Page 21 of My Secret Santa Daddies

I bite back a retort and focus on the road, but the awkwardness lingers, like an elephant sitting between us in the truck.It never happened.

Sure. I’d love to believe that too, but there’s no way I’m forgetting walking in on her like that anytime soon. It’s not the kind of thing you just erase from your memory. Especially not when it wasmyname she was moaning.

The silence stretches out again,the soft sound of the radio doing little to ease the tension. I want to crack another joke, say something stupid to lighten the mood, but I know better than to push her buttons right now. Sierra’s not the type to let stuff slide easily, especially when it’s something this... personal.

After a long moment, she sighs, leaning her head back against the seat. “I mean it, Cody. Let it go.”

“Consider it gone. Vanished. Never to be spoken of again.”

She snorts softly, and for the first time tonight, there’s a hint of amusement in her voice. “Good. Because I swear, if you ever bring it up again...”

“You’ll what? Punch me in the face?”

She turns her head slightly, meeting my gaze for a second. “Worse.”

A laugh escapes me, and despite the tension, it feels good to hear her teasing, even if it’s just for a moment. “Got it. Point taken.”

I’m still trying to shove the memory of that moment out of my head—of her lying there, and the way she looked—but I know it’s a losing battle.

Still, I’ll respect her wishes. As much as I’m capable of, anyway.

Hopefully, I’ll be able to sleep tonight.

7

SIERRA

The moment I step inside Millie’s Diner, I’m hit with an overwhelming wave of nostalgia. The warm, buttery smell of frying bacon and fresh pies instantly pulls me back to the times when this place used to feel like home—a time before everything got so complicated. The diner’s classic 1950s décor, with its red vinyl booths and black-and-white checkered floors, hasn’t changed a bit. Twinkling Christmas lights hang in the windows, and every corner of the room is buzzing with excitement as the town gathers for the annual Secret Santa drawing.

Cody holds the door open for me, his usual easy grin plastered across his face. “See? Not so bad, right?”

“It’s not bad yet. Let’s see what happens once everyone realizes I’m here.”

He chuckles, giving me a light nudge as we step further into the diner. I roll my eyes, tugging at the sleeves of my sweater. The hum of conversation swirls around us, punctuated by laughter and the clinking of coffee cups. Millie herself is moving from table to table, greeting everyone with that same infectious smile she’s had for as long as I can remember.

But just as Cody’s about to lead me toward one of the booths, Sheriff Tom Callahan catches his eye. “Cody! Haven’t seen you in a while, son. How’s everything going up at the lodge?”

Cody shoots me an apologetic look before turning to Tom, already getting pulled into a conversation about construction and permits. “It’s coming along,” he says, scratching the back of his neck. “Slow, but steady. Griffin’s got a hell of a job to do.”

I take a deep breath, letting the scent of freshly brewed coffee settle me.

This was a mistake. A terrible, inevitable mistake. I should’ve stayed home, holed up with my hot chocolate and a Hallmark movie instead of walking into the very heart of Silver Ridge’s holiday cheer.

Now I’m alone, smack in the middle of a place I once loved, surrounded by people I used to know, people who have probably noticed that I’ve been avoiding them like the plague for years.

Before I can think about bolting, Betty Thompson, the owner of Millie’s, spots me from behind the counter. Her eyes light up in surprise, and she waves me over. “Well, look who’s come out of hiding!”

My stomach twists, but I force a smile, making my way over to her. “Hey, Betty.”

She wipes her hands on her apron and gives me a tight, welcoming hug. “Sierra Bennett, I never thought I’d see the day when you’d show up to the Secret Santa again. It’s been, what, four years?”

“Yeah. Been a while.”

“Well, you’re here now, and that’s what counts. We’ve got so much yummy food, coffee, some adult punch and other stronger stuff behind the counter. The sugar cookies you baked are already almost gone.”

“Oh, I can run to the shop and bake some more. I have some dough in the freezer.”

“Oh, no, honey. You just relax.”

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