“Hi, Santa,” she said.
“May I join you?”
“I think this might be your sleigh.” She scooted over. Once in, she draped the blanket around his legs so that they were both underneath.
“Here’s some hot chocolate.” Amanda handed him a thermos. “It should still be hot.”
He took a sip. “What a night, huh?”
“Indeed.” She shook her head. “How’s your ankle?”
“Much better. Almost as good as new.” He leaned back and padded the pillow under his stomach. “Hey, if you wanted to get an exclusive with Santa, I could make it happen,” he teased. “Could get you an Emmy.”
Amanda smirked and leaned back. “Nah, I’m really cozy right now. Maybe next year.”
“Why, Ace, is that an invitation to do this again next Christmas?” He noticed her look away. Was she nervous? She was reaching to her side and grabbing something. “Well, I’ll keep the beard on for a few more minutes in case you change your mind on that interview.”
“I have a little gift for you,” she blurted out and handed him a blue box with silver ribbons around it.
Tate set the thermos off to his side. “Amanda?” He took the box. “You got me a present? I don’t have anything for you.”
“It’s nothing really,” she said. “It was actually yours to begin with. I just thought you might—”
“Thank you,” he interrupted her. This was the second Christmas box this woman had given him in her lifetime, and she didn’t even realize it. He untied the silver ribbons and removed the lid. His shiny lucky charm poked out from silver tissue paper.
“Well, hello, old friend.” He picked up the familiar rock and squeezed it in his hand.
“I just thought that maybe given the day you had . . .” She paused. “Well, I thought you should have it back.”
Her thoughtfulness sent his heart racing again. He needed her to know everything, but he didn’t have a clue where he should start. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. “You know, my mom gave this to me when I was thirteen. She picked it up in a gift shop on a road trip on this very night. My dad had just died. She told me our luck was going to change.”
He could feel her hand touch his shoulder. “I’m so sorry that you lost your parents at such a young age. That’s why you carry this rock, isn’t it?” she asked. “I know you put it in your pocket before we go on air. I’ve watched you do it. Why did you give away something that is so personal and sentimental to you?”
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “I got carried away in the moment. I thought you could use it this weekend.” He pointed to his ankle. “I guess the joke’s on me.”
Amanda took the rock from his hand. “It’s a little different now. I hope that’s okay.” She switched on the flashlight. “See.”
He leaned in and peered down. “Is something inscribed on it? I can’t quite make it out.
Xmas something?”
“It says, ‘Xmas Dinner.’” She sighed. “For tonight. I mean, I know it’s Christmas Eve dinner, but that would have been too long for Brenda to etch. I thought this could remind you of the special surprise you orchestrated for Kristen and the girls tonight. I know that Chloe invited you to dinner. That must have touched you somehow to do what you did.” She tugged his beard playfully. “That and you did promise if I brought you home, you would make sure Christmas dinner would be memorable. This is just a little reminder that I’m holding you to it.”
“Xmas dinner.” Tate recited the words as he flipped the rock over and over in his hand. All of the feelings he had for Amanda were rushing to the surface. He wasn’t sure when it happened, or even how it happened for that matter, but he had finally gotten into Amanda’s heart the way she did his so long ago. Without another word, he reached over and cupped her face, pulling her chin up. He leaned forward until his lips met hers.
His mouth gently explored hers, thanking her for this gift and the one she’d given him when he was thirteen. It was that silly box of eggnog sugar cookies that gave him the distinct and familiar holiday scent that brought his parents back to him each year, at the time he needed to hold on to their memory the most.
Amanda broke away and giggled. She buried her face in his chest.
“Really, Ace.” He moved his hands up and down her back. “Not the reaction I was hoping for.”
She gently tugged on the white beard. “It’s just that . . . I can’t believe I’m kissing Santa.”
He yanked off the fake beard and pulled out the pillow, flinging both over the sleigh onto the snow. “Not if I can help it.” He pulled her into a long kiss.
Amanda threaded her fingers through Tate’s as they headed inside. Her lips were still tingling. “I bet someone is going to be insanely jealous of this public display of affection.”
“Who? Alex?”
“I was thinking more along the lines of my grandmother, but your bromance really did blossom after he ran you over, didn’t it?”
“It sure did.” He nodded to the sound of laughter coming from the kitchen. “Quick. What do I play again? Was it golf or tennis?”
“Very funny. Maybe we can start telling the truth?”
“I’d like that. I’m more of a soccer player.” He squeezed her hand and headed toward the kitchen.
“Not so fast.” She tugged him backward and nodded toward the stairs.
“Won’t we be missed?” he teased.
“I think we have a few more minutes before they form a search party. I thought you might like to take a quick shower. How’s your ankle?”
“Never better.”
From the smile on his face, she guessed he’d endure as much pain as he could stand for a few more minutes alone with her. Good.
She turned on the light to her old room and headed into the adjacent bathroom, emerging moments later with two white towels. “Here.” She tossed them to Tate.
“Two towels?”
“Don’t get any ideas.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it.” He smiled mischievously and yanked his sweater over his head.
His bare arms were around hers before she could reply. “I do have one idea,” he whispered into her ear and then pressed his mouth hard on hers.
She reluctantly pulled away. There was no way this was going to happen in her parents’ house. “We should probably stop.”
Tate let out a groan. “All right. You win.” He headed for the bathroom but turned around. “For now.”
Amanda flung herself onto the bed and reached for his sweater, bringing it to her face. It smelled of pine needles and his cologne. He was still her boyfriend for the next twenty-four hours. It would be a shame if they didn’t . . .
“Oh, why not.” She jumped off the bed and unzipped her boots. Her jeans and sweater came off just as quickly. She opened the door, creeping into the bathroom. The room had a walk in shower and a tub. She turned on the tub faucet so that the water ran slowly and would take a few minutes to fill up. She quietly slipped off the rest of her clothes and pulled open the handle to the shower’s steamy door.
Tate turned around and grinned down at her. He pulled her in and cupped her face with his wet hands, longing in his eyes. “I was hoping I’d get my Christmas wish.”
A few steamy minutes later, they moved from the shower to the bathtub and were surrounded in bubbles. “You know . . .” He rubbed her legs. “I’m pretty sure that last move in the shower puts you on the naughty list.”
She kissed his neck and swirled the foam around with her hands. “And with only a couple of hours to go. What was I thinking? I guess there’s always next year.” She started to rub his shoulders. “I think you also had some moves of your own in there that would warrant listing your name right under mine.” She rested her head on his back. “Doesn’t matter anyway. I stopped believing in Santa a long time ago.”