If this is another story about underworld crime, I
Stephans engaged, Meg blurted out. Thats probably what he wants to tell you. Hes marrying the daughter of some really rich guy. Theyre getting married in June in the Hamptons. Meg slipped her arm around Hollys shoulders. I shouldnt have told you like this, but you have to put Stephan out of your life. Its over, Holly.
Butbut we were engaged, Holly murmured, stunned at the news. I finally made my decision andand
And it wasnt right. Holly, why do you think it took you a whole year to decide? Its because you didnt love him. Someday youll meet a man wholl sweep you off your feet, but that man wasnt supposed to be Stephan. She patted her back sympathetically. So, lets just focus on work, all right? Weve got a new job that pays $15,000. Open that envelope and lets hear what we have to do.
Numbly Holly tore open the envelope. In her heart, she knew Meghan was right. She didnt love Stephan, she never had. Shed only decided to accept his proposal because no one else had bothered asking. But the news still stung. Being rejected by a maneven a man you didnt lovewas still humiliating.
She drew a shaky breath. So shed pass this Christmas as a free womanno family, no fiancé, nothing but work to occupy her time. Holly pulled out a sheaf of papers from the envelope. Clipped on top was a letter, written on wide-lined paper, in a childish scrawl with smeared lead pencil. She skimmed through it, then moaned softly, her troubles with Stephan suddenly pushed aside. Oh, my. Look at this.
Meg snatched the letter from Hollys fingers and read it aloud. Dear Santa, my name is Eric Marrin and I am almost eight and I have only one Christmas wish. She glanced at Holly and grinned. W-U-S-H. I would like you to bring me a Christmas like me and my dad usedY-O-U-S-Tto have when my mom lived at our house. She made Christmas Meg frowned at the spelling. Seashell?
Holly sighed. Special. She flipped through the rest of the papers, long lists of items suggested for Christmas gifts and decorations and special dinners and activities, all to be paid for by an unnamed benefactor.
Meg waved the letter under Hollys nose, her apprehension suddenly gone. You have to take this job, Holly. You cant let this little boy down. This is what Christmas is all about. She glanced around the square, then fixed her gaze on the department store. Daltons, she murmured. You know, Ive read about Daltons, last year in some upstate newspaper. The article said their Santa grants special wishes to children, but no one knows where the money comes from. Do you think that guy was
Holly shoved the papers back into the envelope. I dont care where the money comes from. We have a job to do and Im going to do it.
What about our clients in the city?
Youll take the train back to the city tonight and take care of them, while I do the job here.
Meg smiled. This will be good for you, Holly. No time to be lonely for your family, no time to think about that jerk, Stephan. An almost unlimited budget to make a perfect Christmas. Its like youve won the lottery or died and gone to Christmas heaven.
Maybe this was exactly what she needed to rediscover the spirit of the season! All the way up from the city, shed stared out the train window and watched the picturesque Hudson Valley scenery pass by. And when theyd stepped off the train, shed been transported to another world, where the commercialism of Christmas hadnt quite taken hold.
Here, people smiled as they passed on the street and children laughed. From every shop doorway, the sound of Christmas music drifted out on the chill night air, mixing with the jingle bells from a horse-drawn carriage that circled the square. It is perfect, she murmured, the lyrics from Silver Bells drifting through her head. And spending Christmas in Schuyler Falls was a far sight better than passing the holiday buried in year-end tax reports for her accountant.
She drew a deep breath and smiled. Maybe Ill have a merry Christmas after all.
THE ANCIENT ROLLS ROYCE turned off the main road into the winding driveway of Stony Creek Farm just as Holly finished rereading her contract. The ride from downtown Schuyler Falls was even more picturesque than the train ride upstate, if that was possible. The old downtown gave way to lovely neighborhoods with stately brick and clapboard homes, built as summer homes for wealthy New Yorkers in the early part of the century, those who enjoyed the waters of nearby Saratoga Springs. Then, the streetlights disappeared and the houses became fewer, set back from the winding road and nearly hidden by thickets of leafless trees.
Somewhere in the darkness, the Hudson River streamed by, the same river she saw from her high-rise apartment on the west side of Manhattan. But here it was different, more pristine, adding to the magical atmosphere. The chauffeur, George, kept up a steady stream of informative chatter, giving her the history of the town and its people, yet steadfastly refusing to reveal who had hired him. She did learn that Stony Creek Farm was one of the few active horse breeding farms left in the area, owned by the Marrin family, longtime residents of Schuyler Falls.
