But Rachel would have known him anywhere.
Shane.
She wove through the crowd, excusing herself, apologizing, but never stopping.
Her gaze on Santa, she headed straight for him. And halfway there, his gaze found hers. She felt the power of his stare slam into her and for the first time in more than a week, she felt wholly, completely alive again.
"Merry Christmas," Santa shouted, his gaze still on Rachel.
The children shrieked and clapped and the gathered adults got into the spirit of the thing, too. Women in diamonds, men in designer tuxes smiled along with the kids, enjoying the thrill of the moment.
Rachel stopped alongside Santa and looked up into Shane's beautiful green eyes.
She didn't want to make too much of his being here. Of his playing Santa. Of the quickening jolt of her heartbeat.
But how could she not?
How could she not hope that somehow, someway, they might find each other in the magic of this night?
"Santa's got some work to do," Shane whispered, "but once the presents are distributed, you and I have to talk."
"Shane … "
His eyes actually twinkled. "Santa."
She nodded even as one of the kids moved in close and started tugging at her hand. "After, Santa."
Shane grinned and immediately bent down to scoop up the little girl who was staring at him as if he held the answers to all of the universe's questions.
Perching her on his hip, he tapped her nose with the tip of one finger and said, "Now, let's see what Santa's got especially for you!"
For an hour, Rachel worked side by side with Shane. His laughter rang out and inspired hers. The kids were awed and touched and thrilled with the gifts the Elliott foundation had purchased specifically for them. The real magic of Christmas hummed in the air as the crowd began singing along with the carols pouring from the stereo.
Outside, the snow started again and turned the ballroom into a picture postcard.
And when the last of the children's wishes had been satisfied, Santa took Rachel's hand and pulled her backstage.
"You were wonderful tonight," she said, taking a cautious step back from him even as her heart urged her to move in closer. "The children loved you."
Shane pulled off the hat, wig and beard, then carefully took off his glasses and set them aside before turning to Rachel. "I've never had so much fun," he admitted. "And it's all because of you."
"What?"
"You, Rachel," he said, reaching for her, dropping his hands onto her shoulders and pulling her slowly toward him. "I played Santa tonight because I knew you'd be here. Knew you'd like it. And I hoped you'd give me a chance to say what I should have said a long time ago."
"Shane … " Her throat felt incredibly tight. As if air were just too thick to penetrate it.
"Just listen," he said quickly. "Please."
Rachel nodded because she simply couldn't speak. She locked her knees to keep herself upright and stared into his beautiful eyes.
"I miss you, Rachel," he said, his voice gruff, raw. "I miss seeing you every day. Miss hearing you laugh. Miss the way you nag me into doing what needs doing."
She found her voice at that. "I don't nag, I-"
"You do," he interrupted, "and I need it, God knows. Nothing is right with me, Rachel. Since you left, there's no light. There's no laughter. There's no … anything."
"I miss you, too, but-"
"No," he said quickly, pulling her even closer, tipping her head back until she was staring straight up into his eyes. "No buts, Rachel. Just the simple truth.
Without you in my life, I've got nothing worth having."
She swallowed hard and let the tears crowding her eyes begin to fall.
"I love you, Rachel," he said, his fingers digging into her arms as if holding on to her meant life itself. "I think maybe I've always loved you. I just never knew it until you were gone." He bent his head, kissed her gently, lightly, then said, "You're everything to me, Rachel. You make me want to be a better man. A man who deserves you."
Her heart thundering in her chest, Rachel could hardly believe she was hearing him say all the things she'd dreamed of hearing. Her soul lit up like Christmas morning and hope for a future filled with love swept through her.
"If you let me," he said, hurrying on as if unwilling to stop talking long enough to hear her answer, "I'll spend the rest of our lives proving to you just how much I love you."
"What are you saying?" The words squeaked out of her throat. She was pretty sure what he was getting at, but she wanted no mistakes. No misunderstandings. Not about this.
"I'm proposing, Rachel!" He dragged her tightly against him and wrapped his arms around her, holding her in place. "For God's sake, haven't you been listening?"
Rachel laughed and nodded. "Yeah. I really have. But I don't think I've heard an actual question yet."
He gave her a brief smile. "I'm getting to it. This isn't easy for a man, you know. What if the woman you're asking says no?"
She smiled back at him. "Just a chance you're going to have to take, I guess."
"Well," Shane said, "a very wise woman I know told me recently that nothing worth having comes easily."
"I like her already," Rachel said, loving the feel of Shane's arms around her, there in the dark. From the room beyond, Christmas music drifted on the air and conversations came muted, as if from a distant planet.
"Yeah," he said, "me, too. But this is about us."
"Us," Rachel echoed. "I like the sound of that, too."
"Glad to hear it," Shane said, lifting one hand to smooth her hair back from her forehead. "Marry me, Rachel. Let me marry you."
"Yes."
His smile was quick and broad. "Just like that?"
"Just like that," she said, nodding. "Although, I'm not going to work for you anymore."
His smile faded abruptly. "Why the hell not?"
"Because," she said, "I'm going back to school. I always wanted to be a teacher.
I think I'd be a good one."
"I think you'd be a great teacher," Shane said, dipping his head for another quick taste of her. "I'll miss having you at the office, but as long as you come home to me every night, I'll be a happy man."
"I do love you, Santa," she said, going up on her toes to meet him for another kiss.
His glued-on, bushy white eyebrows wiggled expressively over his twinkling green eyes. "Then how about a sleigh ride?"
Epilogue
The tree was still up, the garlands and lights still twining around the great room at The Tides. And with all of the Elliotts gathered at the family home for New Year's, the noise level was pretty impressive.
Shane wandered through the crowd, listening to snatches of conversation and smiling at the sudden bursts of laughter that shot up and flavored the air. He glanced across the room, caught Rachel's eye and felt again the punch of sheer joy that was a constant companion these days. With Rachel's love he could do anything. Face anything. And he looked forward to a future of loving her and the children they were already trying for.
The stereo was suddenly turned off and each of the gathered Elliotts turned to look at the older man standing beside the roaring fire in the hearth.
"I think it's time for a speech," Patrick Elliott announced, lifting a glass of champagne to his family.
"Now, Patrick," his wife chided, "‘tis no time for one of your long talks. The family's here, we should be celebratin'."
Shane watched as his father dropped an arm around his wife's shoulders and pulled her close.
"You're right, Maeve," Patrick said, "as always. But, the idea was for Shane to give the speech. As the new CEO of EPH, it's only fitting."
Around him, applause erupted and Shane grinned. Gannon slapped him on the back and gave him a shove toward the front of the room. Erika held their baby daughter as if she were made of spun glass and smiled up at her husband.
Tag had his fiancée, Renee, trapped under a ball of mistletoe and the lovely woman showed no signs of trying to escape. Michael stood beside the chair where his wife, Karen, practically glowing with her very short hair, sat enjoying the fun.
Shane kept walking, stopping long enough to snag Rachel's hand and drag her along with him. He grinned at Summer and her rock star Zeke, huddled with Scarlet and John, no doubt planning the double wedding that Maeve was already fretting over.
Outside the living room, the night was cold and moonlit, pale silvery light glancing off the mounds of snow, illuminating the grounds. Inside, warmth filled the gathered Elliotts and touched Shane more deeply than ever before.