Dawn Temple - Moonlight and Mistletoe

Several hours later, Shayna finally allowed herself to relax. So far, Kyle seemed to be pulling it off. Amazing.

Getting him to play Santa had taken a lot less arm twisting than Shayna had expected. She’d hoped, deep in the far corner of her heart, that he would step up and help out because it was the decent thing to do. When he did, she’d been unprepared for the joy that tingled through her.

And once he’d agreed, he’d done everything asked of him and done it enthusiastically.

While Kyle was excelling as Santa, Shayna was doing a bang-up job as Ms. Noel. Hostessing the pageant hadn’t been nearly as scary as she’d feared. All the girls-and their parents-had behaved themselves. No major meltdowns, no catfights or upset tummies.

Danny’s daughter Tina followed in her big sister’s footsteps and won this year’s Junior Miss Noel title. Of course, everyone received a trophy and a ribbon. All in all, it was a very successful start to the festival.

Now, with her hostess duties complete, Shayna stood backstage and watched the activity still buzzing around the hall. Several elves, aka the county foster kids, raced through the crowd, expertly avoiding the caseworkers trying to round them up. The Women’s Auxiliary League’s hot chocolate stand was doing a booming business, as was the Girl Scouts’ bake sale.

Someone nudged Shayna’s elbow. Startled, she turned to see Lindy’s grinning face. “We need to talk.” Her friend nodded toward the costumed Kyle.

“I know, but now’s not the time or the place.”

“You’re coming over for brunch tomorrow.” It wasn’t a question or an invitation. It was a command.

“Yes, ma’am. How are Travis and the carnival doing?”

“I don’t know. I was so anxious to talk to you that I haven’t even been out there yet.”

She bumped her hip against Lindy’s. “Go support your husband. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

As Lindy wandered off, Shayna returned to watching the action. This year’s most popular attraction by far was the Santa photo booth. Even though it was after eight, dozens of kids still waited to share their holiday wishes.

All evening, Kyle had sat in the oversized chair, patiently listening to the children’s wishes while frazzled parents called out, “Say cheese!” For the ones who needed extra coaxing, he talked and chatted until they relaxed and began enjoying themselves. After each picture, he’d send the kids off with a candy cane and a jolly “Merry Christmas.”

Seeing Kyle relate so well to the children had been another of the night’s many shocks. She couldn’t help but wonder what piece of his puzzle provided that ease.

Shayna acknowledged the stab of jealousy she felt watching a recently divorced mother of two rub her cheek against Kyle’s, insisting they pose for a second picture, just to be safe. Not that she had any right-or reason-to be jealous. If one of those women wanted an unethical lawyer who would sleep with a gal for the sake of his career, then they were welcome to him.

Now, if she could trust the glimpses of good she’d seen in him, she might not be so quick to throw him to the hordes.

As the crowd began to thin out, Shayna checked to make sure the hair she’d meticulously arranged to look carelessly tousled was still pinned in place. She wanted to help gather together the “Fostered Elves” as they’d dubbed themselves, and make sure they all got their pictures taken with jolly young St. Nick.

She spied Tommy Hunter, looking like a truly mischievous elf, tucked behind a giant Christmas tree. Even though he was only eight, Tommy was a born leader. Once he was corralled, the other kids would be much easier to round up.

Tiptoeing as quietly as she could in her clunky white boots, Shayna snuck up behind the skinny boy and tapped him on the shoulder. “Excuse me, sir,” she whispered. “I’m looking for the elf king. Do you know where he is?”

A round face poked out from between the branches. His front teeth were missing, ragged brown bangs hung over his forehead and several large freckles covered his nose. He smelled like little boy sweat and hot chocolate.

Tommy pointed toward Kyle and the dwindling line of photo-seekers. “The elf king sits over yonder, fair lady.”

She shook her head and grasped his sticky hand. “That one’s an imposter. I believe you are the real elf king, my lord.”

She tugged and Tommy came without protest. “You’ve discovered my secret, lassie.” He laughed, adopting a leprechaun brogue. “Guess you’ll be wantin’ me gold.”

What she wanted was a hug but knew it would embarrass him. “No gold, sire. ’Tis a photo I be wanting.”

Together, they took their place at the end of the line. As predicted, the other children soon stood clustered around them, curious to see what fun and excitement Tommy was stirring up.

When they finally reached the front of the line, Santa’s sparkling blue eyes hit her with a hot look she prayed the children were all too young to understand. Her nerves fired to roaring, ecstatic life.

After smoothing her damp palms over her hips, she waved Tommy toward Kyle’s lap, but the boy stepped aside and let the little girl standing behind him go ahead. As Shayna stood in the proud parents spot taking pictures of the kiddos, Tommy, the self-appointed big brother, made sure all the others got a turn.

There were no requests for bikes or dolls from this group. Some of the under-fivers asked for a new family, but mostly the kids mugged for the camera, refusing to tell “Santa” what they wanted for Christmas. These kids had stopped believing in magic years ago. If not for James Miller, she would have become just as jaded and hardened as these kids.

By the time Tommy’s turn came around, Shayna was fighting back tears. She, too, wanted all these kids to get new families for Christmas, but that wasn’t possible. For now, she’d have to settle for giving them the simple, normal memory of sitting on Santa’s lap.

Mustering a happy smile, she gestured to Tommy. “Climb on up, my lord. I want a shot of the two elf kings.”

He wrinkled his freckled nose. “No thanks, Miz Shayna. Santa’s for babies.”

A call from the children’s caseworkers saved Shayna from making a response, not that she could’ve. Her heart broke further as she listened to the group singing “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” as they made their exit.

