Kissing Santa, A Clover Park Novella (Clover Park, Book 4) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) (8 page)

He’d been in lust plenty of times without any of this heart weirdness.

It hit him like a slap to the face, left him shocked and stinging, because the last time he’d seen Samantha she’d wanted nothing to do with him. He was in love? He hadn’t felt like this at all with Jamie. She had been familiar, warm, uncomplicated. Samantha was like a jolt to his system. A damn wake-up call to his life. This must be the kind of love that made Trav trail Daisy around like a pathetic lost puppy. He’d laughed at Trav. He wasn’t laughing now.

He had to get Samantha back.

~ ~ ~

Samantha worked on her latest freelance assignment—a book cover for a best-selling unicorn fantasy series—and found herself adding stubble to the unicorn’s cheeks, thinking of Rico’s perpetual stubble. What was wrong with her? When Rico dropped her off two days ago after that very weird showboating date, she’d been sure meeting him was the worst thing to ever happen to her but now…She kept replaying their kiss. Her almost…kiss-gasm. She’d never had one of those.

Of course he was a good kisser; he had plenty of practice.

He was trying too hard.

Still, it was kinda nice to have a guy actually try to impress her. Even if it was misguided and strange and fake.

She picked up her cell to call her sister, Lucia, the only person on the planet she could tell about the man their mother had chosen for her arranged marriage. She shook her head. The entire time with Rico was utterly ridiculous—an arranged marriage, a setup from their mothers. I mean, please! Like any good romance ever started out
that
way.

She dialed Lucia.

“What?” her sister said.

“Um, hello? It’s Sam.”

“I’ve got dinner about to burn, and Gabriella is using the furniture as her own personal—” Her voice called to the other room. “Stop jumping! I do not need another trip to the emergency room! Santa is watching you!” She returned to the phone. “I need a break. You up for a late night Christmas shopping run once Joe gets home?”

“Sure.”

“Okay, bye.”

Samantha went back to her unicorn, erasing the stubble. It was just as ridiculous as the rest of her life.

~ ~ ~

That night Samantha braved the Mega Toy Crazy store with her sister.

“It’s a special two-hour sale,” Lucia said as she maneuvered into a parking space. “Come on! Our mission is Violet. I heard they just got a fresh stock of them.”

Lucia leaped out of the car, surprisingly agile for a pregnant woman battling morning sickness, and was already halfway to the entrance when Samantha broke into a run to catch up to her.

So much for a sisterly heart-to-heart about men
, Samantha thought wryly. Lucia had vented the entire drive about her pregnancy fatigue and nausea, and how she was sure Gabriella was acting out because she knew she wasn’t going to be number one anymore.

She followed Lucia to where a mob was swarming the doll section. Samantha stayed back. The fluorescent lights overhead combined with the crowd and “Feliz Navidad” blasting over the speakers made her want to run screaming out of the store. What in the world was so great about a Violet doll? She waited while the voices rose and fell as people jostled each other to get the coveted doll. A few people emerged triumphant, and then Lucia appeared, Violet doll hugged close, guarding against a possible dollnapping from another insanely eager parent.

Lucia beamed. “I got it!”

The doll wore a violet dress, violet shoes, and had huge violet eyes. Kinda creepy, actually. At least her hair was brown, not violet.

“What’s so special about…” Samantha’s voice died in her throat. Rico was heading right for her, Violet doll tucked under one arm like a football. “It’s him,” she said under her breath to Lucia.

“Him who?” Lucia asked loudly.

“Hey,” Rico said, stopping in front of her. He smelled like musk and leather, and her knees weakened.

“Hey,” Samantha croaked. She cleared her throat. “This is my sister, Lucia. Lucia, Rico.”

Rico shook her hand. “Nice to meet you. Looks like we both came out victorious.”

“It was close.” Lucia grinned. “Luckily I elbowed my way in there.”

“Why are you buying a Violet doll?” Samantha asked Rico.

Was this another one of his strange things? Had he followed her here because of some movie? A chill ran down her spine. Was he a stalker?

Rico smiled sheepishly. “My sister asked me to get it for my niece Sophia. They’re sold out in Florida.”

“Oh.”

They stared at each other, right there in the middle of Mega Toy Crazy, with parents buzzing all around.
You can’t win me over
, she told him telepathically.
No matter how good a kisser you are.

