Read Kissing Santa, A Clover Park Novella (Clover Park, Book 4) Contemporary Romance (The Clover Park Series) for Free Online Page A

Samantha. He wanted to see her again. He wanted to make her Christmas wish come true. If Santa didn’t, who would? He thought for a minute. Should he call and ask her out or just show up?
    He grabbed his keys. Definitely show up. Prince Charming would ride up on his white horse and wow her in person. He got into his white Dodge Ram, at least the color was right. And it was a ram. Close enough. He stopped at a florist and bought a dozen roses.
    As he drove, he came up with a plan of action. This was his second chance, and he wasn’t gonna blow it. He had the flowers. Unfortunately, his only idea for a poem was: You’re beautiful, and I want you. That was probably too spot-on. He wasn’t so good with poetry. What else had she told him she wished for? Holding hands while doing stuff. He could do that. He’d take her ice skating, and they’d hold hands, then he’d take her to dinner and finish the night at his place with a serenade on his guitar. She did mention a serenade. Lucky for her, he was a singer-songwriter.
    A short while later, he pulled into the Dixons’ driveway and took a deep breath, hoping Samantha would be nicer after their little talk. He wouldn’t compliment her. He’d just do all that stuff she told him about. Now that he wasn’t wearing the big red suit, he could properly charm her. That suit had set him back a bit. What girl wanted a guy in a velvet suit with a huge belly full of jelly?
    Her house was decorated now with white icicle lights along the roofline, red bows on the lampposts, and a wreath on the door. He should get a tree or something for his place. He usually spent Christmas either with Trav’s family or, every other year, with his family at his sister Elena’s house. His family was all spread out. His parents had moved back to Puerto Rico, Maria was in Virginia, and Elena in Florida. They alternated getting together every other year, so his sisters could also spend Christmas with their husband’s families. This year he’d be in Connecticut.
    He rang the bell, holding the flowers behind his back. Samantha answered. He let out a breath of relief. He really didn’t want to explain what he was doing here to her parents. They’d be on the phone with his mother in a heartbeat, and he didn’t want to get into all that. He was here despite his mother, not because of her.
    Her eyes widened, and she looked around the yard behind him like he had his reindeer stashed somewhere. “What are you doing here?”
    “I want to make your romantic dreams come true,” he said in all sincerity.
    Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. She covered her face with her hands and groaned. “I never should’ve told you all that stuff.”
    “I’m glad you did. No one’s ever told me their dreams before. I want to make yours come true.”
    She dropped her hands and narrowed her eyes. “Why?”
    “I find you intriguing.”
    “Intriguing,” she echoed.
    “Yes.” He produced the roses with a flourish. “For you.”
    “Oh!” She reached for them and buried her face in them, closing her eyes and breathing them in.
    He got hard just watching her. This Prince Charming stuff was really working on her. And to think if he hadn’t played Santa, he never would’ve known. He sent a silent thank you to Harold.
    “They’re wonderful!” She met his eyes and smiled softly. His heart did an uncomfortable flip-flop. “Let me put them in a vase, and I’ll be right back.”
    “I’ll be here.”
    ~ ~ ~
    Samantha went inside, the roses clutched in her hand, feeling an odd combination of excited and wary. She loved the flowers, she’d only been given roses a few times, but she was still wary of Rico. He was a total player. Never mind the fact she was still mortified over what she’d confessed to him earlier.
    She sighed. She should tell him thank you but she wasn’t interested. It just wasn’t worth falling for another player. The last thing she needed was to be one of a long line of women in Rico’s