Kissing Santa, A Clover Park Novella (Clover Park, Book 4) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) (7 page)

He strutted up the front walk. The man did have confidence. She opened the door before he could knock.

He flashed a charming smile, and she felt an answering flutter low in her belly. The man was just too good at what he did—all those seductive smiles and deep gazes. When she made no move to invite him inside, merely stared at him, he spoke up.

“Your mother wanted to meet me.”

“Oh, yeah. Come in.” She turned and called toward the kitchen. “Ma-aa-aa, come meet Rico.”

Her mother hurried to the foyer and immediately embraced him. She pulled back and smiled. “I’m Terisa Medina Dixon. You may call me Terisa.”

Samantha’s jaw dropped, and she stared at her mother. She always insisted on being called Mrs. Dixon as a sign of respect. What was it about Rico that she already had him on such familiar terms? Did she still think she’d arranged a marriage?
Please
.

Rico’s smile lit up his face. He was absurdly handsome with his perfect white teeth and warm brown eyes that sorta sparkled. “Nice to meet you, Terisa. I’m Rico.”

Her mother giggled. Giggled! Her mother never giggled. “Yes, yes, I know. Come meet my husband.”

Rico followed her mother to the family room, where her father was watching the news.

“Lee!” her mother said sharply.

Her father jolted to attention and turned. “Oh, hey!” He stood and crossed the room to give Rico a hearty handshake. “You must be Rico. You’re all I hear about around here.”

Samantha’s cheeks burned. It wasn’t her doing all the talking about Rico.

“All good, I hope,” Rico said, glancing at Samantha and giving her another gorgeous smile.

Her father slapped him on the back. “Of course, you’re the chosen one.”

“Da-aa-aad! Please.” She turned to Rico. “This is my father, Lee.”

Rico nodded. “Very nice to meet you, sir.”

“Such nice manners,” her mother crooned. “Have fun, you two!”

Samantha grabbed Rico’s hand and pulled him out of the room. Her parents were so embarrassing. “Bye!”

“Boy, you’re in a hurry to get me alone,” Rico said.

She shook her head. “Why exactly are you here?”

“I’m here for you,” he said simply.

“Rico, I appreciate the flowers, I really do, but if this is some weird thing between our mothers, don’t worry about it. You’ve done your part. You’re off the hook. Go find your next conquest.”

He took her hand. His rough palm on hers sent tingles straight up her arm. “I’m not looking for a conquest. If you’ll just give me another chance, I’ll prove it.”

“Why?”

“Because you make me want to try harder. I want to be a prince for you.”

Samantha felt herself weakening. That was really sweet. And he looked so sincere.

He kissed the back of her hand. “Please.”

She took a deep breath and nodded.

He held her hand as they continued outside while Samantha marveled that she was actually going on a third date with Rico. She kept sneaking glances at him, still having trouble getting used to this new romantic side of him. She hadn’t told him to do any of that stuff when she confessed her heartache to Santa that day. This must be what he was really like when he cared about a woman.

He opened the passenger-side door for her, waited for her to get in, and shut it. She glanced at the center console and saw a small spindly fern sitting in the cup holder.

He got in and picked up the plant. “This is for you. It’s a love fern.”

She stared at it. “A what?”

“You know, a love fern. It symbolizes the relationship.”

“The relationship,” she echoed. “Do we have a relationship?”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek. She warmed at the spot.

“It’s symbolic,” he said.

She stared at it, puzzled. First flowers, then a fern. “Uh, thank you.”

“I’m taking you to a place with great fresh-made noodles. You like Chinese noodles?”

“Sure.”

“Okay, then.” He drove off, tapping his fingers on the steering wheel in time to “Merry Christmas, Baby” by Bruce Springsteen.

Samantha relaxed into the seat, occasionally glancing at Rico and then at the fern. It was odd, but in a way beautiful. She felt herself softening toward him. It wasn’t his fault they met through their crazy mothers. Maybe she’d been all wrong about him. Maybe he wasn’t a player after all. Maybe he was just nervous the first couple of times she saw him, and now he was being himself. It was nice to be with a man that was honest after that two-faced liar Tim.