“I’ll, just, ah, do a little shopping,” Lucia said, scampering off. She called over her shoulder, “Meet me at the register!”

“Okay,” Samantha called.

“Samantha,” Rico said.

The way he said her name sounded like a melody. Most people called her plain old Sam.

“What?” she asked, reaching for strength against his obvious charms. This was exactly why he was a player. Women fell for that stuff. She was stronger than that.

He took her hand and pulled her away from the crowd. He looked so strange in this environment with his black leather jacket and worn jeans like a motorcycle-riding badass. Behind him were pink and sparkly princess dress-up clothes.

“I meant what I said the other night,” he said urgently. “You’re not like those other girls, like Jolene, just out for a good time. That’s what makes you special.”

“But what about you? You are like them, out for a good time. Aren’t you? If your mother hadn’t set it up, you never would have asked someone like me out.”

“No, but—”

“I don’t want to be one of your long list of conquests.”

“I don’t keep a list,” he said with a quick grin. He tapped his head. “It’s all up here.”

Exactly. Samantha wasn’t looking for a quickie. She wanted a real relationship with someone who truly cared about her. Someone that wasn’t putting on an act.

“Good-bye, Rico.” She caught his frown before she turned and hurried to meet up with her sister.

She found Lucia near the end of a long line.

“Everything okay?” Lucia asked.

“Fine,” Samantha said.

Lucia raised a brow. “Who was that?”

Samantha leaned close to whisper in Lucia’s ear. “The guy Mom set me up with.”

Lucia’s jaw dropped. “He’s gorgeous! I can’t believe that’s who Mom set you up with. He looks like a sex god.” She fanned herself. “I should’ve let Mom set me up with someone when she tried years ago.”

“He’s an immature, womanizing beast,” Samantha replied as calmly as she could. She caught a black leather jacket out of the corner of her eye as Rico walked by on his way to another long line. She stiffened and looked only at Lucia.

“There he is!” Lucia exclaimed. She waved. Rico waved back.

Samantha’s cheeks burned. “Just ignore him.”

“Are you going to go out with him again?” Lucia asked out of the corner of her mouth, still stealing glances at Rico.

“No. And stop looking at him!” she hissed. “Don’t give him any attention.”

“Are you nuts?” Lucia asked, fanning herself again.

Samantha grabbed Lucia’s fanning hand. “Stop it. He can see you.”

Lucia gave her a pointed look. “I’m married and pregnant and even I want him. Of course he’s a beast. He probably has to beat women off with a stick.”

Samantha raised her chin. “Not this woman.”

“If only…” her sister muttered, gazing appreciatively over at Rico.

Samantha looked over. Rico raised a hand in greeting. She faced front, ignoring her full-body blush, and prayed he couldn’t see it from across the store.

Chapter Eight

Rico got back to his apartment with the Violet doll, feeling lower than a stray dog. Why did he have to fall in love with Samantha, who clearly wanted nothing to do with him? They’d had three dates, all of which ended badly, and she seemed immune to his usual charm. Most women he would’ve slept with already. First, second date tops. It really seemed to bug her that he had experience. She should be glad. That meant he knew what he was doing.

He set the doll in the bedroom closet, unwilling to have the creepy huge purple eyes of Violet follow him around all weekend. He’d mail it out on Monday. He headed to the kitchen for a beer. Normally he’d go to the bar on a Friday night and pick up someone, but that was ruined now that he’d fallen in love.
Thanks a lot, Ma
.
You sure can pick ’em
. It was the ultimate payback for all his slutting around. The irony was not lost on him.

He popped open the cap and took a long drink. He should call Elena and let her know he got the doll. He pulled out his cell and punched in her number.

When she answered, he surprised even himself when he blurted, “The doc says I’m in love.”

“Rico?”

“Yeah.”

“Did you get Violet?”

“Yes, I got the doll. Did you hear me?”

“I heard you, but you’re not making any sense. The doctor said you’re in love. Are you seeing a shrink?”

“No.” He blew out a breath. “I thought I had a heart condition, so I went for a physical. The doc says my heart’s fine and—”

“You’re in love.”

“I need advice. She wants nothing to do with me.” Then to butter her up, he added, “I’m asking you first.”

