Beach Blanket Santa

he’d fully processed that thought, she opened her bedroom door and suddenly appeared.
    “Oh my.” She brought her palms to her perfectly pink cheeks. “What’s this?”
    “Merry Christmas,” he said, his tone husky.
    She stopped in her tracks and met his gaze, her voice wavering. “Is this what I think it is?”
    He turned to her, his heart pounding. Of all the mornings he’d ever experienced, this was the one he hoped would go off right. “Your very own Christmas tree.”
    She approached it slowly, then gingerly touched one of its branches. “Driftwood?” she asked, amazement in her eyes.
    “I had to get creative,” he answered honestly.

    “Oh, Matt,” she said, her voice cracking. She’d never had anyone do something like this for her before. How he’d done it or where he’d found the lights and decorations, she had no idea. But one thing was clear, the look in his eyes said he’d done it all for her. So this was what he’d been up to late last night with that box and why he’d snuck down on the beach. She gingerly touched one of the stars, and it pivoted on its thin wire, tiny arrays of light streaking through its pattern of holes. “Did you make this?”
    He smiled, and the tears that had been aching to break through poured from her eyes. “I can’t believe you did this… Did this all for me.”
    “I wanted to do something for you. Something to show you you’re special.”
    How she wanted to show him he was special too. Sarah debated about giving him the poem but decided to put it off until later. She wasn’t sure how he might take it, and, given how well things were going now, she didn’t want to put a damper on them. “Thank you. It’s wonderful. Probably the most wonderful Christmas gift I’ve ever received.”
    He took her in his arms. “I was hoping to make this day great for you.”
    “It couldn’t be any more perfect,” she said, looking up in his eyes. And it was true. Sarah was feeling so bright and hopeful this morning. So positive, in fact, that she didn’t want any sort of negativity to get in the way. Ever since that first late-night conversation with Matt, she’d struggled with her attraction to him and been conflicted about becoming involved. But he was so warm and wonderful, it was hard not to be tempted to let those doubts slide. Just once, Sarah wanted to feel good about things and bask in this dynamite man’s attentions. Would it really be so wrong for them to have one ideal day where she could let herself go and live in the moment?
    Matt glanced sideways, then sexily cocked an eyebrow. “Not even…if it’s snowing?”
    She stared in delight out the large glass door to see a billion little white flakes driving down in droves to coat the deck framing the ocean. The scene was lovely, magical in its unexpected beauty. Matt took her hand and led her toward the door. “Come on!”
    “We can’t go out there like this!” she said, referring to their sleeping attire.
    “You’re right.” He nabbed a throw blanket from the sofa. “We’ll use this to keep us warm.”
    But when he led her outdoors, Sarah realized she wouldn’t need the blanket at all. Matt scooped her in his arms, wrapping the blanket around them as snow beat down on the deck. She looked up at him as a smile worked its way across his handsome face. “There really is a Santa,” she said. Snow drove down harder, coating their hair with tiny white flakes. He brushed his lips to hers, and her world went all warm and fuzzy, in spite of the freezing cold. “I’m looking at him.”
    “You’re all I want for Christmas. I’m so happy you’re here.”
    He kissed her harder then, his deep passion sweeping her away while the wind and the snow swirled around them and the pounding ocean echoed the rhythm of their hearts.

    A little while later, they sat wrapped up in a fresh blanket on the sofa before a cozy fire, both sipping from mugs of hot cocoa. “I’ve never had a holiday like this,” she told Matt honestly. “This one’s been like a dream.”
    “And it’s not over yet.” He gave her shoulder a tight hug. “I was thinking of making us some gumbo for Christmas dinner. How does that sound?”
    “Delicious. Do you have everything you need?”
    “Catch of the Day,” he said with a grin.
    Sarah gasped at his revelation. “Are you saying you really went fishing last night?”
    “It was more like early this morning, but yeah.”
    “I thought you were sneaking outdoors,