'Tis the Season to Kiss Santa (Entangled Indulgence) (4 page)

“Why not?”

He could change the subject again. Or he could be blunt and tell her that it was none of her business.

Or he could tell her the truth. Speak of the thing he never, ever spoke about. Talk to the woman who’d judged him just a few short hours ago and found him wanting.

Except now he was looking at the situation through different eyes and knew that yes, he
had
been wanting. Facing his past was the only way he was ever going to change that. Plus, this time, he knew that Ellie wasn’t going to judge, just as he hadn’t judged her. She was going to listen. Maybe she would tell him what she thought, in that direct English way of hers, but she’d listen first.

“I hated living at home. Dad used to drink and Mom was always ‘walking into doors.’ There wasn’t a single day without a fight.” Even the memories put a lump in his throat. “I didn’t want that kind of life—or that kind of relationship—for me.”

She reached across the table and squeezed his hand briefly. “I’m sorry. Have things between them gotten any better now you’re older?”

“I don’t know. I don’t see them.”

“Not ever?”

She looked shocked. Not surprisingly, given how close she was to her family and the love that showed in her face when she spoke of them.

Not all families were like his.

And he didn’t want her to think that he was all bad. “I speak to them sometimes. I never forget birthdays or Christmas gifts.”

“You just don’t want to go back there.” She sounded understanding rather than judgmental.

“It’s not just my parents.” He sighed. “I have three older sisters. They all made the same mistakes as my parents, and they’re all divorced now. My sisters, I mean. My oldest sister did it twice. I’ll never understand why she thought she could change either of them.”

“You can’t change someone else. And the only person who can change you is
you
,” she said. “You have to want to change, and your head’s got to be in the right place before you can even try it, or it won’t work.”

“Exactly. I didn’t want to be like them. So I hitched a ride east when I was sixteen. I found myself a job, worked my way up.”

“To being the second in command at one of the biggest PR agencies in Philadelphia. That’s pretty good going.”

He shrugged. “Because I was focused on my career. I wanted it badly enough to make it happen.”

“But?”

Funny how she’d homed in what he wasn’t saying. What he’d been thinking ever since he’d walked into the hospice that afternoon and his life had turned unexpectedly upside down. “But what you were saying about the only person who can change you is you—that’s true. Today was a test.”

She frowned. “How?”

“My boss is retiring next year. He’s looking at who’s going to replace him.”

“But you’re second in command. Aren’t you the obvious choice?”

“Maybe.” That’s what Mitch had thought. Until his boss had dropped the bombshell. “But C.J. thinks I don’t have a heart. That’s why he asked me to be Santa. To prove that I do.”

“Do you think you passed?” she asked softly.

“I don’t know.” He spread his hands. “But I do know it’s changed me. Today’s made me realize that C.J.’s right. Focusing on business all the time is only half the story. Those kids made me feel—well, humble. I’ve stayed separate from people in the past, because I don’t want to make my family’s mistakes. But it doesn’t have to be like that. There’s another way.”

“If you choose to take it.”

“I’ve never believed in all that love-at-first-sight business, but I do know you make me feel different. Like nobody else has made me feel. I want to
be
different. I can’t give you any guarantees but, yes, I want to give this a try.” He reached over to tangle his fingers with hers. “With you.”

“I said I wasn’t going to get involved again. I was going to work out what I wanted to do with my life, then focus on my career.” She looked at him. “I’ve never, ever gone to bed with someone without knowing them for months—and I’ve not even known you a whole day! But you’ve taught me something. That it’s okay to take a risk.” She held his gaze. “Betty’s not going to be that mobile for a while. I’ll need to stay here to help out until she’s fit again. As you said, there are no guarantees. It might work. It might not. But the only way we’ll find out is to give it a try.”

“So will you give me a chance?”

She smiled at him. “Yes.”

“Which,” he said, “kind of makes me your Christmas present, Ellie Brown.”

She grinned. “One I’m certainly going to enjoy unwrapping. Merry Christmas, Santa. And I might just be wearing your Christmas stocking…”

About the Author

Kate Hardy is an award-winning author of over 50 books for Harlequin and is thrilled to be writing now for Indulgence. She lives in Norwich in the east of England with her husband, two children, springer spaniel, and too many books to count. She’s a bit of a nerd who loves cinema, the theatre, history and cooking (which is why she has to go to the gym five times a week!), and adores anything Italian.

Keep your Indulgence going with these classic contemporary romances...

The Billionaire’s Christmas Baby
by Victoria James
A baby on the doorstep is the least of Hannah Woods’s problems—she has to find the baby’s uncle, or the child will end up in foster care. She sleuths her way to the reclusive CEO’s doorstep only to find six feet of holiday sexy—and a door slammed in her face. But when Jackson comes around and urges they marry for little Emily’s sake, Hannah finds herself falling for the jaded billionaire and wishing for a holiday miracle of their own…

The Baby Bargain
by Jennifer Apodeca

Former Marine, Adam Waters keeps his heart on ice, even with the one woman he can’t forget, hometown girl, Megan Young. But when Adam learns the shocking truth that Megan’s child is really his, will his heart thaw or turn to stone?

Taming the Tycoon
by Amy Andrews

Nothing will stop real estate tycoon Nathaniel Montgomery from tearing down the decrepit St. Agnes hospital and erecting posh condos in its place. Nothing except maybe Addie Collins.  She agrees to pose as his girlfriend for his eccentric grandmother’s birthday party to show him there’s more to life than making money. As she breaks through his defenses, losing himself in Addie’s arms might be exactly what this tycoon needs…

Second Chances
by Rita Oberlies

For Brenna Morgan, returning home is the very last thing she wants, especially when it means facing the man who once became her salvation—and then dumped her at the first sign of trouble. But Luke is determined to make up for his past mistakes, and Brenna finds herself weakening against him. A decade of deceit lies between them, and he’ll have to fight if he wants to keep his second chance at love.

Weekend Agreement
by Barbara Wallace

Like every other woman in cynical billionaire Daniel Moretti’s life, Charlotte Doherty wants something from him–the deed to her family farm. Daniel agrees, but only if he gets something in return: Charlotte’s company for the weekend!