He reached for Laura’s hand. “She has a family.” He felt the tears sting his eyes.
“He was the one who pushed us off the road?” Laura asked as an image of Lee Cummings flashed on the screen.
“He broke into the Anderson’s home,” Amy said softly with a shiver.
Simon felt his anger spike. If he had known they’d allowed a murderer to work at his facility, he would have…
“Easy,” Laura said softly. “We couldn’t have known it was him before now.”
“I let him into my facility.” He practically growled it as the police chief continued to talk in the background.
“You couldn’t have known,” Logan agreed.
“I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure this doesn’t happen again. No one is going to step foot in that facility without a full background check,” he added with something close to a growl.
“Good idea,” Gina said with a smile. “But there’s no use beating yourself up for past mistakes.”
They all grew quiet again while the police chief continued to talk about how Lee Cummings was cooperating and willing to testify that he’d been hired by the senator to take down Simon Berg and anyone close to him before he could expose his relationship to the senator. The chief went on to explain how two other parties had come forward and claimed they are the senator’s children, a Rosaline Sanders, who was twenty-two, and a Shane Wallis, age eighteen.
“I have a brother and sister,” Simon said, feeling his heart skip in his chest.
“Guess his secrets are out now,” Laura said softly.
“There’s no returning from something like that,” Logan agreed. “Not only did he lie, but he also tried to kill to cover it up.”
“No, there’s no returning from that,” Simon agreed. “Being cuffed at your own news conference.” He smiled and glanced over at Laura. “That’s the best present I could have asked for. Knowing that my family will be safe from that madman.”
“You’re the best gift I could have asked for,” Laura said before she kissed him.
“Speaking of gifts.” He pulled out the small box. “We haven’t made this official yet.” He slid off the sofa and knelt before her. “I wanted to give you flowers and… well”—he glanced at his bandaged hands—“a fully functional man, but this will have to do. Laura, will you marry me?”
“Yes.” Her smile grew as she pulled him close and hugged him. “Of course, I will.” She kissed him.
He watched her face as she opened the ring box and saw more tears fill her eyes. “It’s perfect,” she said as he slid it onto her finger.
“This calls for a toast,” Gina said, getting their attention. He’d almost forgotten that the rest of her family was still there.
Logan disappeared into the kitchen and brought back a bottle of champagne and poured a glass for everyone except for Amy, who held up her bottle of water.
“To family.” Simon held up his glass and toasted. “May it grow in size and love.”
Epilogue
Laura stood back and watched Simon, dressed in a large white beard and padded belly, hand out the carefully wrapped presents to each child as they approached his spot on the sleigh.
She had to admit that Simon was the sexiest Santa Claus she’d ever seen. The sexiest and the best one. He knew each child by name. She already knew that each present was exactly what each child had asked for. How he had found that bit of news out was still a mystery. He wouldn’t tell her how he’d obtained that knowledge. Every time she’d asked him, he’d just told her he had an ‘in’ with the big man.
Even the teenagers seemed to enjoy getting in the spirit. It tickled her to see Kevin, a young boy roughly twelve-years-old, complete with his tall purple mohawk, sit in the sleigh next to Simon and wrap his arm around Santa’s shoulders to smile for a picture.
Laura had spent the last few days getting to know each child and could tell that she was going to have a difficult time turning over several to the new families that were waiting in line to host or adopt the kids.
“It just makes you want to adopt them all, doesn’t it?” her mother said, wrapping an arm around Laura’s shoulders.
“Yes,” she admitted with a sigh. “I can tell already that we’re going to need a bigger house.” She chuckled. She thought of the gift she’d finally given Simon that morning, which hung over their fireplace proudly. Now anyone who walked into their home would see the history of their relationship.
“I’m thinking of taking that boy myself.” Her mother nodded towards Kevin. “I’ve spent some time with him over the past few days.” She turned to her. “Did you know he can play classical piano like a pro?”
“No.” Laura glanced at Kevin again and then laughed. “I guess looks can be deceiving.”
“Yeah, he’s a sweet kid. His parents were killed about a year ago in a drunk-driving accident. His father played in a punk band.” Her mother smiled. “His dad taught him how to play several instruments, and he fell in love with playing the piano quickly.”
Laura turned to her mother.
“Do you think you can handle another kid? I mean, after Logan you always said…” She laughed when Logan pinched her arm.
“What did you say?” Logan asked their mother.
