Page 81 of The Naughty List Agreement

“Yes. It’s sort of tricky and I’m not sure legal.”

Nick groaned. “I don’t want to get busted by this group making out with you.”

Her tinkle of laughter made him smile.

“Nice idea, but not that. I was at the paperchain station earlier and I saw this one link written by a parent concerned about not being able to give her kids a Christmas. So … and this is the not-sure-it’s-legal part … I spent the day reviewing the footage from the cameras in the area and as near as I can tell, it’s this woman who wrote it.”

She handed Nick her phone.

Stacy Fields. Single mom of two. Strong believer in Christmas who had lost her job in October and hadn’t yet found another one. She had no savings because her youngest, Danny, had asthma and had recently been hospitalized.

“I want to maybe go to her house with a tree and presents and all the trimmings,” Cora said.

“I thought you had a team that handles charity,” Nick said, remembering her telling him about the twenty families.

“We do. But she didn’t put anything on the charity tree. I know because I checked to see if I could find her name. What I’m proposing is that we use social media to track her down and then since you’re big on good deeds and all that, we surprise her.”

Nick’s watch vibrated but he didn’t need to look down to see that Cora’s excitement for helping a woman she didn’t know was giving the coffers a badly needed boost. “Okay.”

“I knew you’d say yes. I think she’s local since today was a discounted day for Pine Falls residents.”

“I’m on socials all the time. I’ll track her down for you.”

“You are?” she asked. “What do you post?”

“Pictures of my carvings, mostly. Sometimes I create little videos showing how to make them.”

“That I have to see,” she said.

He pulled out his phone and showed her his online account. He was simply on there as TheWoodCarver. She scrolled through his pictures, tenderness appearing on her face. “This is really great, Nick. If your family kicks you out for not being married, you could sell your carvings and make a fortune.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” While doing his deliveries today, he’d had a lot of time to think. He refused to give up being Santa Claus. He’d decided he was going to ask the council for more time. He wasn’t sure if there was a precedent for that, but having found Cora he knew he wasn’t willing to give her up either. And he couldn’t rush her into marriage or rush the explanation of who he truly was.

Cora was called away and he stayed where he was, watching her. There were still nineteen days until Christmas. He had to find a way to convince her that a long-term relationship was what she wanted. Or at least show her that a lifetime with him wouldn’t be bad.

The more he got to know her, the more he realized that she was the only one he wanted by his side. The only one.

But would the council listen?

CHAPTER 21

Fliss had texted her to meet at Calvin’s for drinks. Nick was playing hockey with Jack and his friends so she wouldn’t see him tonight. Her house seemed dark and cold compared to the lights and decor of the festival. It had never bothered her before but did now. Before she could stop herself, she went and ordered a lighted garland and pre-lit tree from one of the online vendors and then went out to meet her assistant.

Christmas was tough for her. She didn’t allow herself to face all the reasons why she kept to herself and made sure she was so busy year after year. This year, though, things were different. For a start, Fliss, Hannah, and Cora had started having either lunch or breakfast together every day. And then, of course, there was Nick. Nick…

Walking into Calvin’s, she spotted Fliss at the bar dressed in a pair of gold sequined pants and a cream sweater. She waved when she spotted Cora. Making her way through the crowd, she spotted another familiar face: the woman from the video footage. The mom who was trying to make Christmas special for her kids.

She had a nametag on and was serving drinks, so she’d obviously gotten a job. That was good, but Cora still wanted to do something special for her. Nick and his damn good-deed mantra. Fliss grabbed Cora’s hand and hugged her close before she made it to the table. “I invited Hannah and Cindy. You don’t know her—she’s one of my cousins.”

Cora felt her normal panic at meeting new people in a social setting. She tried to shrug it aside but knew her reaction was written all over face. “Sorry, for not giving you a heads-up. Cindy just showed up and Hannah⁠—”

“Needed some adult conversation,” Hannah said, as she brushed by them toward the bar. “What are you drinking, Cora? This round’s on me.”

“What are you having?” she asked.

“The Winter Wonderland-inspired frosted martini,” Hannah said. “Looks like your influence has leaked into town.”

Cora flushed a bit as satisfaction filled her. “I’ll have one too.”