Santa's Secret

Aiden smiles brightly, almost as if he knows he’s won some great prize. “No, it’s four. Two full weekends now. The first weekend is the tree lighting ceremony on Friday night. Saturday is all day with vendors, and there’s an igloo and snowman competition, plus the play and the dance, and Sunday is the hockey game. Your dad changed it about three years ago to give people more time.”

“Dance?” I question.

“A few years back the council came up with a dance party. Adults only.” Aiden stuffs his hands into his pockets.

“They did? Huh, my parents never mentioned it. I bet they like to dance all night.”

“Right along with my parents.”

“Do you still skate in the hockey game?” At the conclusion of every winter festival, everyone gathers at the lake for a round-robin tournament. Most of the time, the games last well into the wee hours of the next morning. Dominic and Aiden had been on the same team the last I knew.

Aiden steps toward me, bridging the gap between us. The smell of his cologne is subtle, yet familiar. “I do. It’s really the one time I can hit someone and not get into trouble because I’m a police officer.”

I laugh and shake my head, the motion bringing us even closer. “Dom says the same thing.” When I look up at Aiden, he’s smiling.

“Ahem, excuse me, but may I have a photo with you?”

Instantly, I step away from Aiden and focus on the young girl standing at my side. I nod and wait for her to stand next to me, expecting her to take a selfie, but she doesn’t. Instead she hands her phone to Aiden, without even asking him if he’d mind taking a picture. I’m embarrassed and can feel frustration boiling within. It’s rude to assume someone is going to take your picture, especially if they haven’t offered or been asked. I try to make eye contact with Aiden, but he’s not looking at anything but the phone in his hand. He steps in front of us, and I stand as still as I can, while he snaps the picture. I’m not sure I even smile.

“Here ya go,” Aiden says as he hands the phone back to the girl. Only now, a line has now formed, and Aiden is struggling with the amount of phones he has in his hands. After the tenth photo, I sigh heavily, wishing my assistant or Calvin were with me so I could be done already.

“Delaney, are you ready?” My heart sinks a bit when he uses my name, but I know it’s because others are around. I nod and reach for his extended hand, linking my fingers through his. A small giggle escapes as he makes a mad dash for the entrance. The small crowd we left behind yells out my name, but he continues to keep a brisk pace, weaving us in and out of the shoppers.

We duck into the Disney store and I immediately let out a squeal of delight. I love this store, and everything it represents. “We’ll definitely find presents here,” I tell him. Aiden glances at me, and then his eyes fall to our joined hands. I should let go, but I don’t.

“Is it always like that?”

I grimace. “Sort of. Usually, I have my assistant or bodyguard with me, and if we go to the mall or somewhere out in the open, there’s extra security around. I took a chance coming here, thinking everyone would assume I was on a tropical island nursing my broken heart.”

“Is it broken?”

Turning toward Aiden, I glance up at him. Aiden squares his shoulders and his brows rise a fraction of an inch as I take him all in. He clears his throat, but doesn’t look away from my heavy gaze, even as I move closer to him. “It isn’t. I wasn’t invested.” I’m shocked by my admission, but it’s true. In hindsight, I know now that Trey was a blip in my life. My forever is still out there somewhere.

Aiden’s hand cups my cheek. His strong fingers press into the back of my head, bringing me closer to him. My lips pucker, waiting eagerly for his to press against mine.

“Can I help you find anything?”

Aiden and I jump back from each other. It’s not that we were doing anything wrong, except we?

??re in a children’s store and kissing in public is definitely frowned upon. The repercussions would be too much, especially for Aiden. The last thing I want is for the media to hound Aiden and Holly, or dig into his past.

We spend the next hour or so shopping for Holly. Aiden let’s me pick out most everything, but I make sure he’s okay with it. I do spot a fairy princess nightgown set that has matching slippers that I’d like to buy for Holly, but I want to check with my mom first to make sure Aiden would be open to Holly receiving a gift from me.

By the time I’m done with what I need and his arms are loaded with not only my bags, but his as well, it’s pitch black outside. Aiden walks me to my car and helps me get everything situated. “You know, had I known you were coming shopping we could’ve easily ridden together.”

“Had I known you were coming, I would’ve given you my list and stayed at work,” he says playfully.

“I had a lot fun today, Fish.”

“Me too, Laney. And I get to tell Holly that I saved you today.”

I laugh. “Yeah, you do. She’ll think her father is a real hero.” At least he is to me.

Aiden pulls me into his arms. His embrace is warm, friendly… too friendly. I thought that after our almost kiss he would try again, but he’s kept his distance. I get it, though. I’d probably be the same way if I had lost my spouse. Some loves you never get over. When he pulls away I smile, hoping to convey my gratitude.

“So I guess I’ll see you around.”

“Probably,” he says with a grin. “Ramona Falls is small. I’m bound to pull you over again.”