Holiday Second Chance Romance

4 I'm Not Ready

Nick POV

My mood has been sh*t since I talked to my father this morning. I know he is ready to retire and for me to relieve him of his duties, but I haven't found the one that is meant for me. I can't become Santa Claus without my chosen bride at my side. My father has been Santa Claus for nearly three hundred years, which is longer than most. He loves it, but he wants to enjoy retirement with my mother, as he keeps telling me. I want that for him and my mother too, but this isn't like picking a pair of socks.

Finding someone that I actually like enough to spend our very long lives with and that won't run for the hills when I finally tell them who I really am isn't easy. Besides that, I haven't opened myself up to the possibility because I almost did once, but thankfully she showed her true colors before I pledged myself to her. Once we are pledged, nothing can break the bond between us. I know I'm being selfish but the thought of being bound to a woman that might f**k me over someday doesn't exactly fill me with the desire to open my heart.

Then my sister tells me some girl she went to high school needs a place to stay because she was hurt by her husband. Which means I'm going to have to try not to be so much of an a**hole. Chrissy refuses to tell me what the a**hat did, but it must be bad. I just pray he didn't hit her, or I might have to make the trip with my father this year to beat the sh*t out of the abusive pr*ck. My sister has the gift of sight. It will come in handy when she becomes my second someday but right now it's a pain. She got the warm heart out of the two of us. Don't get me wrong, I love the people I love, but they are few and far between.

My sister, my parents, and my best friend, Jack. I pretty much tolerate everyone else. I would do anything for someone in need and I love kids, but it is ingrained in my DNA since I'll be Santa someday. I'm just about to head to my truck to start plowing the snow from this morning when I notice Chrissy pulling into the parking lot in her beat-up truck. I offered to buy her a new one when I got mine, but she loves the truck our father gifted her on her sixteenth birthday.

If it were new, it wouldn't have been so bad, since she is only twenty-seven, but it was my father's truck first. I'm broken out of my thoughts when I hear the sound of the truck door shut. My sister is out first and then the passenger door opens. My breath catches in my throat when I get my first look at our guest. Holy sh*t she is beautiful. Honestly, that word doesn't do her justice. Her chestnut hair is long and wavy. Her cheeks are the perfect pink.

F**k me, her body is the thing of wet dreams. She is wearing snug jeans and, based on her open coat, a pink sweater that covers her ample breasts. I force myself to think about my Elven teacher from high school who was a day older than my father. It does the trick to get my hardening c**k in check. This woman has been through something traumatic, and she is married I repeat in my head. She is off limits even if it's the first time a woman has caused my body to sit up and take notice in a very long time.

"Nick, did you hear me," Chrissy asks. I look at my sister and I swear she is fighting a smile like she knows what I am thinking. "No, I didn't hear you?" "I wanted to introduce you to my friend Clarice. Clarice, this is my older brother, Nick," she says. She is even more beautiful up close. "It's nice to meet you, Nick. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you letting me stay. I know Chrissy is letting me stay in her apartment, but I insist on paying your nightly fee for a room. It will only be until I can find someone to fix my cottage," she says without taking a breath.

A smile I didn't even know I had splits my face. "That was impressive. You didn't breathe once." "Sorry, it's been a hell of twenty-four hours. I'm out of sorts," she says. "Please don't apologize. I'm sorry for teasing you. As far as the fee goes that is up to Chrissy. She is letting you stay in her apartment, so I'm not going to charge you for a room at the Inn." "I have money. I'm not some damsel in distress that needs to be taken care of because my husband f**ked me over," she blurts out.

Her cheeks change from pink to red. "I'm sorry. I just don't want to take advantage of the kindness that Chrissy has shown me. I didn't even realize she would remember me when I called, but then she offered to pick me up at the airport. I have no idea how long the renovation will take, and I'm not going to take advantage of either of your kindness," she says. Why do I feel so drawn to this woman? The pain in her voice has me contemplating not waiting the two weeks to beat the sh*t out of her husband. I can teleport into his bedroom and he won't know what the hell hit him.

"How about, instead of money, you pay us with time. We could use help around the Inn especially in the morning. The next six weeks are going to be crazy with the tourists wanting the small town experience." She smiles, and my heart starts to beat against my chest. "I could do that. Thank you, Nick," she says. I can see tears pooling in the corner of her eyes. I look at Chrissy not knowing what the hell to do. "Clarice, why don't I show you where you'll be staying," Chrissy says. She nods and offers me a sad smile before she follows my sister. I force myself not to watch her a** as she walks away but fail miserably.

Clarice POV

I need to pull myself together. I just snapped at a man who doesn't even know me. He probably thinks I'm a royal b**ch. "Are you alright, Clarice," Chrissy asks as we round the main building. "I will be. I just need time to get my head together." "You don't need to tell me what's going on with you and your husband, Clarice, but I want you to know I'm a good listener if you need to talk. I promise there won't be any judgment about anything you tell me," she says. Despite not really knowing her, I believe her.

"Thank you, Chrissy. I appreciate the offer, but I'm just not ready to talk about it yet." I smile when a quaint two-story house comes into view. "My apartment is upstairs and Nick's is downstairs," she says. I follow her up the stairs and when she pushes open the door I smile. Even if I'm not feeling the holiday right now, Chrissy is for sure. The apartment is decorated to the hilt. "I guess you have your parents' love of the holiday."

"I do. Christmas is important to my family, so even though we live away I still decorate to feel close to them. Nick does too, but not nearly as much as me. Christmas is a magical time when anything can happen," she says. "I wish that were true. It's not feeling very magical for me right now." "It's not Christmas yet," she says. I'm not sure what to say, so I smile, but I'm sure it doesn't reach my eyes.

I follow her down a short hallway to what I assume is her guest room. When she opens the door I smile genuinely this time. The room is warm and inviting. "I hope you like it. I don't have a lot of guests. I'm excited you're here to spend the holiday with us." I go to open my mouth but close it. She has opened her home to me. The least I can do is act like I appreciate it even if the last thing I want to think about is celebrating Christmas.

"I'm not much of a cook, so we can have dinner at the Inn. Lacey is an amazing cook," she says. I'm about to tell her I don't really feel like eating, but my body betrays me and my stomach rumbles. We both giggle, and she turns to leave the room. I close the door and drop my luggage at the bottom of the bed. For the first time since this morning I wrap my arms around myself and allow myself to cry for me and for the baby growing in my belly.