The forlorn emptiness within bubbled too close to the surface. She felt absolutely wretched and lonely. Her lips trembled as she tried to speak, but the words simply wouldn't come. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes and fell down her face in hot streaks.
"There, there now, my dear.” He pulled her close and held her tight. “That bad, eh?"
She nodded, releasing the hold on her emotions. Tears flooded her eyes and her nose started running. “I don't know what to do, Daddy. He said he wasn't interested in women. He was in that cabin to get away from them and his show. But I really like him.” She couldn't catch her breath, and her body shook with the effort. “I thought he liked me, too, but I haven't heard from him at all.” The last word croaked out on a sob.
"My child, how could he possibly contact you?” He stopped his gentle rocking back and forth, and took a step back. From his pants pocket he produced a white handkerchief and dabbed at her cheeks. “Other than sending a letter to Santa, humans don't know how to reach us up here."
Holly's shoulders fell. “I know, and that makes me miserable, too.” A fresh batch of tears welled. She took the hanky from her father and mopped up her wet face.
A shriek sounded from upstairs, and then footsteps pounded down the old wooden stairs.
Joy ran into the living room, a piece of paper clutched in her hand. “Holly, you have to see this.” She smoothed the wrinkled paper and thrust it forward.
The sheet was a printout of a website. Holly scanned the words on the paper and stopped when she read David's name. She looked up. “Joy, what is this?"
"It's a news site on the internet. They update their information about every ten minutes. I was reading a story about a woman who donated a kidney to save her dog's life, when this popped up.” Her sister jumped several times and clapped her hands. “David is holding a press conference in Denver. He's supposed to be announcing his choice for a bride."
"What?” Holly shifted her attention back to the printout and read further down. “Nearly two weeks since his disappearance, missing Marry a Single Guy, David White, has come forward. In minutes an impromptu press conference will be held in Denver's Civic Center Park. Speculations of his impending conference abound. Many feel he will announce his selection for his bride, and the winner of one million dollars."
The paper slid from her grip. “He didn't tell me he was serious about anyone and he was thinking about getting married. He thought I was there because I wanted to marry him.” Confusion swirled through her thoughts like weightless flakes of snow caught up in a gust of air. Holly sat on the couch and leaned her head back on the soft upholstery.
"You know ... If I was a man looking for a woman, but didn't know how to contact her, I would use any means I could to get her attention.” Daddy put his hand on Holly's shoulder and squeezed. “Sounds like David's making an attempt. You may need to go to him."
Holly glanced over to the kitchen, noting the shining smiles and bursts of laughter ringing from the bright room. Her brother and sisters and their mates were still busy happily chatting and cooking. With all the loud talk and banging of pots and pans, they hadn't noticed the exchange in the living room.
Was it wanting too much to wish for what they had? Someone to share her day-to-day moments with?
A bright spark flickered. Maybe Daddy was right. Maybe David was trying to reach her the only way he knew how.
Poor David. Making the decision to go back in front of television cameras, to be seen in the homes of millions of people, must have been torture.
Holly looked up at her father and placed her hand over his. “Dad, will you take me?"
He shook his head. “No, my dear.” Pointing toward the kitchen, he added, “That corn your brother fed the deer gave them all diarrhea. They're all too sick to pull a sleigh or fly, except Blitzen. He was too smart to eat that souped-up feed."
"But, if Blitzen isn't sick, Holly could ride him there, couldn't she?” Joy asked.
"Well, yes. I suppose she could.” Santa searched Holly's face and frowned. “I'm sorry, Holly. If you want to go, you'll have to make the trip on your own."
Panic and dread hit her with a one-two punch.
To see David again, not only would she need to leave her home and family again and fly by herself half way around the world, she would need to ask that arrogant bastard, Blitzen, for a ride.
Like a rhinoceros completing a gymnastic routine in her belly, the heavy weight in her stomach flip-flopped, and then landed with a crash.
Joy sat and pushed against Holly's leg. “What are you going to do? The conference starts any second. If you leave now, you can just make it in time."
Holly shot up and paced the long runner carpet in the living room, wringing her hands. “I'm not sure. I honestly don't know if I can do it.” She stopped and grabbed her stomach, clutching the sides of her waist hard. “I think I'm going to be sick."
Chapter Eight
David craned his neck around a columned wall at Denver's outdoor Greek theater and scanned the crowd waiting in the frigid cold. Hundreds of bundled-up women ranging from just barely legal to sixty huddled together in the available seating, and more women were making their way across the park's snow-covered lawn.
Several girls held homemade signs high over their heads. A few read, ‘choose me’ or ‘I love you, David!’ One announced, ‘I'm all over David like white on rice.'
David groaned.
The very last place on the planet he wanted to be was here, in front of the cameras and all these crazed women again. But he had little choice. And desperate times called for desperate measures.
He narrowed his eyes and looked through the throng for the one familiar face he hoped had come, but she wasn't there. He did happen to notice a woman take off her coat and pull off her shirt, revealing a behemoth pair of boobs that couldn't possibly be real.
He groaned again. Yes, he was a desperate man.
"It's time, David. We're ready to roll."
