Christmas is in the air and all I want was Ralph, but that was a pipe dream. I’d settle for the day off.

I’d not seen him in years anyhow. So as the snow falls, I’m settling into figuring out what I want in life.

But then on my way home from the diner, I heard a plea and rushed to help.

Next thing I know I’m telling one white lie to find out how Ralph’s brother was at the hospital and now everyone thinks we’re engaged.

Even Ralph.

Even his brother who wakes up with amnesia.

I went from never seeing Ralph to now being in his family’s celebrations.

It was better than always being alone, but kissing Ralph is now forbidden.

He’s the only man I want, with the perfect family, except his brother thinks we’re meant to be.

I needed to get out of the mess, fast.

Except I’d never see Ralph again or experience a real Christmas surrounded with family.

This was all going to blow up in my face, and let me tell you… I never expected what actually happened.

Gina

Three Days till Christmas

The falling snow stopped me in my tracks as I looked out the restaurant window. It never snowed in Virgin Cove really, at least for the holidays.

Most families would be excited by the snow, I was sure. My father would have loved to watch it come down. He’d probably have dragged me to the center of town, and we’d have caught snowflakes with our tongues—if I’d still been a little girl, and he’d still been here with me.

The hardest part of my life was that I had no one—not anymore. I cleaned the last counter in the diner, which had tiny poinsettias sitting in the corner, and turned in my last receipt to the till that had bells hanging from it.

The tassels I’d hung on the walls for cheer only cemented to me that I had no one to share any joy. Practically every customer I’d served had either come to the diner with family or had talked about family.

This year it was my turn to get the holiday off. In two days, I’d have my first Christmas to myself. Maybe then I’d figure out whether I wanted to leave New York and Virgin Cove forever and where I’d go.

Every dime I had made was in my savings account—I just needed a dream.

I changed into my jeans and packed my uniform in my backpack, preparing to head home.

The quietness of the night always calmed me. As I walked toward the door, the owner, Jessica, stepped in front of me with her arms crossed. “So, Loretta’s in-laws decided to come in for Christmas.”

I stilled as I caught what Jessica was implying. Loretta’s sudden influx of family or not, I needed time for myself. “That’s nice, but I still worked last Christmas and the one before that.”

“Let’s not break tradition, then,” she said.

My hairs stood on end as I stood taller. My lip curled. “Just because I’m alone doesn’t mean I don’t deserve a holiday.”

“And you’ll get one,” she said. “Just not Christmas.”

I felt tears form. I needed the day off. I lowered my head and urged, “Please don’t do this.”

“You’re the only one who can work,” she said then backed away.

My shoulders dropped, and I curled my arms over my stomach as I left the diner. If I quit, I’d owe four months of rent—and I had nowhere to go for Christmas and no one to be with.

My life needed a change. I headed down an alley as I’d done countless times. However, at the end of the alley, beside an Aston Martin, two men flanked a third man.

“Give us your money!” one of the men shouted.

Fancy cars like that usually belonged to the local trillionaires, and I thought of Ralph Norouzi, who I hadn’t seen in ten years. His branch of the Norouzi family lived in Florida, but his aunt and uncle had a mansion in Virgin Cove, a small beach town near the Hamptons. Without another thought, I ran to see if I could help.