As they slowly approached the main house, Holly peered through the frosty car window. On either side of the driveway were long white barns flanked by well-maintained plank fences. The house wasnt nearly as grand as some shed seen, but it was large and inviting with its white clapboard siding, deep porches and green shutters.
Here you are, miss, George said as he pulled to a stop. Stony Creek Farm. Ill wait out here to take you back to town if youd like.
She nodded. Theyd dropped Meg at the train station to catch the late train back and Holly had picked up her overnight bag from a locker there. But as the hour was late, shed decided to find a hotel after shed introduced herself to Eric Marrin.
In truth, now that she was here, Holly wasnt quite sure how to broach the subject of her assignment. Her contract expressly forbid any mention of whod hired her or who was paying the bill, not that she knew herself. But for all the Marrins knew, she was a complete stranger intruding on their lives. Why dont you wait at the end of the driveway, she said. With no visible transportation back to town, Eric Marrin and his father would be compelled to invite her inside.
George hopped out of the car and ran around to open her door. As she stepped out, she didnt see any sign of Christmas, no wreath on the door, no lighted tree shining through a front window. Holly slowly climbed the front steps, then reached out for the brass door knocker. She snatched her hand back. What was she supposed to say?
Hi, Im here to grant your Christmas wish. She swallowed hard. My name is Holly Bennett and Ive been sent by Santa Claus. She was allowed to say she worked for the fat guy in the red suit, that much her contract did state.
This is crazy, she muttered, turning around. A cold wind whipped around her feet and she tugged the lapels of her coat up around her face. Theyre not going to let a perfect stranger in the house.
But the prospect of finally turning a profit was too much to resist. Perhaps she could even give Meg a well-deserved bonus this year. Gathering her resolve, Holly reached out and pushed the doorbell instead. A dog barked inside, and a few seconds later, the door swung open. The light from the foyer framed a small figure, a pale-haired boy with wide brown eyes and a curious expression. His large black dog stood next to him, eyeing Holly suspiciously. This had to be Eric Marrin.
Hi, he said, his hand resting on the dogs head.
Hi, Holly replied nervously.
My dads still in the barn. Hell be in soon.
Im not here to see your dad. Are you Eric?
The boy nodded.
Holly held out her hand and smiled. IImIm your Christmas angel. Santa sent me to make all your Christmas dreams come true. She was sure the words would sound ridiculous once they left her mouth, but from the look on Erics face, she couldnt fault her choice. An expression of pure joy suffused his features and the dog wagged his tail and barked.
Wait here, he cried. The boy raced off into the house and returned a few moments later. He shrugged into his jacket, tugged on his mittens and grabbed her hand. I knew youd come, he said, his voice breathless with excitement.
Where are we going? she asked as he dragged her down the front steps, the dog trailing after them.
To see my dad. You have to tell him we cant go to Colorado for Christmas. Hell listen to you. Youre an angel.
They followed a snow-covered path toward the nearest barn, the cold and damp seeping through Hollys designer pumps. A real angel wouldnt mind the wet shoes, but they were her favorite pair and shed spent a weeks salary on them. She made a note to herself to use part of her budget for some cold weather essentials, like waterproof boots and socks, a necessity while working for a client who didnt bother shoveling the snow.
Did you talk to Santa? Eric asked. He must have read my letter right away. I only gave it to him a few days ago.
Holly hesitated for a moment, then decided to maintain the illusion. Yes, I did speak to Santa. And he told me personally to give you a perfect Christmas.
When they reached the barn, Eric grabbed the latch on the double door, heaved the doors open and showed her inside. A wide aisle ran the length of the barn, covered in a thin layer of straw and lit from above. Dad! Eric yelled. Dad, shes here. My Christmas angel is here.
He hurried along the stalls, peering inside, and Holly followed him, steeling herself for his fathers reaction. What she wasnt prepared for was her own reaction. A tall, slender man suddenly stepped out of a stall in front of her and she jumped back, pressing her palm to her chest to stop a scream. Shed expected someone older, maybe even middle-aged. But this man wasnt even thirty!
