Sweet Inspiration (23 page)

Alena looked shocked. "But why would she question Nicholas' love for her? He saved her life for goodness sake.

And sparks were flying every time they got together."

Nicholas swallowed. "Actually, I don't blame Lucy for that.

I never actually told her I loved her. Well, not in English, anyway."

Alena shot Nicholas a peeved look. "Nicholas Sebastian Klaus! What were you waiting for?"

"I don't know. I messed up."

Nicky Sr. slapped his oldest son on the back. "Well, I think the time has come to finally tell her how you feel, Nicholas.

Your mother is already planning a winter wedding, and I don't want her to be disappointed. Got it?"

"Do you really think she'll be willing to give up her life in the Sudenwelt to be with me?"

"I think the red sphere had something to say about the two of you, young man. She hasn't been wrong yet," Hector said.

Nicholas shook his booze-addled head. "I'm still a little confused. If I'm not going to be the next Santa, then who is?"

"Have you not figured it out, Nicholas? How much Lagavulin did you drink?" Otto asked.

Wolfie stepped forward. "One of us." He gestured to all of the brothers. "We decided to let you off the hook, man. I don't think you're cut out for that Santa business. We'll figure 213

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out which one of us is best for the job, and then we'll all pitch in to help out the way we always do."

Nicholas looked incredulously at his brothers. "You would do that for me? I can't believe it."

"Believe it, big brother. Hope you and Lucy don't mind if I stop by for dinner, say...pretty much every night?" Oskar teased.

"Yeah, and don't forget about my New Year's party."

Gregor looked at his brothers and grinned sheepishly. "By the way, invitations for the whole family are going out in the next couple of days. I hope everyone can make it. It wouldn't be a celebration without all of you there."

Sven turned to Nicholas and clasped his hand. "Why is it so hard to believe we'd do this for you? You've been looking out for us for a long time, Nicholas. It would be a bloody shame if you had to give up the great passion of your life."

"Would that be baking or Lucy?" Oskar asked with a cocky smile.

"Both!" shouted Alena. "Now get to work. As soon as Christmas Eve is over, I expect you to be paying a visit to Eston, New York. I already have the flowers picked out for the church, and the lady's auxiliary is making a bridal dress fit for a princess. Don't forget a ring. Sheesh! This time make sure you speak in English!"

Nicky Sr. put his arm around Nicholas' shoulders and raised an eyebrow. "Well, what do you think?"

"I think I have the best family in the world." Nicholas cleared his throat as he turned to his father. "You don't mind 214

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if I'm not the next Weihnachtsmann? You've been grooming me for a long time."

"I'd much rather you throw yourself into a life with Lucy, and nurture the talent that brings you the most happiness."

"Thanks, Dad. On the off chance that Lucy says yes..."

"I have a good feeling about that, son."

"Well, both of her parents are gone. I'll bet she would be really touched if you gave her away."

The famous dimple popped out on Nicky's chin. "You can count on it, Nicholas."

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Lucy lay curled on her side, unable to move. It was five o'clock in the morning on Christmas day. All over the country, small children were sneaking into their living rooms, searching for a sign that Santa had visited. They would discover stockings stuffed with candies and peppermint sticks, toy trains racing along their tracks, and a myriad of boxes wrapped in glittery tissue and fluffy bows. Parents would trail behind, yawning and sipping that first precious cup of coffee.

Cameras would capture the joy and exultation, the tears and excitement. Eventually the scent of a holiday bird, gently seasoned with rosemary, marjoram and thyme, would fill the house.

Lucy buried her face in her pillow.
How can a broken heart
hurt so much?
The past week had been pure agony.

Everything reminded her of Nicholas. The apples in the pantry, the lumpy sofa in her office, the forgotten basket of vanilla beans from Mexico. Her employees and customers whispered about her in hushed tones. They were convinced that she had not fully recovered from her 'hospitalization.'

She didn't bother to correct them. It provided an easy explanation for her melancholy.

