Bryan couldn’t explain the sudden weight that was lifted from his shoulders when she said she liked him. He’d barely been able to think of anything but her since he saw her the week before, rushing to find her son, flushed cheeks, billowing hair, wild eyes. She was stunning in a way no woman ever appeared to him.

He knew he couldn’t have her. That being her boss made it impossible, not to mention that she neither liked nor trusted the man beneath the red suit.

But Santa… Well, he was a damned lucky man to have Holly’s approval.

Bryan reached for her hand as they walked. He wanted to touch her, but couldn’t risk scaring her off. He’d sensed a connection of some sort, and he was desperate to know what it would feel like to hold her bare skin under his fingers.

When their hands touched, Holly squeaked out a surprised breath. Bryan didn’t know if it was good or bad until she threaded her fingers through his and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.

“You’re going to make me ask, aren’t you?” Holly said after a minute.

“Ask what?”

“Ask who you really are… beneath the suit.”

Bryan lost his breath again, but this time was for a very different reason. He knew if she ever found of who he really was she’d never speak to him again.

And Bryan was not going to let that happen.