Page 17 of One Naughty Christmas Night

With one last hug, he deposited her back on the ground next to her snowman, turning to look for Victoria.

The wind picked up and blew the skirt of her gown, giving away her position behind a tree.

Heath held his hand up to his lips, motioning for Samantha to be quiet.

Stalking over to the tree, he took it slow to avoid the snow crunching beneath his feet too much.

A crack beneath his foot alerted her to his presence, and she peeked around the tree, a small squeal rent from her when she saw him so close.

Hefting her skirts up, she tried to run, the hem of the gown already wet from the snow, so it weighed her down, and she couldn’t get far.

She was only able to get a couple of feet from the tree before he caught her, grabbing her around the waist.

“Heath!” she cried, her distress dissolving into laughter.

She twirled around in his arms and placed her hands on his chest, looking in his eyes.

“Hi,” she whispered. Heath smiled, his eyes roving over her face.

Victoria shifted in his arms and lost her footing, knocking them off balance and sending them both to the ground.

They landed with a hard thump; the wind knocked from Heath as he landed on his back.

“Are you all right?” she asked, her gloved hands coming to frame his face.

“I just need a moment,” he replied. A small pile of snow landed on his face, and she quickly swiped it away, her chest reverberating against him as she tried to hold back her laughter.

“Thanks for that,” he said, looking up at her.

Victoria’s eyes sparkled with mischief and a hint of desire, his body warming at the sight of her.

Leaning down, she teased his lips with her own, the kiss the barest of caresses.

With his arm around her waist, he moved his hand to cup the back of her head before he brought her lips down to his, taking them in a hot kiss.

“Uncle Heath?” Samantha’s voice broke them apart, and he released the back of her head, rolling her to the side of him.

“Yes, Samantha,” he said, looking up at her.

Her browns eyes reflected a mix of curiosity and a hint of fear as she looked between him and Victoria.

“Are you all right?” she asked. “Did you fall down?”

“We did fall down,” Victoria replied, struggling to sit. “But we’re both all right. Uncle Heath caught me to keep me from getting hurt. He’s nice to help, isn’t he, Sammy?”

Her fright disappeared and in its place, a bright smile appeared. “He always helps when I fall down too.”

Heath made his way to his feet, assisting Victoria up once he was steady on his feet.

“Now Sammy, shall we continue to work on your snowman?” Victoria asked, bringing her attention back to her project.

“Yes! You can both help me.”

“We’d be delighted,” Heath replied, following them back to her small pile of snow.

***

The front door of the castle swung open, loud singing filling the foyer.