Something flickered in the darkness, catching on a rogue strand of moonlight. He pushed to his feet and lifted the single, glittering shoe.
“Ella Embers,” he said, running a finger along the thin heel. Thoughts of her stolen kisses made him whirl. She’d claimed she was no thief, but after an entire evening spent in her company, he wondered if she might be in line to take more than kisses from him. If he wasn’t careful, she just might steal his heart.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Ella’s brief midnight nap brimmed with visions of sugarplums and dances with a breathtaking billionaire. The instant her alarm sounded, her blood chugged with exhilaration. She’d done it. Not only had she stood up to Stina, but she was meeting Hawk in less than an hour.
Maybe now Pris could get off her case about Derek. Maybe she’d see Ella had moved on, and Pris could get a life and allow Ella to do the same.
As soon as she walked in, Ella had soaked her dress in the sink and slipped into a black, long-sleeved shirt and pants before crashing on her couch. Wide awake once more, Ella zipped calf-high boots over her pants and checked her appearance in the mirror. Her hair was still semi-decent, so she folded Hawk’s clothes, grabbed a muffin, and headed out into the cold Christmas morning.
As far as hospitals went, Harmony Children’s was imaginative and welcoming. It catered to children, filled with colorful montages on the walls depicting superheroes and popular figurines in full size for kids to stop beside and snap a picture with.
The facility was specialized, a place where children with severe or life-threatening conditions could stay to get the long-term care they needed.
Ella pressed the call button and waited in the chilled winter air for the back door to be opened. To her surprise, Hawk appeared through the glass, answering it instead of a nurse as she expected.
“Morning,” he said with a glimmer in his eyes. A black sweater hugged his torso and sculpted arms, blending in with his dark pants and shoes.
He took in her equally black garb as she removed her coat and hung it on a hanger in the room just off from the door. “Looking good,” he said.
“I know. We could be ninjas.”
Hawk laughed and answered her with a kiss that steamed to her toes. “Even in all black, you look bright and chipper.”
“I feel bright and chipper,” she said. “I brought your clothes, by the way.” She indicated the parking lot behind her where the clothes remained in her car. She hadn’t been sure whether or not to bring them in.
“Hold onto them,” he said, tilting in for another kiss. Mm. She could do just this and be perfectly content for the next several hours. “I’ll get them from you the next time we go out.”
“Will there be a next time?”
He rested his forehead against hers. “I don’t want things to end here, do you?”
She definitely needed more stolen kisses. “Next time sounds perfect.”
“How about ice skating? Tomorrow night?” he suggested, threading his fingers through hers and leading her down the hall. An answer formed in her mind but didn’t quite make it out as they stepped over the tiny colored tiles intermixed with the gray. She was too distracted by the set up in the hospital’s waiting room.
A bright scene of forest animals covered the far wall as usual, but the chairs were pushed aside to make room for two long counters with barstools standing in front of them. Several tall, wide shelves covered in cellophane bags filled to bursting with colorful candy stood waiting. Each bag was tied with sparkling ribbons of every color. Topping everything else off, a large banner swooped across the ceiling, carrying the Ever After Sweet Shoppe logo.
“Oh wow,” Ella said, stopping alongside a pair of nurses in red scrubs. Ella had come to know several of the nurses by name after all of her many visits here.
“Right?” Martha said. She had short, blonde hair and a friendly persona. Her red scrubs were perfect for the season. “The kids are going to love this. I can’t wait for them to wake up to their pillowcases. Add this to it, and they’ll have the best Christmas anyone could hope for.”
Hawk strolled through the space, inspecting the goodie bags and wrapped packages beneath the sparkling tree in the corner by the cash register on its counter. Ella loved this. If she ever had money like he did, she’d want to use it to help others like this.
He made his way back to her and handed her a pink apron set off with black and white-striped edging. He’d already slipped his on over his head.
“What’s the plan?” she asked.
“Each child has a stocking by his or her bed,” he said, tying his apron. Ella lifted hers on and tied it as well. “They’ve received redeemable tokens and can use them to ‘buy’ anything they want here in their very own store.”
“And the presents?” She pointed to the tree.
“One for each of them and the staff. And for you.”
Her mouth dropped. “What?”
She hadn’t even thought to get him a present. Then again, it wasn’t as though she’d had oodles of time or inclination that she’d be spending Christmas with him.
“Hawk, I—”
He nudged her shoulder with his own. “It’s okay. You’ll find your name on it.”
“When did you even have time to wrap a gift for me?” she mused.
“I got here before you did, remember?” He leaned in. She thought he might kiss her again when his gaze flicked behind her.
“Ah,” he said. “Here come our first customers.”
Kids in pajamas began trickling out. Many had tubes dangling from their noses or taped to their hands while connected IVs rolled alongside them. Some walked in slippers, hugging