Her tiny apartment above the cafe was drab and sadly lacking in holiday decorations. Usually she celebrated on Christmas Eve by bringing home a tree, and trimming it with paper chains and assorted ornaments she had collected over the years. Not this year. She couldn't muster up the energy 216

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for anything more than falling into her bed and quietly crying herself to sleep. If she closed her eyes, she could imagine what Nicholas' family must be doing on this joyous day, how they would be celebrating. Lucy clutched her sack of magik pebbles, their enchanted qualities having burned out long ago. Now they were just a pile of cold, hard stones.

A muffled sound from her living room brought her instantly to attention.
Oh my God, some one is breaking into my
apartment! That's just what I need.
Lucy grabbed a new rolling pin from a box next to her bed and gripped it in her hands.

A strange light glowed from the living room. She tiptoed down the hallway and stopped dead in her tracks. She blinked her eyes several times and gazed in utter astonishment at the vision in front of her. A nine-foot Christmas tree stood at grand attention in the center of the room. White lights swathed the sweetly scented evergreen, and hundreds of crystal ornaments dangled from its branches. Piles of packages were stacked beneath the spruce, and the soothing sound of Christmas music was playing on her stereo. Lucy sniffed the air...gingerbread. And coffee, spiced with cinnamon and cloves. On a small antique table next to the tree sat a platter of hot gingerbread cookies and a steaming mug of coffee, lightened with cream, just the way she liked it.

She looked around the room, into the kitchen, even her cramped bathroom. The apartment was empty. Lucy sank to her knees in front of the sparkling tree and looked at a tag on one of the large gifts
. To my darling Lucy, The Woman of my
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Dreams...You're going to need this when we begin our
European adventure...Love, Nicholas
Lucy ripped open the package and found a gorgeous leather valise. It was monogrammed with her initials. Another box had a travel pack and a passport with her name on it.

Next to that was a beautiful new digital camera. The tag read...
I can't wait to take your picture at the Eiffel Tower. Je
t'aime toujours, Nicholas
. Miniature kitchen gadgets, candies, and hand carved ornaments stuffed a hand knit stocking. All compliments of Sven. Laughing, she carefully opened a box marked fragile. She found a stunning set of Christmas china nestled in mounds of tissue paper.
Lots of love, Alena and
Nicky Sr.

A card filled with homemade coupons was propped up on her mantel. Oskar had scribbled one for a free snowboard lesson. Gregor's note promised a champagne boat cruise of the New York harbor. Wolfgang's package was postmarked from the Philippines. It was a precious angel that the orphans had made with paper and glitter and glue. He also included a lovely box fashioned from mother-of-pearl.
Open me!
it read on the front. Inside was a hilarious picture that the brothers had taken inside a mall photo booth, with the inscription
Welcome to the Family
!

Lucy could not stop shaking. She sat in a nest of shredded tissue and paper on the floor of her living room and started to laugh. "Nicholas Klaus! I know you're here! Don't keep me waiting another minute!"

Suddenly, the glint of light reflected off a pair of spectacles from behind the towering evergreen. Nicholas poked his head 218

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out from behind the tree and smiled. "How do you like your Christmas surprise?" he asked softly, his eyes suspiciously glassy.

"Nicholas!" Lucy jumped up and flew into his arms, kicking ribbon and tissue paper out of her way. "Oh God, please forgive me. I should never have left you. I love you, Nicholas, I love you..."

"Shhh, it's okay, my sweet. I love you, too." Nicholas pulled back and gazed into Lucy's eyes. "You do know that, don't you?"

"You never told me."

Nicholas pulled her back into his arms and clutched her fiercely. "I was an idiot not to tell you. I was planning to tell you after the carnival, but our conversation didn't go according to plan."

Lucy hiccupped and stroked Nicholas' face. "I shouldn't have left you. I was a coward. Markus tried to tell me, but I didn't listen. I don't want to jeopardize your job as Weihnachtsmann. I know how important it is..."

"Lucy, you don't have to worry about that anymore. One of my brothers is going to take over as Santa. I'm off the hook.

