Elfemies to Lovers

by Jennifer Chipman

“I thought you said there were plenty of single dads to ogle?” Sarah shrugged. “It’s not as fun as it used to be. Besides, the chances of me running into Mr. Right while working as an amusement park photographer? Please. As if.”

“I thought you said there were plenty of single dads to ogle?” Sarah shrugged. “It’s not as fun as it used to be. Besides, the chances of me running into Mr. Right while working as an amusement park photographer? Please. As if.

I was pretty sure if I never heard I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus again, it would still be

too soon. I resisted making a face, given that Jeremy was still standing in front of me. He wouldn’t understand my aversion to the song.

I couldn’t believe how many Christmases I’d spent asking Santa to let me grow a few more inches. Of course, it never happened, just like all the other things I’d wished for, but that didn’t stop me from trying every year.

He glanced at my ears again, and I pushed my hair over them, suddenly feeling oddly self-conscious.

Some might call it complacency, but I was content, and wasn’t that enough? Maybe it was too much to ask for a perfect fairytale life—I’d certainly never had that to begin with—but this was enough for me.

Her little brows furrowed. “I don’t know why I just told you that.” She mumbled something under her breath. But I did. It was the same reason little kids liked to tell me what they wanted for Christmas.

If I was being honest, I wanted to get to know him better. He was attractive, yes, but it was something deeper. Like something in him called to something inside of my soul. Even if he drove me crazy and had stolen my muffin.

Maybe I was doing too much, trying to impress her. But the way her eyes had lit up when she saw the truck told me it was a good use of magic. Though I only had so much before I had to return to the Pole.

Maybe then I could figure out what ran through her veins and the reason it felt like something in her called to me. It had to be the magic I detected inside of her. It couldn’t be anything else.

“Survive Christmas with my family, and that will be all the thank you I need.” Survive? I was going to thrive. This sounded like the best vacation I’d had in years.

“You’re practically fun-sized.” “Don’t make me sound like the consolation prize kids get on Halloween when they’re hoping for a full-sized candy bar.” I crossed my arms over my chest, glaring up at him. “What?”

I really am sorry you had to come searching for me. It was clear no one had ever put her first before. There was no world where I wouldn’t come to her rescue if she needed it. What she didn’t know was that I would have searched the entire world for her.

“I don’t know. I’m not exactly the expert on Christmas here.” “Ivy. You’ve literally worked at Christmasland for what, seven years?”

I added one more to the list. 14. Kiss Under the Mistletoe. Maybe it was wishful thinking. Maybe I’d just imagined the heat between us. But maybe, just maybe… He felt it, too.

“Let me take care of you,” I practically begged. “It’s the least I can do.” “Okay.” Ivy let out a sigh. “I’m just… not used to all of this.” “What?” “Someone who cares enough to take care of me.” The words were a whispered admission. Fuck, no one had taken the time to cherish her. But I wouldn’t make that mistake.

A strange sense of satisfaction had run through me as I looked back at Ivy, watching her trudge through the snow. One that I was trying hard not to think too deeply about.

“Are we still doing this?” She glared at me. I frowned. “What?” “Fighting.” “Is that what we’re doing?” I hummed. Maybe not. Maybe it had never been fighting at all.

Maybe part of me had grown used to the human realm, but it still wasn’t the home I loved. At least, that was how I felt until I saw Ivy Winters smile. Now, I couldn’t imagine being anywhere she wasn’t.

“Teddy.” Ivy came to a stop. “That one. I found it.” “Yes.” I had to agree. “It’s perfect.” Her blinding smile was all the convincing I needed.

We’d spent the day exploring the village and all the shops. Her eyes had lit up like a kid in a candy store, which was hilarious considering how she’d been inside the actual candy store.

“But you didn’t like me yet.” She laughed. “Of course I did. I just hated how much I liked you.” “Ivy Winters, do you have a crush on me?” “Shut up,” Ivy grumbled. “You’re ruining it.”

“I just don’t want you to regret this,” she whispered. How could I? How could I ever regret her? When I’d wanted her since the moment I’d laid eyes on her?

Whatever this was between us, I was all in. Ivy was mine. And I intended to prove that to her.

Now, everything felt different. Like it or not, he was starting to burrow his way into my heart. But I couldn’t give it to him. Not when I knew how this would end.

Fuck, I was in over my head. Because I didn’t want this to end. But how could it not?

“That’s incredible. I wish I had the time for this.” “You will.” I squeezed her hand. She bit her lip. “How do you know?” “Just do. I have this feeling, sweetheart. That everything you’ve ever dreamed of is going to come true.” “Oh.” Ivy turned, the tips of her ears and cheeks turning the same color as her jacket. “I don’t know about that…” But I could feel it. As much as I knew what a child wanted for Christmas. “You’ll see,” I said instead.

part of me could feel it too. Like there was something more tying us together than just chance. That all of this felt a little like fate.

“Thank you,” I whispered, holding back all my other thoughts. Maybe one day I would share them.

He was magical, that much I knew to be true. There was definitely something magical about the way he was using his tongue, driving me higher and higher.

“I hate that I didn’t get to experience all of this growing up. But you know something?” “What?” “I’m glad I get to do all of this with you.” A warm smile filled her face. “I think that maybe Christmas means something more with the right person by your side.”

Mine. She was mine. Ivy was mine. And there was no way I was letting her go. Not a chance. I’d do whatever it took to convince her to stay. Whatever it took to keep her.

It wasn’t like there were thousands of elves scattered across the world, entering data into tablets as they watched children. No, the answer was plain and simple: magic.

That I was falling in love with him. Maybe I’d already fallen, if I was being honest. Somewhere in between cutting down a tree and him giving me a freaking reindeer, I’d been free-falling.

“I think Santa could make an exception for you.” I traced a finger over my cleavage. “Since you’ve been such a good boy, haven’t you, Teddy?” “No Santa talk in the bedroom,” he muttered, coming to stand in front of me. “I do not want to think about my dad when I’m also thinking about the dirty, dirty things I want to do to you.”

“Let go, baby. It’s okay. I’ll catch you.” And I knew he would. I knew he always would. So I let go.

“Is that your dad’s sleigh?” He smirked. “Yeah. Borrowed it for the night. He doesn’t need it till tomorrow.”

Maybe I’d see if she wanted to make a Christmas list with me every year. Of course, we could switch things up. Some things would be tradition—cutting down the tree, kissing her underneath the mistletoe—but we could mix things up, too. I’d be up for the challenge.

The list, framed on the kitchen wall, each item brings us closer together.

I know it’s soon, but I couldn’t wait another moment without asking you to be my wife.” Tears were streaming down my face, but I supposed what they said was true: when you know, you know. And I definitely knew with him.