Alana stopped believing in Santa Claus and holiday magic a long time ago, and her life hasn't exactly dealt her a hand that's going to change her mind any time soon. Working as one of Santa's elves to barely make ends meet isn't her dream job, but at least the gorgeous Daniel is working behind the camera. And her fellow elf, Brady, is the stuff of holiday movies—charming at every turn.

There's a Christmas miracle in Alana's future, but only if she makes the right choice and remembers how to believe again.

EXCERPT

Come on, Allie. You never go out with us.” Jerrica stood in front of the open locker, fluffing her long black waves. “I swear you act like an old woman, sitting at home with your knitting.”

No. I act like someone who almost had her heat shut off last month. “Look, I’m tired.” I kicked my locker shut. “As for the knitting, you didn’t complain when I made you the scarf you wanted.” Which you never did pay for like you promised. “

“Whatever. I still say you’re getting old before your time.” Jerri’s hand cupped my shoulder. “Seriously, it’s Christmas, get your party on. The guys are going. I’m sure Dan said something about hoping to see you there.”

Shrugging off her grip, I tugged my boots on, my foot propped on the old wooden bench in the locker room. The paint had chipped off most of it through time and abuse, kind of the same way the shine had worn off my life. “Now I know you’re full of shit. Dan hasn’t given me a second glance—ever.”

“Maybe he would if he saw you in something other than curly shoes and pointed ears. Come on. You’re only going to be young and gorgeous once.”

A snort escaped before I could rein it in. “Yeah, tomorrow I’ll make sure to come to work with my walker and wrinkle cream.” Standing up, I yanked on my beat-up parka and took in her skinny jeans and the cherry-red corset under her leather jacket. I couldn’t help but sigh. Jerrica didn’t get it—never would. Hell, she still lived at home. She probably only took this job to pay off her credit cards...and her bar tab.

My parents, on the other hand, believed in the sink or swim philosophy of child rearing. They figured they'd raised me and covered my bills for twenty-two years, but once I graduated last May, their job was over—off to Florida for retirement.

Not a horrible plan, I guess. Too bad no one bothered to check with the economy to make sure it was on board. When I couldn’t land a teaching position after graduation, I took whatever odd jobs I could find: concessions at the amusement park, selling beer at baseball and football games, perfume sampler at the mall—until my allergies rebelled. Hell, I’d even done a short stint for a phone sex line. That one didn’t last long.

But the perfume job at Macy’s had led to this one and, while it wasn’t the career I’d always dreamed about, being one of Santa’s elves for the season wasn’t the worst gig in the world either. At least I got to work with kids, even if they were screaming half the time. Besides, Daniel Hendrix ran the camera, and I’d spent more than one lonely night lying in bed thinking about him. Which reminded me—I needed to see if I could scrape together the cash for batteries.

There was the off chance Jerri wasn’t feeding me a line of bullshit. “Later, Jerri. Have fun tonight. Maybe I’ll tag along next time.” I ducked out of the locker room before she had the chance to respond.

My boots squeaked on the tile floor and I winced. Not like I wanted to sneak up on the guy, but would something a little less obvious have killed the universe? I turned the corner and there he stood, all six feet plus of gorgeousness. Chiseled jaw. Firm, full lips, and deep brown, hooded eyes that just screamed sex. Saliva flooded my mouth thinking about it and I had to stop myself from drooling. It didn’t really help. The moisture just went further south instead.

Jerri had called me gorgeous, and I was pretty enough, I guess. Maybe enough to have snagged the attention of someone like Daniel, even if just for one night. Sure, I was going after him because he was delicious, but with my work schedules, I never had much of an opportunity to get to know people. And at least I wouldn't have any illusions with a guy like him. He wouldn't stick around for long, but a little while would go a long way to making me feel better about my life.

I swallowed hard one more time before I went over to talk to him. Two steps toward the door and my shoulder bumped against something hard, but yielding, that sent my lust-infused blood racing.

I glanced up into a pair of bright blue twinkling eyes. Brady. I’d been so intent on my target I hadn’t even seen him. “Oh, I’m really sorry.” My eyes flicked toward Daniel before returning to Brady’s face.

“No problem, I don’t break that easily.” The carefree grin he flashed carved a dimple into his right cheek. “So, are you going to Wonderland with everyone tonight?” As I absentmindedly rubbed my shoulder, I opened my mouth to say maybe. I never got the chance. He brushed my fingers away, and his thumbs massaged the soreness that came from hours of hefting small children. “I hear it’s supposed to be a really good time. Rumor has it some big-deal musician is in town for the holidays and doing a show.”

Even as it gave an unexpected little flutter, my heart sank. It didn’t matter if Daniel did want me to go to the club; I couldn’t swing the cover charge a live band implied. Shit. I heaved a sigh. “I doubt it. Money’s a little tight with the holidays and all.” I risked a peek at Daniel. Still there. Maybe if Jerri was right and he really did want me to go, he’d offer to pay—make it a date.

“Don’t worry, Alana. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before the perfect job comes your way.”

My gaze shot back to Brady, and I was suddenly aware of his fingers still kneading my shoulder. Nobody but my family called me Alana anymore, and I was sure I’d never used it at work. How had he...I shook my head—it was probably on some stupid piece of paperwork he’d seen. Anything legal still had my full name on it. “What makes you think I wasn’t born to be one of Santa’s elves?” I asked, half distracted by him knowing my name, and half by Daniel glancing at his watch.

“Because your heart isn’t in it.” The pressure of his fingers disappeared as I stepped back and his hands dropped to his sides.

I couldn’t deny what he said. I’d spent a lot of years believing in Santa as a child—far more than most kids—because I couldn't get enough of the magic of what I'd find waiting for me Christmas morning. Until the year I woke up to find my dog lying dead next to the chimney.

Now, listening every day as kids whispered wishes to Santa that probably wouldn't come true tore me up inside. I loved children, but it was so hard to not tell them all to give it up because Santa didn’t exist and the only way they'd get what they wanted was through indulgent parents or a lot of hard work. The ten-year-old inside me screamed to rip the band-aid off now rather than force them to learn the hard way later.

A lump formed in my throat as I mourned the loss of the younger, innocent me. I had to choke it down before I could respond. “I guess I just have a hard time believing in miracles these days.”

“Things that seem impossible happen all the time, Alana. Maybe your miracle isn’t as far away as you think.” Shaggy brown hair fell across eyes filled with sincerity, like he could will me into believing in fairy tales again.

I tugged my parka closer, still intent on at least talking to Daniel before I left. “See you tomorrow, Brady.”

“Are you sure you don’t need someone to walk you home?”

My lips forced their way into a half-hearted smile. “I’ll be all right, been walking home by myself for a long time now. Go have fun with the others.” I turned away.

Before I took my first step, Brady’s voice called my attention back to him. “Alana?” I twisted around, and he reached up and tapped at his ears.

My hands flew to mine and, horrified, I yanked off the latex prostheses. “Thank you.” How stupid would I have looked hitting on Daniel wearing elf ears?

Brady gave me another effortless smile and winked before heading toward the door.

I tucked the ears in my pocket, squared my shoulders, and strode over to Daniel, knowing the only way I’d get through this was with as much boldness as I could possibly muster. As I approached, he raised his head, looking at me with one eyebrow arched sky high and my heart started hammering. I can do this. “Hi, Daniel.”