Holly looked up into the bluest eyes shed ever seen in her life, bright and intense, the kind of blue that could make a girl melt, or cut her to the quick. He was tall, well over six feet, his shoulders broad and his arms finely muscled from physical labor. He wore scuffed work boots, jeans that hugged his long legs and a faded corduroy shirt with the sleeves turned up. Her eyes fixed on a piece of straw, caught in his sun-streaked hair.
He took a long look at her, then glanced over his shoulder at his son who continued to search each stall. Eric?
The little boy turned and ran back to them both. Shes here, Dad. Santa sent me an angel. He pointed to his father. Angel, this is my dad, Alex Marrin. Dad, this is my Christmas angel.
She fought the urge to reach out and rake her hands through his hair, brushing away the straw and restoring perfection to an already perfect picture of masculine beauty. Holly coughed softly, realizing that shed forgotten to breathe. She struggled to speak beneath his piercing gaze. IIve been sent by Santa, she said in an overly bright tone. Im here to make all your dreams come true. She sucked in a sharp breath. II mean, all Erics dreams. All Erics Christmas dreams.
She watched as his gaze raked along her body, boldly, suspiciously. A shiver skittered down her spine and she wanted to turn and run. For all Erics excitement at her arrival, she saw nothing but mistrust in this mans expression. But she held her ground, unwilling to let him intimidate her.
Suddenly Alex Marrins expression softened and he laughed out loud, a sound she found unexpectedly alluring. This is some kind of joke, right? What are you going to do? Start up the music and peel off your clothes? He reached out and flicked his finger at the front of her coat. What do you have on under there?
Holly gasped. I beg your pardon!
Who sent you? The boys down at the feed store? He turned and glanced over his shoulder. Pa, get out here! Did you order me an angel?
A mans head popped out of a nearby stall, his weathered face covered with a rough gray beard. He moved to stand in the middle of the aisle, leaning on a pitchfork and shaking his head.
Shes my angel, Eric insisted. Not some lady from the feed store.
The old man chuckled to himself. Naw, I didnt send you anything. But if I were you, I wouldnt be refusing that delivery. He winked at Eric. We could use an angel round this place.
Thats my gramps, Eric explained.
Who sent you? Alex Marrin demanded.
Santa sent her, Eric replied. I went to see him down at Daltons and I
Alexs attention jumped to his son. You went to see Santa? When was this?
Eric kicked at a clump of straw, his expression glum. The other day. After school. I just had to go, Dad. I had to give him my letter. He took Hollys hand. Shes here to give us a Christmas like we used to have. You know, when Mom was
Alex Marrins jaw tightened and his expression grew hard. Go back to the house, Eric. And take Thurston with you. Ill be in to talk to you in a few minutes.
Dont send her away, Dad, Eric pleaded. His father gave him a warning glare and the little boy ran out of the barn, the exchange observed by his glowering grandfather. The old man cursed softly and stepped back into the stall. When the door slammed behind Eric, Alex Marrin turned his attention back to Holly.
All right, he said. Who are you? And who sent you?
My name is Holly Bennett, she replied, reaching into her purse for a business card. See? All The Trimmings. We do professional decorating and event planning for the Christmas holidays. I was hired to give your son his Christmas wish. Im to work for you through Christmas day.
Hired by whom?
IIm afraid I cant say. My contract forbids it.
What is this? Charity? Or maybe some busybodys idea of generosity?
No! Holly said. Not at all. She reached in her coat pocket and took out Erics letter, then carefully unfolded it. Maybe you should read this.
Marrin quickly scanned the letter, then raked his hands through his hair and leaned back against a stall door. All his anger seemed to dissolve, his energy sapped and his shoulders slumped. You must think Im a terrible father, he said, his voice cold.
II dont know you, Holly replied, reaching out to touch his arm. The instant she grazed his skin, a frisson of electricity shot through her fingers. She snatched them away and shoved her hand into her pocket. Ive already been paid. If you send me away without completing my duties, Ill have to return the money.
He cursed softly, then grabbed her hand and pulled her along toward the door. Holly wasnt sure whether to resist or go along with him. Was he going to toss her out on her ear? Or did she still have time to argue her case?
Pa, Ill be back in a few minutes, he muttered. Ive got some business to take care of with this angel.