A Gift of Hope

By Emily Mims

TWO HEARTS, ONE GIFT

Gina Reyes takes her job as Miss Santa seriously. There are more needy families in San Antonio than money to help them, especially around the holidays. This year she receives an incredible donation that comes with a price, her new co-chair. Her family has felt the sting of his company’s Big Picture for the Greater Good philosophy, and the man represents everything she abhors.

Lalo Navarro, a son of privilege, wants nothing more than to improve his beloved San Antonio. Imagine his surprise when he learns he’s a demon and not a do-gooder. Pushed into accepting the Miss Santa co-chair to raise his political visibility, Lalo is soon humbled by Miss Santa herself, the shapely Gina Reyes, who somehow becomes everything he wants. On opposite sides of just about every issue imaginable, the only thing that could bring them together would be to follow their hearts...and then a Christmas miracle.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
• Release date: Oct 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781942886907

Emily Mims

The author of over thirty romance novels, Emily Mims combined her writing career with a career in public education until leaving the classroom to write full time. The mother of two sons, she and her husband split their time between central Texas, eastern Tennessee, and Georgia visiting their kids and grandchildren. For relaxation Emily plays the piano, organ, dulcimer, and ukulele for two different performing groups, and even sings a little. She says, “I love to write romances because I believe in them. Romance happened to me and it can happen to any woman—if she’ll just let it.”

Book preview

TWO HEARTS, ONE GIFT

Gina Reyes takes her job as Miss Santa seriously. There are more needy families in San Antonio than money to help them, especially around the holidays. This year she receives an incredible donation that comes with a price, her new co-chair. Her family has felt the sting of his company’s Big Picture for the Greater Good philosophy, and the man represents everything she abhors.

Lalo Navarro, a son of privilege, wants nothing more than to improve his beloved San Antonio. Imagine his surprise when he learns he’s a demon and not a do-gooder. Pushed into accepting the Miss Santa co-chair to raise his political visibility, Lalo is soon humbled by Miss Santa herself, the shapely Gina Reyes, who somehow becomes everything he wants. On opposite sides of just about every issue imaginable, the only thing that could bring them together would be to follow their hearts…and then a Christmas miracle.

A GIFT OF HOPE

A Texas Hill Country Romance

Emily Mims

www.BOROUGHSPUBLISHINGGROUP.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Boroughs Publishing Group does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites, blogs or critiques or their content.

A GIFT OF HOPE

Copyright © 2015 Emily Wright Mims

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Boroughs Publishing Group. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of Boroughs Publishing Group is illegal and punishable by law. Participation in the piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights.

ISBN 978-1-942886-90-7

Although this story and the Miss Santa project depicted in it are fictional, Miss Santa is based on the work of a real woman, the indomitable Elf Louise, and the Elf Louise organization that makes Christmas possible for many San Antonio children who would otherwise not get a visit from Santa.

The project began in 1969 when then college student, Louise Locker, out of the kindness of her heart, provided Christmas gifts to the children of thirteen families. The project has grown over the years to an undertaking involving over four thousand volunteers and serving over six thousand needy children a year.

Louise, thank you for all you have done for so many children for so many years. This one’s for you!

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

About the Author

A Gift of Hope

Chapter One

Eduardo Palacios Navarro—Lalo to everyone who knew him—leaned back in his chair and watched the parade of visitors and locals strolling up and down San Antonio’s Riverwalk. Grateful for the respite, patiently he waited for his lunch check from the overworked waitress at the sidewalk café where he had just finished a plate of passable, but not spectacular, enchiladas. The October sun was still hot on his bare head and shoulders, but not so uncomfortable that he couldn’t sit outside and indulge in a bit of people watching. It was a rare day when he could sneak away from the headquarters of the Navarro Corporation for lunch at one of the many downtown eateries. Most of the time he was stuck at his desk and had food delivered.

The young waitress finally brought his check. Lalo pulled out a couple of bills, bringing a smile to her face with his generous tip. Then he strolled down two blocks of the Riverwalk before ascending to street level and walking two more short city blocks to the high-rise office building housing the Navarro Corporation.

