Merry with a Tycoon (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

Chapter 2

CHAPTER TWO

PRESTON HOLLISTER

I’ve got this?

What the hell’s got into me? One minute I was in the car, listening to my cousin, Teddy Hollister, on the phone drone on about her latest idea for increasing profits involving some underperforming commercial property, and the next here I am putting on a Santa suit.

All because I spotted the holiday event at Seaside Square on the way home and told Javi I needed to check it out. After spending two weeks in Shanghai working on the details of our latest hotel, it was better than heading straight to an empty hilltop mansion.

The thought of that cavernous house makes me pause. With Mother in New York visiting her sister and my brother Brogan working some security detail in Los Angeles, it’s even more desolate than usual. When did I last spend time there that wasn’t just to sleep or change clothes before having to jet off somewhere?

If I’m honest with myself, I’ve been burying myself in work since Vivian and I split up three months ago. The breakup still stings, though I know it was inevitable. Vivian’s passion for jet-setting and lavish locales never meshed with my growing fondness for the quaint charm of my hometown.

I can almost hear her voice now, lamenting another “wasted weekend” in Love Beach when we could be sipping cocktails in Monaco or skiing in Aspen. Her fluency in Chinese would have been an asset on this latest trip to Shanghai, but I realize now that we were always more compatible professionally than personally.

Maybe that’s why I found myself drawn to the holiday event going on.

I just never expected to end up playing Santa.

But as I adjust the red suit, I have to admit I’m excited about this new adventure even if I have no idea if I can convince the children I’m Santa. The last time I sat on Santa’s lap, I was asking for a new yacht for the family—not exactly relatable if one wasn’t a Hollister.

But with enough memories of my father playing Santa when Brogan and I were kids, I’m sure I can handle the job. Mother used to call his performances corny (although she never once stopped him from doing it year after year and even dressed as Mrs. Claus) but my brother and I loved it.

There’s also another reason why I’m doing this. I need redemption. After bullying Crystal’s best friend for years, I know I’ve got a lot to make up for. It’s not just about Crystal, though. The whole town sees me as this stern, money-obsessed tycoon who doesn’t care about anything but the bottom line.

And maybe they’re right.

Or at least, they were.

This is my chance to show Love Beach a different side of Preston Hollister. Not the cutthroat businessman or the arrogant rich kid, but someone who cares about his community. Someone who can bring a little magic to these kids’ lives, even if it’s just for one afternoon.

The sounds of excited children filter through the closed door, and I feel a flutter of nervousness in my stomach. But I push it away. Playing Santa will be far more interesting than having to listen to my cousin’s half-baked business ideas. I make a note to remind my mother not to make hiring decisions while I’m gone, especially as favors to family members.

Did she really think handing Teddy a job was going to turn the partying socialite into a responsible property manager overnight? She doesn’t know a thing about managing properties.

But enough thinking about Teddy; there’s nothing I can do about her right now, not when kids are starting to cry outside as they await the man in red.

I take a deep breath, adjusting the padding around my midsection. It’s showtime.

Crystal’s eyes widen as I step out of the storage room. “Wow! You certainly look the part,” she says, an amused smile tugging at her lips. “Ready to face your adoring public?”

“As ready as I’ll ever be,” I say in the deepest voice I can muster. “Lead the way, my trusty elf.”

More like sexy elf , but I remind myself to keep my thoughts kid-friendly.

As we step outside, the excited squeals of children hit me like a wave. For a second, I’m overwhelmed, but then I see their faces—eyes wide with wonder, smiles so big they must hurt. And just like that, I’m no longer Preston Hollister pretending to be Santa.

I am Santa.

I settle into the grand chair, trying to look as jolly and Santa-like as possible. Crystal, dressed in a green elf costume that’s far more flattering than it has any right to be, leads the first family towards me. I force my eyes to stay on her face, ignoring the way the costume hugs her curves.

“Santa,” she says, “this is little Timmy. He’s been very good this year.”

“Has he now?” I ask, patting my knee for the boy to climb up. “And how would my favorite elf know that?”

Crystal’s eyes widen in surprise but she recovers quickly. “Oh, you know us elves. We have our ways.”

As Timmy rattles off his Christmas list, I sneak glances at Crystal. She’s arranging candy canes in a basket, bending over in a way that... No. Focus, Preston. You’re Santa, for crying out loud. Keep it child-friendly.

The hours fly by in a blur of wishes, laughter, and more than a few tears (mostly from overwhelmed toddlers who probably have no idea whose lap they’d been deposited on). I listen to dreams of bicycles and video games, stuffed animals and art sets. Some kids ask for things that tug at my heartstrings, too—a job for daddy, a cure for mommy’s illness, a friend to play with—as Crystal writes every wish down on a notepad next to me.

Javi doesn’t look pleased as he watches from a distance, his arms crossed in front of his chest. At thirty-two, he’s the same age as me, yet our paths to this moment couldn’t be more different.

While I was navigating boardrooms and business schools in my twenties, Javi was serving as a Navy SEAL alongside my brother Brogan. Their shared experiences forged a bond that extended beyond their service, and when Javi left the SEALs to re-enter civilian life six months ago, Brogan didn’t hesitate to recommend him for my security detail.

Our closeness in age has made him someone I can relate to more easily, sometimes blurring the lines between bodyguard and friend. It’s refreshing to have someone around who doesn’t treat me like I’m made of glass or put me on a pedestal because of my last name.

Except right now, he doesn’t look amused.

“Ho ho ho!” I boom, staying in character as he approaches. “And what would you like for Christmas, young man?”

Javi’s lips twitch, fighting a smile. But when he speaks, his voice is dead serious, tinged with the concern of both a professional and a friend. “All I want for Christmas, Santa, is for my boss to get out of that ridiculous suit before someone recognizes him and it’ll be the talk of the town.”

“So what? It should be good for my reputation, yes?”

His expression remains serious. “These events go through a rigorous procedure, boss, and you know it.”

I lean in, dropping my voice so only Javi can hear. I’m still too jolly to want to end the fun so soon. “Tell you what, you’ve got the night off. I’m planning to stick around and help Crystal clean up.”

Javi’s eyebrows shoot up. “Boss, with all due respect, that’s not a good idea. Your security–“

“Will be fine,” I interrupt. “Besides, where else am I going to go? That empty mausoleum of a house?” I try to keep my tone light, but I can hear the edge of bitterness creeping in. “I’d rather be here, doing something... I don’t know, meaningful.”

For a moment, Javi’s professional mask slips entirely, and I see a flicker of understanding in his eyes.

“Alright,” he concedes, his tone softening. “But please, be careful. And call me if you need anything. You know I’m always on duty when it comes to you, job or no job.”

I nod, grateful for his concern and his friendship. But even as I know Javi claims to be off-duty, there are three other teams keeping an eye on me nearby. It’s routine, and it’s been going on for so long I barely even notice them.

As Javi walks away, I turn back to find Crystal watching me curiously and for a moment, I wonder how much she’s overheard.

But then a late-arriving child runs up, full of excitement, and I’m back in character. “Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!”

As I lift the child on to my lap and he begins to rattle off his Christmas list as Crystal stands next to me with her notepad and pencil, I have to admit the obvious: I like this.

I really like this.