Kissing Santa, A Clover Park Novella (Clover Park, Book 4) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) (9 page)

“Wonderful! I just got a few new flavors for the holidays: candy cane, cinnamon swirl, and gingerbread.”

Rico smiled tightly. “Great. That sounds great.”

Barry peeked over his shoulder. “Ooh,
Carnal Werewolf
. That’s a good one.”

Rico’s eyes widened.

Barry shrugged. “My mom leaves them lying around.”

He lived with his mother? He was in his thirties. And he openly admitted to reading these girly books?

Rachel finally finished ringing him up and slid the books into a brown bag, a small smile playing on her lips.

“It’s for my sister,” he insisted. He signed the credit card slip and bolted out of the store.

~ ~ ~

Rico emptied the bag of books on the coffee table and stared at them. Was he really going to read romance novels? His sister was probably laughing her head off at the stupid advice she’d given him. His leg jiggled nervously. What was the big deal? It was just a book. He was alone. He’d already done the hard part, buying them. His leg jiggled again.

He stood abruptly and got a drink of water. He could do this. Sure, he wasn’t much of a reader, except for the sports section of the paper, but Elena said it would make everything clear for him. He
was
confused. He really wanted to figure this thing out. Not just to sleep with Samantha, though he did want her in his bed. If he was in love, he wanted to be with that person. He wanted Samantha to think better of him. He wanted to be better.

He finished his water in one long swallow, set the glass in the sink, and marched determinedly over to the table. He stuck the gift books back in the bag and lined up the romances across the table, unsure where to begin. A lot of half-naked men here. He got up and slid the deadbolt on his front door.

He grabbed
Blazing Embrace
and began to read. Okay, no big deal. The guy was some billionaire industry tycoon. Must be nice. The woman was applying for a job as the new CFO. Hey, now, this woman was already hot for the guy. He kept going.

Three hours later, he wiped a tear from his eye, glad he was alone. It was so fucking beautiful at the end when they finally got together. He just knew Cole and Mia were gonna make it. A real happy-ever-after. He sniffled and picked up the next book in the pile,
Highlander’s Mission
. The guy wore a kilt. He had no idea how this one might help him. Ooh, it started out with a battle. Nice. He kept going.

Three hours later, throat tight, he closed the book. He took a deep, satisfied breath. Roan and Brianna were perfect for each other. He grabbed a bag of chips and a beer and dove into
Carnal Werewolf
. He shifted uncomfortably as the opening scene began doggie-style. He couldn’t take much more of these sex scenes without some relief. Damn, it was hot in here. He went for a shower to take care of business before he got blue balls, and went right back to reading.

By the end of the weekend, he felt calm, satisfied due to numerous showers, and confident he’d gleaned a key insight into the female psyche. Elena was brilliant. He finally understood what women wanted both physically and emotionally. The men took charge in the bedroom. He already did that, but he could up his game. They went down on the woman a lot. Well, duh, of course women liked that. He usually received that pleasure, but with Samantha he really wanted to give. They also talked a lot about emotions. He wasn’t so good at that. He could steal a line or two from the billionaire or maybe the laird. He flipped through the books and took some notes.

Samantha hadn’t liked the moves he’d pulled from the movies, but this was different. This was gold. Like the keys to the kingdom—a clear vision of the female mind. There was no way she could resist someone that understood her as he now did.

So at seven o’clock on Sunday night, he dressed in a shirt he left half unbuttoned to show off more chest like the men on the book covers, and drove to Samantha’s house.

Chapter Nine

Samantha was helping clear the dinner dishes on Sunday night when the doorbell rang.

“Could you get that,
mija
?” her mother asked.

She set the plates in the sink. “Sure.”

She headed to the door and peeked through the peephole. Rico!

What was he doing here? She’d thought she’d been pretty clear she didn’t want someone like him in her life.

Just open the door. See what he wants.

She opened the door, and her jaw dropped. He wasn’t wearing a jacket, and his white shirt was half unbuttoned, revealing a golden, muscular chest with pecs and six-pack abs. She’d never seen such a beautiful man in real life, only in the movies or on the covers of her favorite novels.

“You must be freezing!” she exclaimed, tearing her eyes away from his swoon-worthy chest. “Come in.”

He stepped inside.

“Who is it?” her mother asked, coming out of the kitchen to see.

“It’s Rico,” Samantha said.

