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Nodding, Joy picked up her crutches, mostly so she didn’t have to make eye contact and risk bursting into tears. The man Lorelei knew was hiding in there had found his way out because of Joy’s devotion to Lorelei and her business.

“She was like a mother to me, so it was natural to keep including her in everything I did. She still guides me.”

“I know,” Kian whispered, running a gloved finger along her cheek. “Do I have your approval for the light show?”

“You don’t need it, but you absolutely do. This is gorgeous. Where will Santa be?”

“Glad you asked!” he exclaimed, motioning for her to follow him down the path.

At the end of the walkway, he had a padded Queen Anne chair and an electric fireplace that actually produced heat. “I thought it would be best to put Santa at the end of the line so it wouldn’t hold up people who didn’t have kids.”

“Great idea,” she agreed. “I love the vibe.”

Kian sat in the chair, then patted his legs, inviting her to sit. “You don’t want me to sit on your lap. I’ll crush your legs,” she said, laughing.

When he didn’t break eye contact and just patted his legs again, she realized he wasn’t going to let it go. After lowering her crutches to the ground, Joy gingerly sat on his lap, keeping most of her weight on the armrest.

“Get that sweet ass on my legs,” Kian growled, using his arm to tug her off the armrest and onto his lap. “Oh, that’s better. Warm, soft, perfect.”

“Not something I ever thought I’d hear Kian Van Adler say about my ass. Not gonna lie.”

Laughing, he nuzzled her neck with his lips, sending goosebumps across her skin. “Get used to it. Santa is a big fan of your ass.”

“Wait, Santa? Are you going to be Santa here, too?”

“I am. Since I’ll already be in the suit when I leave the mall to deliver gifts,” he said, making air quotes. “I’ll drive here, stash the suit, welcome everyone to Wintercrest Estate and then climb back in the suit when everyone is distracted with the lights.”

“And you can tell any kid who realizes you’re the same Santa that you took a break to be here for the light show and that you’ll head back out as soon as it’s over.”

“There will be at least one of those, won’t there?” he said, shaking his head and laughing. “I didn’t think of that. If we tell the kids Santa is leaving town and then have him sitting at the end of the path, they won’t trust it.”

“By then, the kids will be so excited they probably won’t think a thing of it,” Joy assured him.

“True. I hope naughty Michael shows up. He didn’t come to the Wonderland Bash and now it’s too late to send a letter.”

“I noticed that,” Joy agreed. “The good news is that Kyra will never know, so you’re off the hook, Santa.”

“Well, since you’re on Santa’s lap, what does Joy wish for this year?”

Leaning her head against his shoulder, she sighed. “Joy’s wish may already have come true. Time will tell.”

“Oh, well, it can’t come true unless you tell Santa what it is. Everyone knows that.”

“Hmm, maybe that’s true. Okay, Santa. Joy would like to be asked out on a date by this really sexy guy who wears these really slutty man glasses. He keeps showing up at her mall being all bossy and cute.”

“Oh, ho ho ho,” he said, trying not to laugh but failing spectacularly. “Could his name be Kian?”

“That’s him,” Joy teased, pretending to tug at Santa’s beard. “He used to be a mean boy, but now he seems nice, so I’d like to have dinner with him alone to make my final decision.”

“HO-HO-HO, Santa will work on your wish because you’ve been such a good girl this year, Joy.”

“Thank you, Santa,” she whispered, playfully kissing his lips. “I’ll look forward to Christmas morning.”

“Santa can come through before Christmas morning. He has a special way about him, you know.”

“He sure does,” Joy whispered, leaning in to kiss him again, savoring the cool breeze on her face as her body blazed with desire. “I’ve become rather fond of you, Santa. Don’t break my heart.”

“Never again, Joy,” Kian whispered before he took her lips on a wonderful winter sleigh ride.