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

life.
    She pulled a vase out of the top kitchen cabinet and heard her mother gasp behind her.
    “What is this?” her mother exclaimed, rushing forward to where Samantha had left the roses on the counter. She scooped them up and breathed them in just like Samantha had.
    “Rico brought me roses. He’s out front.”
    “Where are your manners, Sam? Leaving a man out in the cold.”
    Her mother set the roses on the counter and turned to let him in, but Samantha grabbed her arm. “Ma, please. Just leave this to me.”
    She planted her hands on her hips. “What are you going to do?”
    Samantha filled the vase with water, unsure how to answer.
    “He must really like you. Of course you should go out with him again.” Her mother grabbed the roses. “Shoo. I’ll take care of this. Go to him.”
    Samantha didn’t move. “I think I’m going to tell him to leave. I don’t want to encourage him.”
    “Of course you do. You must encourage him, or he won’t return.” She arranged the flowers in the vase with a big smile. “I told you it’s all arranged. He’s doing his part, and now it’s time for you to do your part.”
    Samantha gritted her teeth. Again with the arranged marriage stuff?
    “Ma, I have no idea what he’s doing here again.” Other than my mortifying confession that I wish my very own Prince Charming would bring me roses . “But I’m pretty sure he’s not here because his mother told him to do his part.”
    “Fine. Don’t see him.” She waved her hand toward the door. “Leave him out in the cold. Just don’t come crying to me when you’re single and alone at forty.”
    She winced. That hit her where it hurt. Forty was a good ten years away, but still. Ouch.
    Then her mother nailed her point home. “You and me, we will enjoy our old age together watching Dancing with the Stars .”
    “Okay, fine, I’ll give him another chance!” Samantha exclaimed.
    Her mother nodded. “You will thank me for this.”
    Samantha turned, rolled her eyes when she knew her mother couldn’t see it, and went to the door.
    ~ ~ ~
    Rico rocked back and forth on his heels on the front porch and reminded himself not to compliment Samantha, even though she was so, so beautiful. Of course he thought all the women he slept with were beautiful. He loved women, period. Nothing was more beautiful than the female body with all its soft curves.
    She popped back on the porch and smiled. It dazzled him, that smile. She was even more beautiful when she smiled. His mouth went dry, and his heart did another weird flip-flop. Maybe he was dehydrated from all that sweating. His heart had never felt so weird before.
    “What do you want to do?” she asked.
    He cleared his throat. “I thought we’d go ice skating, then dinner, then back to my place for some music. I play the guitar.”
    “Sounds wonderful,” she said in a dreamy voice.
    He kinda knew how she felt. Now that she was smiling at him, his brain was a little fuzzy and his heart kept doing these weird palpitations. He hoped he wasn’t getting a heart attack for Christmas.
    He extended his arm and gallantly walked her to his white ram.
    ~ ~ ~
    All of Samantha’s embarrassment over confessing her romantic dreams to Rico vanished that afternoon when he made them come true. She should’ve confessed what she really wanted to the guys in her past. He was positively princely, and she was loving it. When they got on the ice at the outdoor rink in town, he took her hand. And she felt it, even through their gloved hands, a zing that shot up her arm and made her warm all over despite the cold winter air. They skated past other couples and families while cheerful Christmas music played in the background. Just outside of the rink stood a large pine tree wrapped in multicolored lights. It was the perfect holiday scene. One time she took a turn too fast and fell, and Rico scooped her up and made sure she was steady. And when he returned their rented skates, he came back holding a