“Hello, Mrs. Dixon,” Rico said.

“Oh!” Her mother giggled. “Just call me Terisa. I’ll leave you sweethearts alone.”

“We’re not sweethearts, Ma!” Samantha called over her shoulder. She turned to Rico. “So…”

“Can we talk?” he asked.

“Uh, sure.” She gestured for him to follow her to the formal living room. No one ever went in there, so it was sure to be private. The room was all white—white sofa, white chairs, and white carpet that still had the vacuum lines on it in perfect symmetry. She sat on the sofa, and he sat next to her.

“What did you want to talk about?” Samantha asked.

“I’m a strong man, and I need a strong woman at my side,” he said.

Her brows scrunched in confusion. Was this part of the arranged marriage deal? Did her mother tell him to say that? It sounded so formal.

At her silence, he went on. “I don’t know what love is, but I had a glimpse of it once, and…I just want to get to know you, and I want you to get to know me.”

She opened her mouth to ask him if her mother had put him up to this, but he covered her mouth with his fingertips and gazed into her eyes. “Yes, I’ve been with other women, but I’ve thought of nothing but you since the day we met.”

She blinked. “Really?” she asked around his fingertips.

He dropped his hand. “Really. And I’m not just trying to get you into bed, though that would be great. I want both the physical and emotional side.”

She had to admit he was getting to her. He just kept trying so hard. She had to give him some credit for that. “Rico, that’s really nice—”

Her words were lost as he gripped her hair and his mouth crashed down over hers. She tasted passion like she’d never felt before. It was exhilarating and exciting like she’d always dreamed about. She roamed her hands over his overheated beautiful chest as his kiss stole her breath away.

The phone rang nearby, and she reluctantly pulled away as reality seeped back in.

He stroked her cheek. “My family is scattered around the country, but I want you to meet my second family so you can get to know me. They’re having a tree-decorating party on Friday night. Can you go?”

She smiled. This was what she really wanted. Getting to know each other. And his words tonight. They were so heartfelt. So powerful. So honest. “I’d love to.”

~ ~ ~

Rico stood with Samantha on the front porch of Maggie O’Hare’s house on Friday night for the tree-decorating party. They could already hear loud voices inside and some really awful Christmas carols blaring that sounded like they were sung by chipmunks.

He turned to Samantha. He should warn her. “So I told you how Trav’s like a brother and his grandmother’s like a second mother to both of us, but I left out something. Maggie can be a little out there, but you know, whatever she does…she means well.”

“Oh-kay.”

He nodded once and knocked on the door.

A few minutes later, it swung open. Maggie stood there wearing a Santa hat with mistletoe dangling on the pom-pom right over her forehead and a red velvet jumpsuit with a black sash. Surprisingly, she held a Chihuahua wearing a tiny headband with mistletoe that stuck straight up from the center. A tiny red bow wrapped around the top of the mistletoe.

“Welcome, welcome!” Maggie kissed Rico’s cheek and turned to Samantha. “So nice to meet you finally, Samantha. I’ve heard all about you from your mother.”

Rico stared at her in alarm. Maggie was in on that too?

“You know my mother?” Samantha asked. She looked as shocked as he felt.

Maggie nodded. “We met at Jorge’s dance studio. She’s a beauty on the dance floor.” The mistletoe on her hat bobbed as she talked. “Come on in. We’re just getting started.”

Rico stepped inside as the pieces fell in place in his mind. Maggie had talked to Mrs. Dixon, and he already knew she chatted with his mother regularly. Then he remembered when he’d played Santa, Maggie had sat on his lap and told him, “You’re next on my love-match list.” Maggie had brought him and Samantha together.

Rico leaned down to whisper in Maggie’s ear, “Thank you.”

She grinned and whispered back, “Harold was in on it too.”

His mind reeled. Maggie was the reason he'd suffered through three hours in the red suit? He glanced over at Samantha. Ah, it was worth it.

“Eggnog?” Maggie asked loudly over the music.

“No, thanks,” Rico said. He couldn’t help smiling. This crazy, meddling woman brought him Samantha.

“I’m fine,” Samantha said.

It smelled so good in here, like fresh pine, cinnamon, and gingerbread. A Christmas tree stood in one corner of the living room. Trav’s brother Shane must be baking something good in the kitchen. He was a chef. A fire crackled in the fireplace. The mantel was covered with greenery and pine cones with silver glitter. Red stockings embroidered “Maggie” and “Jorge” hung from the mantel.