With the last note still ringing in the nearly empty room, Shayna sniffed back her tears and headed over to thank Kyle for service above and beyond the call of duty. As she approached the oversized thronelike chair, she noticed Jolene Murdoch bearing down on them.

“Oh my! Don’t you two make a darling couple. I must get a picture for the paper.” Jolene, a recent addition to their community, managed the twice-weekly Land’s Cross Gazette, and as far as Shayna could tell, the tall, energetic redhead ran the paper single-handedly.

“Jolene, you’ve already taken dozens of pictures of me with the contestants. How about if I e-mail you a photo of one of the county kids sitting on Kyle’s lap?”

“Kids on Santa’s lap? That’s been done to death.” She shook her head. “A couple of young, attractive holiday icons? That’s news!” She chuckled and waved her hand, motioning Shayna onto Kyle’s lap. “Climb on up.”

The idea of plunking herself across Kyle’s thighs like the dozens of foolish women she’d watched earlier held no appeal. “I’m sure Kyle’s too tired to pose for any more pictures.” She hoped he’d play along with the excuse, but when his brows wiggled conspiratorially, she knew he intended to make her suffer the embarrassment of a cheesecake photo.

“Nonsense,” he insisted, pulling down his beard and flashing his sexy smile at Jolene. “Any man who turns down the opportunity to have a pretty woman sit in his lap isn’t tired. He’s dead.” His hand struck with the speed of a snake, snapping her into his lap. “I’m most definitely not dead,” he whispered against her ear.

During the quick tumble, her skirt flared, settling indecently high on her thighs. “You’re not dead yet,” she warned through gritted teeth. Concerned about exposing any more skin, Shayna lifted first one hip then the other, smoothing her skirt more demurely over her legs.

“Will you please settle down?”

“Not until I’m decently covered.” She faced him only to find his focus trained below her chin. Following his gaze, she realized her fidgeting had lowered the gown’s bodice.

“Okay, look over here and smile!” Jolene called.

“Wait!” Shayna twisted her shoulders away from the camera. “Don’t look,” she ordered Kyle, reaching between their bodies to pull the fabric back up over her breasts. When she felt properly covered once more, she angled her shoulders forward as she shifted her legs closer together.

Kyle cursed under his breath. The hand at her waist tightened, pulling her body snug against his, pressing her hips into the solid ridge of his arousal. She gasped and froze.

“Ready?” Jolene called. “Smile.”

The first flicker from the camera’s flash had Shayna’s lips curling upward, more from habit than happiness. Kyle’s arms wound around her, his fingers settling possessively at her waist. A wave of desire swamped her. She felt the heat sear her cheeks.

As Jolene snapped several more pictures, Shayna did her best to keep a pleasant, G-rated smile on her face, all the while praying that the camera captured only their images and none of the sparks flying between Ms. Noel and Santa.

The next morning Shayna arrived for brunch at Lindy’s with zero appetite. How could she possibly put food in a stomach still reeling from last night’s up close and personal encounter with Kyle?

She could only imagine the facial expressions Jolene Murdoch’s camera had captured last night. If she ran one of those pictures in the paper, the gossips would be hard-pressed to believe nothing improper had happened between her and Kyle during their confinement.

Seeing him in that Santa getup and fake beard had turned her on as much as the sight of him wearing nothing but a towel. How twisted was that? For her, last night’s sexiness had transcended mere physical attraction. The glimpse inside his personality, the chance to experience the real Kyle, had stirred feelings in her much deeper than mere lust. And that connection scared the bejesus out of her.

Even more distressing, last night, as she’d flopped around restlessly in bed, she’d finally arrived at the conclusion she’d been working toward since Thursday night. She’d overreacted. To the kiss. To Patty’s phone call. To everything.

In hindsight, she’d been forced to face facts and admit that she and Kyle had been equally at fault in that incredible kiss. He hadn’t been trying to seduce her into changing her mind any more than she’d been trying to get him to forget about Walker’s agreement. They’d simply been two healthy adults caught up in a wild, mutual attraction. The setting and proximity had overwhelmed both their good intentions.

Not that she was in any way excusing their behavior. Any kind of intimacy between them was a very bad idea. As fabulous as kissing Kyle had been, it couldn’t happen again. While she no longer thought of him as one of the bad guys, he did represent them. That made him off-limits by association.

She grabbed the envelope holding Walker’s agreement and stepped out of her car. Rufus, Lindy’s ancient bloodhound, waddled out from under the front porch and howled once, but they both knew it was just for show. After lavishing some love on the old dog, she scaled the porch, and with a single knock of announcement, she let herself in.

“Good morning, gang.”

“Morning, Shayna. In the kitchen.”

As comfortable here as she was in her own home, Shayna strolled down the long hallway to the back of the house. The mouthwatering smells of coffee and bacon greeted her. Okay, so maybe she could stomach a bite. Or two.

“Where’s that good-looking husband of yours?” she asked Lindy as she kissed her cheek.

“I sent him out to gather fresh eggs.”

“Amazing how well you’ve managed to train that city boy.”

“Hey,” Travis called out from the mudroom. “I heard that.”

“Did I lie?” Shayna challenged him.

“Nope. I just wanted to make sure you girls knew I was here so you wouldn’t talk about me in front of my back.” Travis deposited the fresh eggs in the sink and stole a kiss from his wife, who was busy rolling out biscuits.

Who would have thought two years ago, when a secret provision in Lindy’s grandfather’s will had forced these two to work on their troubled marriage, that they’d ever be this blissfully-and enviably-happy?

After popping her biscuits in the oven, Lindy wagged a motherly finger in Shayna’s face. “Enough stalling. Tell us what’s going on.”