Page 55 of Mistletoe Face Off

“I want you to know that I didn't expect this. Any of it. When I first saw you at the Community Center that time I figured you were another reporter looking for a scoop.”

“I was,” she replies with a shrug. “I thought you were Santa.”

“Somewhere between our fake arguments it all changed for me, and I find I want to go to our charity events, not because I get to argue with you about stupid Christmas stuff, but because I get to see you. Somehow, you've slipped past my defences—and I'm a defenseman.”

She laughs and it's music to my ears.

“I know we're from different worlds. Look at where we are. This is the last place I would come to if it wasn't for you. But I find when I'm with you, I want to be a better man. For you.”

I can see it in her eyes, the effect my words are having on her.

“But youarea better man, Harry. You’re the best man. Don't you know that? Look at the way you were with Macy. Look at the fact you dress up as Santa for half of these Christmas events, charming the kids and parents alike. You're a good person.”

I scrunch up my face. “I kinda have an ulterior motive for dressing up as Santa.”

Her brows pick up. “Is this where I find out something I don't want to know about you?” she asks, but I can tell she’s teasing.

“Nothing bad, I promise you. I volunteered to be Santa because I want to be the next team captain when Dan retires at the end of the season. Coach said it showed commitment to the team.”

“Oh. I think you'd make a great captain.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You’re super easy to get on with and you have this talent of getting the best out of people.”

“Can you mention that to Coach when you next see him?” I ask on a chortle, feeling light.

“Of course I will,” she replies with a smile. “I would have thought a guy like you would be a shoe in for captain.”

“I'm not the only one interested in the job. Lorcan wants the captaincy, too.”

“Lorcan?” she asks, her eyes widening. “I wouldn't worry about a guy like Lorcan.”

“Why do you say that?” My hopes just got a huge spike—both for the captaincy and for what Holly thinks of my arch nemesis.

“It’s obvious to me that a guy like Lorcan is only out for himself. I would bet you the cost of this meal he’s not interested in leading a team of people. He'll only want the captaincybecause it makes him more important, and that's not a good enough reason for someone to be put into a leadership role.”

I nod along with everything she's saying. She's got it in one, but hearing it from her lips is extra special.

“But he’s an excellent player,” I say.

“So are you.”

We share a smile.

“Plus there's the fact you make a pretty dang good Santa, and that's got to be the clincher for you.”

I grin. “I'm glad my Santa impersonation skills are not going unrecognized.”

She touches the ring on my pinkie finger. “What’s the story behind this ring? I’ve noticed you wearing it before.”

“It was my grandpop’s,” I say, smiling at the memory of the man who lived down the street from my mom and me back in Portland, who always had a ready smile and a story to tell. “He passed away when I was about ten years old, which is when my mom gave me his ring. Over the years, as I’ve grown, I’ve gone from wearing it on my thumb to each and every finger, ending with my pinkie.”

‘That’s a beautiful story.”

“Grandpop meant a lot to me. My parents’ marriage was never great and my dad kind of came and went a bit until they finally divorced when I was about eleven. My grandpop was the only real father figure I had in my life.”

“I bet he was a good man, too.”

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