They arrived at the restaurant, and Rico helped her off with her coat. His warm hands brushed her shoulders, and she got a hot shiver. “You look beautiful tonight,” he murmured near her ear.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He pulled out her chair for her. She was starting to get used to the gentlemanly manners. She could count on one hand the number of guys who’d ever bothered to do anything chivalrous like open her door or pull out her chair.

Rico opened the menu. “Let’s share the Phoenix special. It says it’s big enough for two.”

She glanced at the menu. Noodles, veggies, and shrimp. “Sounds good to me.”

Rico smiled at her, and she smiled back, basking in the sunshine of that smile.

“Rico, I appreciate everything you’ve done with the Tic Tacs and the roses and overcoming your fear of heights and the, um, love fern, but you don’t have to do so much for me. I would’ve been happy with just a nice dinner.”

“That’s not what you told Santa,” he teased.

She bit her lip. “That’s just a fantasy. I know better.”

He entwined his fingers with hers and gave her a hot look. “I want to make your fantasies come true.”

A thrill ran through her. She had a feeling he could make her fantasies come true in many interesting ways. It had been a long time, too long. “You’re sweet.”

He laughed. “No one has ever called me sweet.”

“But you are!”

His thumb brushed back and forth over her palm. “So I’m not a player?”

“You tell me.”

“I used to be. But you make me want more.”

“I do?”

He smiled. “Yeah.”

Their food arrived. A big pile of noodles.

Samantha lifted her fork. He stilled her hand. “Wait. Let’s really share.”

He lifted a noodle to her mouth and took the other end. A jolt of alarm ran through her. This was exactly like
Lady and the Tramp
. She’d watched it many times with her niece, Gabriella.

She pulled the noodle from her mouth. “That’s
Lady and the Tramp
.”

He sucked the noodle into his mouth. “Romantic, right?”

She rubbed her temple. All the things he’d done tonight had been so strange. Were they all from movies? Her previous elation over his gestures deflated. Was he still playing her?

“Where did you get the idea for a love fern?” she asked.

“It’s just a gesture. You know, romance.
How to Lose a Guy
.”

Her brows scrunched together. “Lose a guy?”

“I know it sounds weird. But it was a romantic movie by the end.”

“I don’t know that one.” She was getting a really bad feeling. “The roses on a ladder? Was that
Romeo and Juliet
?”

“Classic, yeah. Also in
Pretty Woman
.”

“Are you really afraid of heights?” Her voice rose in volume, but she couldn’t help it. She was starting to feel like a fool, falling for what amounted to a bag of tricks he stole from movies.

“Not anymore,” he said.

She shook her head. “Orange Tic Tacs?” She slapped her forehead. “I remember now. That was from
Juno
. Was anything that happened here tonight really you?”

“Sure.”

“Which part?”

“I really do like noodles.”

Her head ached and her heart too. This was so disappointing. She’d actually thought she was seeing the real Rico when it was all just a big phony act.

“Rico, this is just too weird. I want to go home.”

“But we just started eating.”

“I’ll wait in the truck.” She got up and left, walking quickly to the exit. She didn’t care that it was freezing cold out. She was beginning to think that her first impression was right. He
was
a player. He was playing at romance to get her into bed. Here she’d thought he was being genuine. Yes, she wanted romance, but only if that person was romantic because they truly felt something for her. Even more importantly, she wanted someone that was honest with her.

She turned just as Rico came barreling toward her running full steam. He looked nuts. She started to back away, moving to the other side of the truck. He changed directions and headed straight for her. She squeaked and ran.

He caught her with a quick grab, turned her to face him, and set his hands on her shoulders, anchoring her in place. He panted. “I saw that in
When Harry Met Sally
. He runs to her. At least you made that one easy for me.”

“Omigod. Are you going to hold up a boom box tonight in my backyard, playing our song?”

He nodded sagely. “
Say Anything
. They don’t make those anymore. I checked.”

She stared at him, incredulous.

“I could hold up an iPod,” he offered. When she just stared at him, he added, “We could still meet at the top of the Empire State building.”

Sleepless in Seattle
.

“What is wrong with you?” she asked in complete exasperation. “Can’t you just be yourself?”

