Dec the Holls by Jasinda Wilder

Author:Jasinda Wilder [Wilder, Jasinda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Holidays, romance, contemporary, 90 Minutes (44-64 Pages)
Amazon: B00R8EKHVS
Publisher: Jasinda Wilder
Published: 2014-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

Holly sat on the couch the following evening, Christmas Eve. She had managed to get both Jodi and Michael each something she knew they wanted, and they were preparing to open them. She had her garbage bag ready, and her camera.

Jodi sat on the floor, her present in hand, waiting. Michael was slowly and surreptitiously edging his finger under the taped-down flap, an eager smile on his face.

“Okay guys, go ahead,” Holly said.

They ripped open the packages, chattering. Jodi had a DVD of Frozen, her current favorite movie, and Michael had the biggest superhero LEGO set she could afford.

“But Mom,” Michael said, toying with the flap of the LEGO box, “what about you? Don’t you got nothin’ to open?”

Holly smiled at her son through happy tears. Christmas wasn’t about being able to give her kids a million dollars worth of toys, after all, it was about showing them how much she loved them. And clearly, they felt the same way, which was better than any gift she could have gotten.

“It’s okay, Mikey,” she told him, pulling him onto her lap and kissing his forehead. “Grandma got me something to open tomorrow morning. I’m just happy that you guys are happy.”

“I wonder if Santa will get you what I told him to get you,” Jodi said, smirking at Holly.

“I don’t think so, sweetie,” Holly said, her happiness spiked through with remembered embarrassment, and then with a pang of longing so sharp it took her breath away. “It’s not that simple.”

If only it could be that simple.

As the thought floated through her head, two soft knocks echoed on the front door. Michael jumped up and flung the door open before Holly had time to register the sound.

“It’s Mr. Declan!”

Holly felt her stomach clench as Michael dragged Declan into the living room and showed him the LEGO set, chattering about his favorite superheros. Jodi sat on the floor, holding her DVD, watching Declan with a curious, thoughtful expression; Holly saw the moment when the penny dropped.

Jodi hopped up and whispered in Holly’s ear. “It’s him, he was Santa! Mr. Declan was Santa!” She paused, thinking. “Oh my god. So that’s why you were so embarrassed.”

“I hope I’m not intruding on your Christmas,” Declan said, gently disengaging himself from Michael, handing him and Jodi each a neatly-wrapped gift. “You guys forgot these last night. Why don’t you guys open ‘em up while I talk to your mom for a second. Is that okay with you?” He addressed the last part to Holly.

Holly drew a deep breath and followed Declan into the kitchen, leaning her backside against the stove, staring up at the sexy, persistent man. “Declan, I—”

“Just listen for a second,” Declan said, touching his finger to her lips, quieting her. “This can work. It can. I promise. Just…give me a chance.” His dark eyes were hot on hers, rife with vulnerability and desire and nervousness and hope. It amazed her how much emotion she could read in his gaze, how much emotion he allowed himself to wear so openly.

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