A Handful of Heaven

183

You just plan that party, missy. I'll be there.

needing

that

* * *

184

Oh, God.

Oh my God.

186

187

me

189

Chapter Seventeen

L

crack.

The little one ignored his friends' warnings. He marched right up to Midas. "Father Michaels tole us about St. Nick. Are you him?" he demanded.

Midas dropped down to one knee. "I sure am."

The minute the words were out of his mouth, Santa was swarmed. The children were all over him, giggling, teasing, testing his beard, poking his stomach.

"Whoa, kids, whoa," Santa said, laughing. "I got a job to do. I got some presents for you."

It was now or never. Devon glanced quickly around the room. Everyone was caught up in the excitement of Santa distributing gifts. Everyone, that was, except Stone Man. He was sitting by himself in the corner, eating the last piece of pumpkin pie.

She reached under the table beside her and grabbed the present she'd stowed there earlier in the day. Then, steeling her spine, she briskly crossed the room.

He heard the little click, click, click of her heels and knew he was in trouble. Burying his chin in the soft folds of his flannel shirt, he offered a quick-and hopeful-prayer that she'd walk on by.

She didn't, of course, and after a long silence he forced himself to look up.

She dropped to her knees in front of him. For the first time in days he found himself face to face with her, and the effect made it difficult to breathe. Her eyes were greener than he remembered, her skin paler. The soft, Christmasy scent of her filled his nostrils.

He quickly cleared his throat. "What do you want?"

Pain flitted across her face, and he felt like the idiot he was. Yet he couldn't trust himself to be nice to her. Not now, not with her lips mere inches from his own.

Her tongue darted out from between her pink lips, leaving a trail of glistening wetness in its wake. "I have something -j for you. A Christmas gift."

She shoved a little red-wrapped package at him.

It fell in his lap with a muffled thud. He wanted to touch it but couldn

't. His fingers were shaking too badly to function.