Santa Brought A Son

“One, two…” Before the DJ reached three, Kelli tossed the bouquet over her right shoulder. The flowers soared through the air. A woman in a teal suit reached up, but was a second too late. The bouquet landed right in Samantha’s hands. She stared at the white roses with the red tips. Their coy scent wasn’t so sweet now, but Kelli was clapping and smiling. That’s the only thing that mattered.

Samantha clutched the bouquet to her chest and grinned at her friend. “I can’t believe my luck,” she said dryly.

As she walked off the dance floor, Mark removed the garter from Kelli’s left leg while men whistled and cheered. The DJ counted down again. On three, Mark fired the blue satin garter over his shoulder and into the crowd of bachelors. As the garter approached, the men backed away. The garter arced toward the floor when a hand snagged it out of the air.

“Whoever caught that wanted it bad,” Claire said.

She was such a romantic. Samantha knew better. “He probably had too much to drink and doesn’t realize what he’s done.”

As Reed approached, he twirled the garter on his finger.

Jenn raised a finely arched brow. “You caught the garter?”

“I promised Mark if no one tried to catch it, I would.” Reed placed the garter on his arm. “Wedding traditions mean a lot to Kelli, and Mark didn’t want her to be disappointed.”

Tears glistened in Claire’s eyes. “That is so sweet.”

Samantha couldn’t believe it. Reed sounded so much like the boy she’d known in high school she felt a tug on her heart.

“Would the pair who caught the garter and bouquet please join the bride and groom on the dance floor?” the DJ asked.

No, she couldn’t. A momentary panic sent her rising from her chair. Reed stood also. Mark waved at them; Kelli grinned. At least the bride and groom were happy about this.

It wasn’t a big deal, Samantha told herself as Reed led her back to the dance floor. One dance at a wedding in front of more than 150 people meant nothing. She repeated that to herself when he placed one hand on her shoulder and held her hand with the other. And repeated it again as they swayed to the music—a romantic ballad from one of the summer’s biggest movies.

It was only a dance.

Too bad it didn’t feel that way.

Reed’s arms weren’t around her pulling her close, but they might as well have been. His warmth and strength seeped into her. Shivery sensations shot through her. Dancing with him felt like second nature. A nature better left untapped, a little voice cautioned. But she ignored it. Samantha had been alone for so long, she’d forgotten how nice it felt to dance and be held. His gentle touch sent tingles up her arm and down to the tips of her black leather pumps. Nerve endings came alive. Her heart, too. It went against all reason, but she hoped this once the song was a long one.

Glancing up at Reed, her breath caught in her throat. Years ago, she’d dreamed of being on the dance floor with him at a wedding. Their wedding. But like all dreams, hers hadn’t come true. And she had one person to blame. She looked away.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the DJ announced. “Let’s give the couple dancing under the mistletoe some encouragement?”

Guests tapped flatware against their glasses. Because of the clinking, Samantha assumed the DJ meant the bride and groom, but Kelli smiled and pointed toward the ceiling. Samantha didn’t have to look up to know what was above her and Reed. She’d been the one to hang the mistletoe on the dance floor.

Reed’s eyes darkened. “Shall we?”

No. That’s the last thing she wanted to do. Now or ever.

But one brief kiss was nothing more than a holiday tradition. And it would mean a lot to Kelli. One peck wasn’t about to set the town gossips’ tongues wagging. Or change anything. Past, present, future. “Why not?”

She waited for Reed to take the lead. He lowered his mouth to hers. The moment his lips touched her, sensation rocketed through her. Electric shock, chemical reaction, you name it—she felt it. Talk about a swoonworthy kiss. If Reed hadn’t wrapped his arm around her she would have fallen. She waited for him to back away but he didn’t.

Stop, she should stop.

But kissing him felt so good. So right. So perfect.

He wasn’t stopping. She didn’t want to stop, either. His taste intoxicated her, a dangerous elixir that should be marked off-limits. His scent hadn’t changed over the years and reminded her of the magical kisses they’d shared before.

Memories rushed back. Buried emotions, too. The years faded. The distance between them seemed to disappear.

More, she wanted more.

She leaned into him. Reed took the hint and pulled her closer. Her breasts pressed against his firm chest. Strong, he was stronger than she remembered. This wasn’t a boy holding her but a man. She wished he never had to let go.

For the first time in a long while, she belonged. She could be Sam. Not Samantha. Not Mom…

Timmy.

What was she doing?

She jerked away. Applause filled the room. Samantha didn’t want to guess what shade of red her cheeks were at the moment. Most likely the same color as the holly-red tablecloths or roses in Kelli’s bridal bouquet. Thank goodness the lights had been turned down.

The applause continued. Reed bowed. Not to be outdone, she curtsied. If he was unaffected by the kiss and the attention, so was she. No matter she had trouble catching her breath and her hands trembled. Never mind it was all she could do not to run to the nearest exit.

“Sorry,” Samantha mumbled as she made her way back to their table. “Too much champagne.”

“No apology necessary, though I think the champagne had little to do with it.”

She froze. “What do you mean by that?”

“It’s called chemistry,” he whispered, and a shiver of delight inched down her spine.

“No.” She stepped away from him. “We simply got carried away.”

“It wouldn’t be the first time.”

His words sent heat coiling within her. No, she couldn’t let this happen. Not here. Not with Reed. Not again.

She tilted her chin. “But it’s going to be the last.”

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