David nodded at the pudgy producer from the show. The man's fat little face was bright pink and his greedy brown eyes shone bright. Little wonder. This broadcast was pulling in more viewers than all of his other shows combined. People all the way to Japan were watching.
As he walked across the stage to the podium, thousands of bright camera bulbs flashed, and the crush of girls screamed. The sound was deafening.
A woman broke through the barrier of guards and ran to him. Before he could defend himself, the deranged girl grabbed at his coat and ripped off one of the small pockets. She turned toward the crowd and waved the torn material like a trophy.
The cries and shouts from the crowd shook the solid rock stage.
Four guards rushed to the woman, who was now sprinting to the exit. They overtook her right before she could make it down the entrance ramp.
What the Hell was he doing up here? He must be out of his ever lovin’ mind.
Shaken, David raised his hand over his eyes, shielding his face from the onslaught of light. He tapped the microphone, producing an ear-piercing screech. For just a moment, the hordes of women were relatively quiet.
"Thank you all for coming out in this cold to be here today.” He tried to continue, but the noise coming from the seating and lawn was just too loud. He motioned with his hands for quiet. “I'm here to tell you I have...” David glanced up.
In the sky, a small brown spot appeared and grew large. Within seconds the rough shape of a rider on a large deer was clear.
David's palms sweated and heart pumped wildly in his chest.
Holly.
She had come.
Every head in the crowd turned. A collective gasp rang through the cold air.
Before he realized what he was doing, David was half way across the stage, waving his arms above his head and shouting. “Here. I'm over here."
The giant reindeer landed next to David, a beaming Holly held the reins. “Hey, stranger. Want a lift?” She reached out a hand.
David hesita
ted. “Can that reindeer carry two people?"
The big animal turned his head and snorted with a jerk.
"Better get on before you offend him any more,” she shouted. “Getting him to come here in the first place cost me a year's worth of sugar cubes."
Taking a running leap, David jumped behind her onto the back of the big reindeer, and held on to Holly's waist for his life.
As the massive animal prepared for take off, the show's producer, a dozen security guards, and several hundred angry women rushed the stage. The reindeer was barely off the ground when the first guard reached them. The man grabbed at David's foot, but missed.
The reindeer kicked his long legs several times, and quick as lightening they were flying.
David closed his eyes, unable to look at the earth speeding by miles below. He rested his head on Holly's back, never letting go of the grip he had around her small frame. “Where are we going?"
"I'm taking you to my family's house in Christmas Town. No one will be able to find you there,” she said over her shoulder.
Wind passing by tugged hard on his legs and coat. Keeping his balance on Blitzen's bare back wasn't easy. If he didn't know better, he was sure the big reindeer was twitching his hide, trying to get David to fall off. “And how long is this going to take?"
"Look up. We're already here."
"What?” Unbelieving, David cracked one eyelid opened, and then the other.
To his right, snow-covered mountains lined the horizon. He turned to his left and saw a rustic lodge the size of a small hotel and a nearby barn big enough to shelter half the animals in Noah's arc.
Blitzen slowed and came to an abrupt stop at the side of the barn. The sudden stop was so jarring, both Holly and David fell off the animal's back into a pile of soft snow. Blitzen snorted, shook his head, and trotted off toward the shelter, dragging the reins behind.
David pulled Holly into his embrace. “You hurt?"
"No. I'm great. You?” She smiled up at him.
A flood of warmth washed over him. Just having her in his arms made his heart swell. “Never better."
Holly nuzzled her face in the curve of his neck and kissed the sensitive skin there. “Listen, before you go and meet the big guy, let me tell you, I'm not ready to marry you."
He raised an eyebrow and crooked grin tugged at his mouth. “You're not?” He wasn't either, but he couldn't help but wonder where this conversation was going.
"No. Not yet.” She grinned. “But Mom and Daddy have prepared a room for you at the house. You can stay as long as you want. Forever if you like.” She pulled her body over his and kissed him hard on the mouth.
She parted her sweet lips, allowing his tongue to probe and explore. But he wanted more, much more, than just her mouth. She was giving him the room he wanted. No pressure. Enough time to discover if she really was the one.
He broke the kiss. His breathing was rough and uneven. “If I stay, what will I do?"
Holly's chest rose and fell as she filled her lungs with air. “Daddy's looking for someone to write children's books. He had planned on meeting with you when he was at your cabin. He wanted to talk about you taking on a job here. That's why you had the asterisks by your name on his list. Says he's trying to get more kids’ heads out of their computer screens and into books.” She bent and kissed him again.
He stopped her and gently pushed her back. “And what do you want?"
She smiled and pinched his cheek. “Just what I got for Christmas. You."
About the author...
Mention poker, men with Scottish accents, and anything to do with ghosts, and you'll have Bev Oz's full attention. Anyone who knows Bev can tell you those three subjects are very telling of her personality. She's a highly competitive, otherworldly nut who likes alpha males in short kilts. Much of these traits and interests are woven into her sometimes wacky, but always highly entertaining stories, which range from sweet romances to highly sensual romanticas.
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Visit www.thewildrosepress.com for information on additional titles by this and other authors.
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