She hugged herself, feeling like an absolute fool that she’d been taken in by all those lies. He studied her for a moment, and his hands loosened on her shoulders. Good. She just wanted all this weird stuff to—

Suddenly she was flush against his body as one hand pressed the small of her back, the other cupped the back of her head. The kiss was raw and carnal, his mouth claiming hers, his tongue thrusting inside, and heat rushed through her. His stubble scraped her lightly, and her knees went weak. Lord, he was a good kisser. His leg wedged between hers, and she throbbed for him. The kiss went on and on, the delicious friction of his leg between hers had her insides spiraling and tightening. Omigod, she was gonna—

He pulled back, easing his leg from between hers, and looked into her eyes. “That was me.”

Words failed her. She nodded.

Then he kissed her again, and that marvelous leg was back. His hands slid to her bottom, rocking her, and the spiraling started again, sensation after sensation, all centered on that one spot he’d managed to reach through her jeans. She moaned, not even caring they were in a parking lot. He was like a drug and she couldn’t get enough. Her hands fisted on the back of his shirt, keeping him close, never wanting the kiss to end.

“Hey, Rico,” a woman’s voice called.

Rico broke the kiss, releasing his hold on Samantha to look over at a beautiful redhead showing a lot of leg in a miniscule skirt and heels that were entirely inappropriate for December in Connecticut.

“Looks like the noodle date’s working out for you,” the redhead called with a smirk.

“Get lost, Jolene,” Rico called back with good humor.

Samantha staggered back. Her legs felt like jelly. She still throbbed, hot and wet with need. But she was just one of many to him.

“This is just part of some typical date routine, isn’t it?” Samantha asked. “God, I’m such a fool.”

“No! I mean I’ve been here before with a date but—”

“Home.”

She went to the passenger side of the truck and waited for him to unlock it. He exhaled sharply and then opened her door.

“Samantha, you’re not like girls like Jolene—”

“Save it. I don’t need any pretty words or fake romance. Just save it.” She blinked back tears. She couldn’t believe she’d been taken in by…she’d almost…just from a kiss.

She was a fool.

He gently shut her door, and she rested her forehead against the cool window.

She wished she’d never met Rico del Toro.

Chapter Seven

Rico hadn’t been to the doctor for a physical in years. He’d called for a checkup when he got those weird heart palpitations. He was getting them on a more regular basis, and they were scaring the shit out of him.

Dr. Amoretto went through the usual listen-and-look stuff and seemed pretty casual when he wrote stuff in Rico’s chart. Not like he thought Rico might keel over at any minute. Rico couldn’t take the suspense anymore.

“So am I okay, doc?”

Dr. Amoretto paused in his note taking. “You appear to be a healthy thirty-three-year-old man.”

“Good. Okay.”

The doc scribbled something else and looked up. “Your blood work will be back in a few days, but I don’t anticipate any issues.”

Rico nodded.

The doc set his pen down. “Anything else you’d like to talk about today?”

Rico tensed. Should he mention his heart? It hadn’t bothered him all day. On the other hand, it was the whole reason he’d made the appointment. He probably wouldn’t be back for a while.

Rico stared at the menorah sitting next to a small artificial Christmas tree on the counter. “There is one thing,” he said slowly.

“What is it?”

Rico rubbed his chest and faced the doctor, who peered at him, all business. “I’ve been getting these weird heart palpitations. Kind of painful.”

The doctor raised his pen. “Can you describe the pain?”

“It’s like it skips a beat. Sometimes it squeezes or, I dunno, like, flip-flops.”

Dr. Amoretto stood, put his stethoscope back in his ears, and listened to Rico’s heart again. A few minutes later, he pulled the stethoscope out of his ears. “Sounds okay to me. What were you doing when it happened?”

Rico shrugged. “Last time I was on a date, just standing in a parking lot.”

“And the other times?”

Rico thought about that. “One time was at her house. Once in the truck.”

The corner of the doc’s mouth pulled up. “Were you with the same woman in the truck?”

“Yeah.” He’d been with Samantha, but what did that have to do with anything?

The doc crossed his arms and grinned. “In my professional opinion, you’re in love.”

Rico broke out in a cold sweat despite the fact he always ran hot. Say what?

“Or lust,” the doc went on. “One or the other. It’s definitely the woman.”