Not missing a beat, she replied. “That I’d happily have another dozen just like the pair of you.”
Laura laughed.
“I think you and Kevin would get along famously,” she admitted.
“I’ve got my first grandchild on the way and, well, I’ve realized my place is empty,” she said with a shrug. “Besides, I have that baby grand piano left over since neither of the two of you would touch the thing.”
“Neither of us has an ounce of talent… musically,” Logan supplied.
“It’s true,” Laura agreed. “Simon requested that I stop singing Christmas carols earlier today.”
Their mother laughed and then sighed as she looked over to where Simon was holding a small child on his lap, talking softly to the girl as she opened her present.
“He sure did come around, didn’t he?” she asked.
“Yeah.” Logan slung his arm around Laura’s and their mother’s shoulders. “I guess it was a good thing he had us to set him straight.”
Laura laughed. “He’s the one who set us straight,” she reminded them.
“Yeah,” the two of them agreed in unison.
“It’s all he ever wished for,” Laura added. “To have us as his family.”
“Now he has us. Well, next spring when you two make it official, he will,” Logan added.
“Yeah.” She smiled as Simon locked eyes with her, then wiggled his gloved finger at her.
“Gotta go, I’m being summoned by the big man.” She walked across the room and climbed into the sleigh next to Simon.
“There you are, Mrs. Claus,” Simon said with a smile.
“Hey now, we haven’t made it official yet.” She leaned back away from the kiss he was trying to plant on her lips.
“Soon enough,” he promised. “Then I’ll have everything I’ve ever wished for.” He pulled her into a kiss, and everyone around them cheered.
Also by Jill Sanders
The Pride Series
Finding Pride
Discovering Pride
Returning Pride
Lasting Pride
Serving Pride
Red Hot Christmas
My Sweet Valentine
Return To Me
Rescue Me
A Pride Christmas
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The Secret Series
Secret Seduction
Secret Pleasure
Secret Guardian
Secret Passions
Secret Identity
Secret Sauce
* * *
The West Series
Loving Lauren
Taming Alex
Holding Haley
Missy’s Moment
Breaking Travis
Ropi
ng Ryan
Wild Bride
Corey’s Catch
Tessa’s Turn
Saving Trace
* * *
The Grayton Series
Last Resort
Someday Beach
Rip Current
In Too Deep
Swept Away
High Tide
* * *
Lucky Series
Unlucky In Love
Sweet Resolve
Best of Luck
A Little Luck
Christmas Wish
* * *
Silver Cove Series
Silver Lining
French Kiss
Happy Accident
Hidden Charm
A Silver Cove Christmas
Sweet Surrender
* * *
Entangled Series – Paranormal Romance
The Awakening
The Beckoning
The Ascension
The Presence
The Calling
* * *
Haven, Montana Series
Closer to You
Never Let Go
Holding On
Coming Home
* * *
A Dash of Love
My Kind of Love
Season of Love
Tis the Season
Dare to Love
Where I Belong
Because of Love
A Thing Called Love
First Comes Love
Someone to Love
* * *
Wildflowers Series
Summer Nights
Summer Heat
Summer Secrets
Summer Fling
Summer’s End
Summer’s Wish
* * *
Distracted Series
Wake Me
Tame Me
* * *
Stand Alone Books
Twisted Rock
Hope Harbor
Raven Falls
* * *
For a complete list of books:
http://JillSanders.com
About the Author
Jill Sanders is a New York Times, USA Today, and international bestselling author of Sweet Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Western Romance, and Paranormal Romance novels. With over 70 books in eleven series, translations into several different languages, and audiobooks there’s plenty to choose from. Look for Jill’s bestselling stories wherever romance books are sold or visit her at jillsanders.com
* * *
Jill comes from a large family with six siblings, including an identical twin. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest and later relocated to Colorado for college and a successful IT career before discovering her talent for writing sweet and sexy page-turners. After Colorado, she decided to move south, living in Texas and now making her home along the Emerald Coast of Florida. You will find that the settings of several of her series are inspired by her time spent living in these areas. She has two sons and off-set the testosterone in her house by adopting three furry little ladies that provide her company while she’s locked in her writing cave. She enjoys heading to the beach, hiking, swimming, wine-tasting, and pickleball with her husband, and of course writing. If you have read any of her books, you may also notice that there is a love of food, especially sweets! She has been blamed for a few added pounds by her assistant, editor, and fans… donuts or pie anyone?