship—and things were still pretty new, but I really liked him. He had long-term relationship potential. At least, I thought he did. He was successful, had his own place, and was a great kisser, but this wasn’t the first time he’d ditched me for his friends.
A knock came from the other side of the powder room door, and I jumped. “They're ready for you,” came my cousin Delilah’s voice. She was my brother-in-law's fiancée, which was still so strange to say out loud. It was a complicated situation, and their love was a little unconventional, but they were happy. And my oldest niece, Charlie, was thriving.
Delilah stepped up to help Vance with Charlie’s care when my sister, Sarah, passed suddenly from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Delilah was Charlie’s biological mother, after all.Sarah and Vance had adopted Charlie as a newborn, and when Delilah came back into their lives, she fell in love with them both. Now they were a family of four with Charlie’s baby sister, Eleanor, making her entrance into the world last month.
“I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later,” I said in a rush before ending the call. “Coming,” I called to Delilah, straightening my green and red cap. I looked ridiculous, but the kids would love it. Now if I could just get through the rest of the night with the one man I always wanted but could never have.
2
DONOVAN
“Ican’t believe I let you talk me into this,” I grumbled as I straightened the fake white beard on my face. It was itchy, and the bright red Santa costume was too hot. I momentarily considered telling my best friend to fuck off and do it himself.
“Donny, you are a lifesaver,” Vance declared, clamping a hand on my shoulder and giving it a grateful squeeze. “I was originally going to play the part, but Charlie would know instantly it was me,” he explained, answering my unasked question. He was right. His little girl was smart as a tack, and the moment he disappeared and Santa showed up, she would put two and two together. I sighed, scratching at my cheeks before plopping the Santa hat on my head. “You’re gonna do great,” Vance mused with a smirk and a patronizing pat on my shoulder. I was doing this motherfucker a favor, and he had the nerve to laugh at me.
I punched him in the gut with only about half my strength. He doubled over, letting out a grunt mixed with a chuckle as I headed for the door. I was about to sneak out the back so I could head around to the front door and surprise the kids when I caught sight of Emily coming out of the bathroom. My step faltered as I took her in. It hadn’t escaped my notice how muchshe’d grown up over the last few years. No longer the gangly limbed teenager who did a piss-poor job of hiding the crush she had on me; she was a woman. One with curves and luscious lips made for kissing and…
I shook those thoughts away. She was Vance’s sister-in-law and too damn young for me. Although, that twelve-year age gap worked for Vance and Delilah. But Emily was practically his little sister, and he was protective of her. Still, it was getting harder and harder to not let myself get too close when she was around, to keep her firmly in the friends only department. I just had to remind myself that Vance would string me up by my balls if I even thought about touching her. I didn’t have the best track record with women, and he knew it.
But damn if I didn’t appreciate those candy stripe tights hugging her shapely legs. I wanted nothing more than to lift the green and red dress hiding her ass from view and slip it over her head to reveal those perky tits. Fuck me, she was irresistible, and I had to spend the next hour pretending like I didn’t want her bouncing up and down on my North Pole.
3
EMILY
Ipeeked around the corner, peering into the living room where all the kids and their parents were gathered. Vance had rented out several cabins in this mountain resort to host a Christmas retreat for friends and family. We were in the main cabin where everyone joined for dinner, which would follow with an appearance by Santa and his helper. Vance and his family, including Charlie’s grandparents, would bunk in this cabin since it was larger than the rest. Their friends and children would retire to their own lodgings at the end of the night. I had a cabin all to myself—the smallest on the property—that I was supposed to share with Josh. Now, I’d be returning to my cozy little retreat all alone.
I was sure Vance would let me stay here if I wanted, but every room and bed were occupied, so I would have to sleep on the couch. Besides, I wanted to build a fire in the fireplace of my one-room cabin and crawl beneath the handmade quilt that was draped across the bed.
Three loud knocks sounded at the front door, and the room fell silent. “I wonder who that could be,” Delilah announced in faux surprise as she rocked baby Ellie in her arms.
“Ho, ho, ho,” came a booming voice from outside, and all three of the older kids—Harper, Elijah, and Charlie—gasped, looking at each other with eyes wide in excitement. It warmed my heart knowing they still believed. Harper and Eli were old enough now that we weren’t long off from them figuring out Santa was really just Mom and Dad with different wrapping paper. Hudson and Josiah were too little to recognize what was happening, so they looked to their parents curiously.
Vance strode to the door and grasped the knob, turning to the captive little faces watching him. “Should I open it and see who it is?” he asked, and a choir of tiny voices rang out with an exuberant “yes.”
He swung the door wide and Donovan, disguised as Santa, stepped inside, a large burlap sack slung over one shoulder. It was like a scene out of a movie. His large frame filled the doorway as snow flurries swirled around him. It was downright magical.
The room erupted in chaos. The kids bolted to him, throwing their little arms around his waist and legs as they peered up into his face in wonder. He let out a hearty chuckle.
“Santa!” they cried nearly in unison, and my heart melted at the pure joy on their sweet faces.
“Charlotte, Elijah, Harper,” he acknowledged, patting them gently on the head before squatting in front of the three youngest. “Hudson, Josiah, and little Eleanor,” he continued, looking each of the toddlers in the eye before rubbing Delilah’s newborn daughter’s cheek. She cooed, blowing spit bubbles at him, and my ovaries nearly burst. It was so sweet but also kinda sexy at the same time.
