Wynter.

I rested my foot on the pedal, zooming past some slow moving cars to get home in time before Nick came over. I needed to clean my living room and pack the dirty dishes in the skink then fix my appearance.I had to look cute today. There was so much I had to do.

I don't know why, but hearing Lorie's advice made me realize my feelings for Nick.

Well...feelings was too strong of a word.
I would say...crush?
I had a crush on Santa but could you blame me? He was tall, charming and easy on the eyes. Although we butted heads every other day, we had a sort of playful yet flirty banter.

I finally arrive home and sprint inside, throwing my bags to the couch before loading the dirty dishes in my dishwasher. I run to the guest bathroom and stare into then mirror, trying my hardest to fix my hair and re-slick my edges. A few minutes passed before I finally approved my appearance. Just as I reapplied a clear coat of gloss, I hear the engine of his car and gasp, trying to act as natural as possible.

My doorbell rings twice but I take my time to open it. I couldn't look too eager.

I carefully opened my door and am met with a cool Nick. He leaned against my door frame, scrolling through his phone. He was in a cute gray jacket with a patterned plaid scarf and black jeans.

He saw my curious gaze at his attire and smiled. "I just came from New York" he explained. It was spring in California so the temperature was more than warm.

I nodded at his explanation, gently backing away and opening the door wider. "Come in" I say nervously. He nods and enters in. A hot pink bag was in his left hand.

We stand awkwardly before he looks behind me and observed the decorations. "Christmas decorations after the 1st of January? That's bad luck Wynter" he sighs ,shaking his head regretfully.

"Says who?" I frowned, closing the door behind him. "I hadn't had time to take them down. I've been so busy."

He looks into my eyes before lifting his hand and swirling it into the air. In an instant, all my decorations shimmied off from their respective places and floated into the air, unwinding into a loose line before slipping into their respective packages that were stuffed in my closet.

I open my mouth in shock, trying my best not to react like a little kid but it was too hard. "Oh my gosh! Did that just happen?" I whispered, looking around at my spotless living room.

"I did. You're welcome" he shrugged, dropping the pink bag on my dinning table.

I ran over to my closet excitedly, bending to see the storage bags full of organized decorations. "You even rolled the lights up! This is amazing" I chuckled, closing the door with pride.

Nick tried to hide his smile as I freaked out about something so mundane to him. This was an everyday thing for him but I had never been exposed to magic like this.

I forced myself to calm down and look around the room. "Thanks"I muttered before looking to the plastic bag. "So what's the suprise Santa? Christmas hasn't even come."

"Open it" he says, pushing the bag into my hand. I hop onto my kitchen island and open it carefully.

Eagerly, I tore the pink ribbon away and looked up at him before I unwrapped the many layers of tissue and stickers. It was a thick box of something?

Once I opened all the packaging, I gasped, seeing the gift before me.

"Nick? What is ....Is it me?"

He nodded and smiled. "I had a meeting with Mattel"

"Mattel? As in the makers of Barbie?"

"Yea. This is one of their holiday dolls for this year" he explained. I ran a finger against the umber skin of the doll, tracing it delicacy. She was beautiful.

"Why.. did you bring it?" I asked, touched by his simple act of generosity.

"I thought you might like it seeing it looked like you and all. Well... your head is bigger but they tried." he teased, ,coming beside me and staring down at it.

I slipped off the counter and hit his arm before hugging him. He easily returned the hug, pulling my waist into his arms.

I couldn't help but notice how warm and safe he felt. I didn't want to let go.

"Thank you Santa." I whispered, making sure to express my appreciation. It was the little things like this that made me like him even more. I wouldn't have expected a gesture like this from Nick. "I love it"

I buried my head against his neck and subconsciously smelled his scent, almost fainting at how pleasant he smelled. He smelled like hot cocoa and fresh peppermint; almost like a Christmas candle at Bath and Body Works.

"You smell so fu**ing good" I muttered. And in an instant, my heart froze as I heard his chuckle.

I gasped, pulling away as I realized my actions. "OMG did I say that out loud?" I cursed, trying to shrink into a small ball to hide.

"You did" he smirked, leaning against the table, relishing in my moment of embarrassment. I cover my face with my palms but he takes my wrists and pulls them away. "No don't cover your face." he teased.

I wrestle away from him and pull the doll from the surface of the table, pushing him away to put it above my mantle. How could I come back from an embarrassing moment like that?

"Why do you humans think smelling like mint and hot coca is a Christmas personality trait." He asks, inviting himself to sit in my couch. He takes off his red scarf and throws it to the center of the coffee table in front of him.

"Whatever" I mumbled pushing the empty hot pink bag to another drawer before closing it.

"So? What else did you come for?" I frowned, already familiar with Nick's ulterior motives.

"Can't I see the wonderful Wynter Rider? CEO of Nubia San Francisco?" He asked, pretending to be offended by my accusation.

"No, you cannot Santa." I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. He looked into my eyes then sighed.

"Fine. I also came here to ask about your schedule. I need to know when you're free so I can teach you all there is to know to impress the council."

"My schedule is booked and busy? I don't think I'll have time to come over to the North Pole"

"Come on Wynter! We're so close! I just need you to get an approval and then we can get fake married and I'll have my title!" He lays out the plan as if it was something so simple.

I think back to Lorie's words of advice, trying to take a whim on my actions. "Be open to new experiences"

"How long do you need me for?"

"That depends; how much time can you give?"

"Hmm" i hummed, pulling out my phone to look at my calendar. I scroll through each month and see a few weeks that were free of meetings and commitments. "I can do a feel week at the end of January."

"One week?" He asked, leaning forward to shift through my pile of table magazines.

"A week? That's 7 days. 24 hours times 7 is 168 hours"

"Double that"he demanded, flipping through a flimsy Forbes magazine.

"2 weeks? Nick are you drunk on egg nog?" I scoffed, dimming the screen of my phone.

He rolls up the magazine and stood, wrapping up the magazine and pushing it under his arm. He rolled his scarf over his shoulders and walked towards me, pacing closer to invade my space.

"2 weeks Wynter. That's all I need" he smiled, looking into my eyes. I look into his rich brown orbs but look away to the floor.

"Okay fine.
2 weeks. TWO NICK. And that's it"

"Wow? Wynter Rider really took two weeks off from work?" He sighed sarcastically.

"I'm a changed woman Santa" I pouted, forcing a smirk to my lips. He let out a lazy chuckle before staring down to my lips.

"The week of the 20th" I say, reminding him of my commitment.

"It's a date." He looks at me through a prideful smirk before pushing past me and grabbing the keys to his car.

I lingered behind him, shutting the door closed as he walked down my steps and into his car.

So it was official!

I had a date with Santa at the North Pole.