Page 55 of The Naughty Or Nice Clause

He kissed her just enough to make her spend the rest of the evening wanting more, then offered her a hand, and she lifted her dress to step into the sleigh. Once the heavy blankets sheltered them from the falling snow, they set off along the lit paths. Lyla felt like she had officially slipped into a fairytale.

All the villagers turned to look at them as they entered the town hall, and Lyla couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. Thankfully music was already playing, with some people dancing down the middle of the room, so the attention on them was quickly diverted. She gazed at the chandelier, glistening with hanging glass snowflakes. With the white tablecloths, ice sculptures, and icy blue tapestries hanging from the windows, the theme was clearly a winter wonderland.Mrs Klaus did a wonderful job arranging the room; it looks nothing like when Mason brought me here to see the council.Then it had been dark and gloomy, but with the added chandeliers, everything glistened with warmth. She squeezed Mason’s hand a little too tight and heard him chuckle. If she held his hand, she couldn’t fidget.

“There’s no need to be nervous. Everyone will love you,” he said, but she doubted it.

She glanced about the room for the rest of the family, only for her eyes to settle on Natalie –who was wearing a red sequinned gown that moulded to her frame.Wearing the Klaus colour is daring, but why am I not surprised?She stood by an ice sculpture shaped like a Christmas tree with who Lyla guessed were her family. None of them looked pleased to see Lyla in attendance.

“You can’t leave my side all night, or I’ll kill you in your sleep,” she warned Mason with a smile.

“I love your threats. Sadly, I must make a speech. Wait for me,” he whispered, and just like that he was gone from her side, making his way through the dancing couples to the podium at the head of the room.

Feeling entirely out of place, and with no one to talk to, Lyla drifted through the crowd in hopes of running into a familiar face. Much to her relief, she spotted Mrs Klaus at a table not far from the podium and quickly made her way over.

She didn’t have time to greet Mrs Klaus, because when she sat down a round of applause greeted Mason at the podium. Silence fell over the room.

Lyla noted the hope in the villagers’ eyes as they looked up at him. Then again, their fate rested in his decision. She was glad she hadn’t eaten since lunch, or her stomach would have been twisted in knots. Even she didn’t know what his decision would be. She couldn’t help thinking about the email she’d sent Sam, and how foolish she had been, but there wasn’t much time to fret as Mason began to address the room.

“Good evening, all – I promise I won’t keep you long. This year we celebrate the season with heavy hearts, but despite our sorrow, my father – your friend – would have wanted us to celebrate, just as we have every year. On this night, he wouldn’t want tears in his name. So I ask you to dance and sing in his honour, make this a Christmas he can watch over with a proud smile.”

He cleared his throat, putting the paper in his hand in his pocket. “Many of you have questions about what this loss means for us. There must be a Klaus, and your next in line has been away for the last few years. This is a decision I don’t make lightly, and this responsibility is my family’s alone.” A tense silence fell over the room, the crowd hanging on to his every word. “I’m happy to tell you all that I have decided to take my father’s position as Klaus. I ask each of you for your help in making this transition. I have much to learn, but in returning,” he caught Lyla’s eye, “I have been reminded how important family is. How important Yule is to me, as it was to my father. Now, I ask you all if you’ll accept me.” There was a loud cheer and applause, which eventually settled down. “Then I ask you to raise your glass to my father, and to the seasons we will serve together.”

Once the drinks were downed, Mason stepped down from the podium and was swallowed by the crowd, eager to shake his hand and hug him.

“Let the night begin,” he called, and the orchestra started to play as he reached Lyla and his family.

Mrs Klaus was the first to embrace her son, tears in her eyes. “Thank you, son. He’d have been so very proud of you,” she said, kissing his cheek.

“I’ll do my best,” he assured her, and Mrs Klaus cupped his face before wiping her tears away and giving him another squeeze.

“He’s all yours now. I have some dancing to do!” she told Lyla, handing Mason over.

“You’re full of surprises,” Lyla said to him, reaching up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “They’re lucky to have you.”

“I wouldn’t have made the decision if it weren’t for you. While you were getting ready, I read the last letter my father wanted to send. He knew his heart was going to give out; he was asking me to return. To make peace.” He swallowed, and she rested a hand on his chest, trying to ease his sorrow. “If you’d let me burn them, I’d never have known how he felt,” he admitted.

“Careful, my ego wouldn’t survive saving Christmas,” she teased, trying to hide her own happy tears.

Mason bent his head towards her. He was about to kiss her when someone cleared their throat at her back.

“May I have the next dance? It’s about to begin,” Natalie said brightly.

Lyla wished one of the icicles decorating the ceiling would fall and impale her. She smiled at the thought and released her partner to his ex. With the room watching the exchange, she couldn’t say no. Even if the bitchhadtried to poison her.

“If my fiancée doesn’t mind,” Mason teased. He squeezed her hand in warning, but the look he gave her told her he wanted an out.

“Who am I to separate old friends?” she said brightly, enjoying his discomfort.

Natalie winced, then smirked. “Ha – you’re more generous than me. I wouldn’t be able to take my hands off him if he were mine.”

“Then it’s a good thing he isn’t,” Lyla said with a false smile.

Mason took a drink from the table and downed it while Natalie’s flurry of fake laughter surrounded them. “Shall we?” he asked. From the glance he gave Lyla, he didn’t want to.

“I won’t keep him long. The waiters have some hors d’oeuvres – be sure to stay away from the chocolate strawberries,” Natalie warned with mock concern.

“You’re too kind,” Lyla forced herself to say, and left them as the music began.

Kevin came to walk with her to the buffet table. “She really is a nasty bit—”

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