I have the blessing of my father, my brothers, and all of the council to continue on as the master chef of Glasdorf. They decided my talents in the kitchen were my best contribution to the North Pole and to the children of the world. Someone else will be better suited as Santa Claus."

Lucy was stunned. "Oh my gosh, that's wonderful! You must be so happy, Nicholas."

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"Not quite. I am relieved, but my very worst moment was realizing you were gone and out of my life. I know I don't have the right to ask this of you, Lucy Anne. You've worked so hard to make Sweet Inspiration a success. But do you think you might consider..." Nicholas took a deep breath as he rushed on. "Maybe, joining me in Glasdorf? For the rest of your life? As my wife? And, Klaus Kuche will be
our
bakery, together. I promise I'll be better with the elves. Not so strict.

And not so stand-offish with the customers...and..."

"Oh, Nicholas!" Lucy buried her face in his neck and cried happy tears. "I don't want you to change, my love. I would be honored to be your wife and live with you in Glasdorf." She pulled back and kissed him softly on the lips. "I love you just the way you are, Nicholas Klaus."

"Ich liebe dich."

Lucy pulled back and stared at him. "What does that mean, Nicholas? You said that once before..."

"It means I love you—in German."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "I think I'd better take a crash course in conversational German. ASAP."

Nicholas chuckled and nibbled on her neck, sucking and pulling on the sensitive skin. When he finally released her, Lucy was panting.

"I have another German word for you, my sweet."

"What's that?" Lucy's legs felt wobbly.

"Knutschfleck. It means love bite. I think I'll give you a nice collection for a Christmas gift. What do you think?"

Lucy smiled. "Bring it on, Schatzi."

* * * *

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Nicholas gazed down into Lucy's eyes, struggling with the realization that the woman of his dreams had just agreed to marry him. And leave behind her life in the Sudenwelt. It was too much. This was truly the most incredible Christmas of his life.

His gaze dropped down to her faded plaid pajamas, and he caught an enticing glimpse of cleavage. "Lucy, I like your holiday pajamas. Very sexy."

Lucy laughed. "Uh, Nicholas, these are the most unsexy PJs ever. If I had known you were coming over, I would have surprised you with some alluring lingerie."

"Not necessary. These are my favorites." Nicholas cupped her sweet breasts through the faded flannel, creating a mouth-watering vision, two luscious peaches, ripe and ready for his pleasure. His tongue swiped a path along the intriguing shadow.

"Really, Nicholas." Lucy's voice sounded a bit breathy.

"They're old and ripped."

Nicholas dipped a finger inside a rip on the front of her shirt and found a delightfully pebbled nipple begging for his attention.

"And, they're missing most of the buttons."

Nicholas pushed apart the button-less sides of the shirt, and kissed a path along Lucy's trembling belly.

"Also, the elastic is all stretched out on the waist. They're practically falling down."

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Nicholas smiled to himself as his hands slipped inside of the pajama pants, brushing the soft material over Lucy's smooth hips. Her breath was downright choppy now.

"And, sometimes..." Lucy was having difficulty finishing her sentence.

"Yes, Lucy Anne, what is it, love?"

"Sometimes I get too hot with all this flannel. You know what I mean?"

"Hmm. I certainly do. We don't want you getting overheated now, do we?" Nicholas pushed Lucy Anne down into the nest of tissue and ribbons on the floor. He slowly pulled off the red flannel pajamas, until Lucy Anne was a naked treat awaiting him under the tree. The glow of blinking lights shone temptingly on her freckled skin and caressed her coppery curls. Quickly he divested himself of his clothes, and blanketed her blushing body with his own.

He captured her lush bottom lip and sucked it gently, savoring the taste of her honey-sweet mouth.

Lucy's eyes glittered up at him as she returned his tender kisses. Her arms wound around his neck and she pulled him closer, until the most sensitive part of him found her welcoming heat. She arched her back and sighed with pleasure.

Nicholas thrust slowly into her body, determined to capture all of her this day, to ensure that she would be with him forever.

Lucy smiled up at him as he rocked against her, enjoying a slow sensual ride. There was no need to rush. He would shower her with pleasure until she was convinced of his love.