“Hmph. You should always come to me first. Is it Samantha?”

“Yeah.”

“She didn’t go for your romantic date? What’d you end up doing, anyway?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“How can I help you if you won’t tell me what you did wrong?”

He started pacing. “I didn’t do anything wrong! I did everything the guys did in the movies!”

“Everything?”

“Yes!”

“Hmmm…”

He stopped pacing and blew out a breath. “She keeps harping on the fact that I’ve been with other women. Why does that even matter? I’m sure she’s been with other men. God, I hope so.”

He shuddered. He didn’t want to break in a thirty-year-old virgin. Way too much pressure for a guy.

“What exactly did she say?” Elena asked.

He stared at the beer in his hand, thinking hard. “I dunno. Something about being part of my long list of conquests.”

“Did you brag about other women?”

“No! I know better than that. I mean we ran into Jolene, and there was that song about Jamie—”

“All right, little bro, I got this. It’s simple. She wants to feel special.”

“I told her she was special.”

“That’s not enough. Okay, here’s what you gotta do.”

Rico listened, feeling a little queasy, then quickly got off the phone. Was he really going to do this? Could he bear to go through with it?

~ ~ ~

The next morning Rico showed up at Book It the moment they opened. He wanted to be the first one at the bookstore—in and out with no witnesses. The owner, Rachel Miller, who also co-owned Something’s Brewing Café with Shane, flipped the sign to open and let him in.

“Good morning, Rico,” she said. “I haven’t seen you here before. Is there something I can help you find?”

His eyes darted around the store. “Just browsing.”

She gestured inside. “Enjoy.”

He cruised up and down the aisles, scanning the labels on the shelves. History, Biography, Sports. No, no, no. He kept going. Kids section. He grabbed several picture books for his youngest niece and some adventure novels for the older nieces and nephews. It was a good cover for his real mission anyway. He kept going. Cookbooks, Hobbies, Mystery. And then he found it. The label for the large section was in purple script: Romance.

The bell jingled on the front door, and he quickly moved back to the mystery section. He picked up a book and watched as an older woman approached. She went straight to romance and picked out a book. He glanced over. It was in the New Releases section. She went to the register. He snatched a copy of that same book and hid it behind the mystery in his hand.

The books were becoming unwieldy. He needed a basket or something. He set the stack of books on the floor and pretended to be checking out the mysteries while he listened to Rachel chatting with her customer and ringing up the purchase. Finally the woman left.

Rico took one of each on the New Releases shelf, bringing his total to a dozen romance books.
Elena better know what she’s talking about
, he thought grimly. He balanced the romances under one arm and bent to scoop up the stack of books he’d left on the floor.

Crash!
The books scattered everywhere.

Rachel appeared in front of him and took in all the books, her eyes lingering on the romances. “Oh my.”

“It’s for my sister!” he exclaimed.

She bent down and started gathering books. “Sure, sure. No problem. She might like the latest from Lorelai White too.”

“Okay, I’ll try that—I mean, take that one. It’s Christmas, after all.”

She grinned.

He avoided her eyes and quickly grabbed all the other books. He followed her to the register.

“You really want all these other books or are they just a cover?” Rachel asked. She looked like she was trying not to laugh.

Rico cringed. “I told you I’m Christmas shopping. I need everything.”

The bell jingled again, and Barry, the guy who played elf to his Santa, walked in.

“The picture books alone will run you a hundred bucks,” Rachel said.

Barry stopped at Biographies.

“Yes, yes, hurry!” Rico slapped his credit card on the counter.

Rachel giggled and started ringing them up. Rico kept his back to Barry, who had moved to Personal Growth. Was Rachel going extra slow on purpose? Sweat broke out on his forehead. Barry was a loudmouth. He did
not
want this getting around Clover Park.

He should’ve just bought this stuff online, but he wanted to get started on his research right away. He ducked down, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Hey, Rachel!” Barry called.

“Hey, Barry,” Rachel said. “Can I help you find anything?”

Suddenly Barry was at his side. “Hey, I know you! Santa, right?”

Rico grimaced. There were still two books to go, both of which featured a bare-chested man about to kiss a woman who appeared close to orgasm. He had to distract him. He shifted, blocking Barry’s view. “Yup, that was me. Good to see you. How’s the fro-yo business?”