Naughty or Nice by Kari Lee Harmon Page A

being bought off? Nathan had given her a limo ride with fine champagne and caviar, yet he hadn’t bothered to give her himself. He’d only given her things he could buy and pay for. It somehow cheapened what they’d just shared. She only had one more night with him, and she had her work cut out for her if she was going to make any headway.
    She slid out of the limo, took a deep breath, and marched inside on a mission. The first person she ran into was Roz. Samantha stiffened, expecting the pit-bull to unleash her wrath. Instead, the petite silver-haired dynamo studied Samantha for a full minute, until Sam squirmed and the woman smiled ever so slightly. She was in control, and they both knew it. Yet she didn’t rip her apart. Maybe she was in a holiday mood. Whatever the reason, Sam was grateful. She didn’t think she could take another ride on the emotional roller-coaster of all that loving Nathan entailed.
    “Happy holidays,” Samantha said, when she couldn’t stand the quiet any longer.
    “Same to you,” Roz responded, and then looked as though it pained her to add, “You did a great job on the storefront window.”
    “Thank you. Na—Mr. Snow was a huge part in putting it all together.”
    The pit-bull was back, on edge, and ready to bear its fangs if she said the wrong thing. “You’ve changed him. He’s not the same man he was before you got here.”
    “Oh, well, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to--”
    “Thank you.”
    “Excuse me?”
    “You have no idea what that poor boy’s been through.” For a moment her features softened into a look of maternal love, but just as quickly she snarled, “Hurt him, and it’ll be the last thing you do.” Then she marched away, probably to terrorize her next victim.
    What the heck was that all about? Samantha wondered. She was at more risk than Nathan in getting hurt. He was the one who had avoided her all day, not the other way around. Q uite frankly, she’d had enough.
    It was time she and McS c roogy had a talk.
     
    Nathan finished handing out the last of the Christmas bonuses to his staff. They had more than earned it with their constant loyalty and devotion to helping him change his image and win over the Redemption community. It had touched him deeply, which disturbed him immensely. He’d never cared before. In truth, he had cared too much, and that terrified him, so he had never admitted it, even to himself. He’d gotten away with pretending he didn’t care because he knew first-hand what it was like to care and then get hurt.
    Damn Samantha Darling.
    It was all her fault. She’d changed him, and he was afraid he would never be able to change himself back. He didn’t want to find the spirit of Christmas. It held too many painful memories. He didn’t want to make friends. He didn’t want to care what people thought of him. He didn’t want to lose his ruthless businessman image. He didn’t want to fall in love ....
    But, dammit, that’s exactly what had happened.
    He knew what he had to do. No matter how much it hurt, he knew it was the right thing. Give her a gift that wasn’t materialist and came straight from his heart. Give her what he knew she wanted more than anything else.
    Set her free and let her go home to be with her family.
    He didn’t need to drag her down with him into his lonely depressing world, especially during this time of year. She was light and beautiful and kind and fun. He was the total opposite. She deserved happiness with no brooding or darkness. He couldn’t promise any of that. So he would do what he always did: put up his wall and shut her out. Better to hurt her now than before she fell in love with him, too.
    Nathan felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned around and inhaled sharply. Samantha stood before him looking much more stunning than any star or angel on the top of a Christmas tree could ever be. She literally sparkled. She looked a little wary and nervous, and it killed him to know that he’d put that look in her