“Who’s that?” Rico asked loudly, pointing to the dog.

“Oh! This is Jorge’s early Christmas present!” Maggie hollered over the music. “Say hello to Rice and Beans.”

“Long name,” Rico hollered back.

The music suddenly quieted, and Maggie turned. Her husband of one year, Jorge, approached. “The kids said it was too loud,” Jorge said.

“It’s a classic,” Maggie said indignantly just as the chipmunks hit a high note wishing them a merry Christmas.

Jorge smiled and gazed into Maggie’s eyes. “Mistletoe.”

They kissed.

Rico and Samantha exchanged a look. It was sweet.

“How did you pick Rice and Beans for a name?” Samantha asked.

“Maggie knows she’s the rice to my beans,” Jorge said. “So he’s Rice and Beans.” He turned to Samantha, took her hand, and kissed it. Samantha blushed prettily. “Welcome, Samantha, I am Jorge.”

“Thank you,” Samantha said.

“We call him RB for short,” Maggie said. The bobbing mistletoe was a little distracting. “Aren’t you a happy dog, RB?”

RB looked with soulful eyes up at Maggie as if to say,
Why am I wearing this damn headband? I look like a dork.

Maggie scratched RB behind the ear. “He’s a senior citizen. We got him at seniors-for-seniors day at the shelter.”

“Hey, you made it,” Trav said, coming over to greet them.

“Trav, I want you to meet Samantha.” Rico suddenly felt like this was a momentous occasion, introducing his love to his best friend. “Samantha, Travis O’Hare.”

“Very nice to meet you, Samantha,” Trav said. “You let me know if this guy gives you any trouble. I’ll put him in his place.”

Rico resisted the usual punch to Trav’s arm he would’ve done at that remark. He really wanted to make a good impression on Samantha now that he had a third, no, fourth chance. Geez, this was probably his last chance. He wanted to be that mature guy.

Trav looked at Rico strangely.

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary,” Samantha said.

Trav’s wife, Daisy; Ryan’s wife, Liz; and Shane’s soon-to-be wife, Rachel (from the bookstore), came over to meet Samantha. While the ladies talked, Rico said hello to Trav’s brothers, Ryan and Shane. Trav’s son, Bryce, ran by, squeaking a blue bone dog toy.

Ryan and Shane headed to the basement and returned carrying stacks of boxes marked Xmas Stuff. They set them on the coffee table.

Maggie rubbed her hands together. “Lights first, that’s Ryan’s job. Trav, you’ve got garland. Shane, you’re the star.” None of the brothers complained. It was tradition for them to do those jobs every year. “Everyone else can put up whatever ornaments they want wherever they want. Just keep the fragile ones up high away from Bryce’s grabbing hands.”

Ryan went over to do the lights while the rest of them sat around talking and snacking on a platter of crackers, cheese, and grapes.

Bryce ran over to Samantha and grabbed her leg.

She squatted down to his level. “Hello, Bryce. What do you got there?”

Bryce opened his bright blue eyes wide and stared at her. Probably dazzled by her beauty just like Rico was. He handed her the dog bone.

“Thank you!” Samantha exclaimed, holding the bone, which was still shiny with dog drool.

Something in Rico’s chest ached again. He rubbed his chest. He had to nail this love thing down before he keeled over from heart failure.

Shane set down a platter of what were no doubt fresh-baked gingerbread cookies. Rico helped himself to a gingerbread girl wearing a busty dress. Only Maggie would decorate a cookie like that.

A short while later, Rico relaxed as Samantha seemed to be having a good time chatting with everyone. He stayed by her side, refilling her water glass whenever it got low. He was glad she was getting along with everyone.

“Time to decorate!” Maggie exclaimed. “Have at it!”

Everyone crowded around the newly opened ornament boxes. Trav handed Bryce a wooden teddy bear to hang on the tree that said, “Baby’s First Christmas.” It must have been from last year. Rico’s throat got tight. Geez, ever since he read those romance novels he was so damn emotional. Those things were dangerous.

Everyone was talking and laughing and teasing each other, but Rico didn’t join in. He remained quiet, watching Samantha decorate. Watching her smile. His chest aching even more.

Maggie walked by and plopped the Santa hat with mistletoe on his head. “Looks like you could use this more than me,” she said with a wink.