The cooler air of the lobby whooshed in his face as he punched the elevator button and rode up to the fourth floor, where Augusta Guzman, the grandmotherly executive assistant who ran the real estate development office with a velvet-covered iron hand, gave him a go-to-hell look as he sauntered in the door. Where have you been? El Jefe’s called down here twice looking for you and he sounded pretty put out the second time.

Lalo rolled his eyes. El Jefe was the company nickname for whichever Navarro headed the seventy-five year old international corporation, and currently the title belonged to his father, CEO Ernest Navarro.

Tell him I’m on my way, Lalo said as he reversed course and took the single flight of stairs up to the executive level of the Navarro building. Phyllis Kopecki, his father’s longtime secretary, motioned Lalo into his father’s office, where his imposing parent was accompanied by his tio, Joaquin, his father’s younger brother and the corporation’s second in command. They both looked a little agitated.

Sorry you had to wait, Lalo said smoothly as he slid into the second chair in front of his father’s desk. I was at lunch.

And probably ogling every pretty woman on the Riverwalk, Joaquin said dryly as El Jefe shot Lalo a speaking look.

About time you got here, El Jefe said. Joaquin and I have something we need to discuss with you.

The tone of his father’s voice had Lalo straightening in his chair. Yes, sir, I’m listening.

His father steepled his fingers on the desk. Three years ago, when we first started talking about this family getting involved in the political scene, you were royally put out that rather than call on you, we anointed Alex and his wife Leigh Anne to be the Navarro heirs apparent to enter the political arena. You were interested in entering politics yourself and ticked that we thought Alex and Leigh Anne better suited. Still feel that way?

Am I still ticked? Yeah, I am, Lalo said mildly. They were good at it but I would have been just as good, if not better. And I wanted it more than they did. He looked at his father and his uncle. Why do you ask?

Because, in spite of Leigh Anne’s murder and the pall it cast on the Navarro family’s entrance into politics, we still think someone in the family needs to hold elected office in the state of Texas. And, now that you’re about to turn thirty and won’t be perceived by the voting public as a little kid playing in the political sandbox, Joaquin and I think you’re the Navarro to do it.

Lalo was silent for a moment. Kind of by default, huh? Alex is a broken, grieving widower who’s falling in the bottle and no longer suitable. So, now that I’m old enough, let’s trot out the spare? He hmphed. What about your other backup? Is Reynolds interested?

Hell no, he’s not interested, Joaquin snapped. Ever since that Army buddy of his overdosed, the only thing my son is interested in is hanging around a bunch of musicians and playing in that damned mariachi band. He barely puts in a day’s work here.

Besides, Reynolds is too much of a loose cannon, Ernest added. "Look, Lalo, I’m sorry you’re still enojado we didn’t come to you first, but we need a Navarro in Texas politics, and if you still want to be the family politician, it’s yours. We’re willing to throw the Navarro Corporation resources behind you as we did Alex. So, are you on board or not?"

And don’t think we consider you an also-ran, Joaquin added. If we didn’t think you could do it, we wouldn’t spend the corporation’s money.

Was he going to throw away the opportunity of a lifetime just because he hadn’t been their first choice? Hell no. Okay, the Navarro dynasty has a candidate. So what do you think I should run for? City council? State representative? School board?

Ernest and Joaquin looked at one another and laughed. Not so fast, Ernest said. As familiar as the Navarro name is in the Texas and northern Mexico business communities, as individuals we are practically unknowns. You in particular because you’ve stayed out of the spotlight and worked in the construction division. So, before you make a run for any kind of political office, the first thing you need to do is to get in the public eye. See and be seen. Build up some name and face recognition with the people of San Antonio. And we have a great way for you to do that. Ernest handed Lalo a newspaper folded open to a picture and an article. Take a look. This would be the perfect entry into the San Antonio public eye.

Lalo took the paper from his father. The headline read, Miss Santa Program Looking for Contributions and Volunteers and in the picture an exceptionally pretty young woman was accepting a check from the CEO of a major grocery chain. You want me to volunteer with ‘Miss Santa’? Lalo asked.

Yes, we do. Very much so, Joaquin said.

Lalo’s mind raced. The Miss Santa project was a San Antonio institution. It started years ago when a young college student became aware of a need and provided Christmas for a few underprivileged families. The project had expanded over the years, and now involved several thousand volunteers providing Christmas gifts for thousands of children, complete with a visit from Santa. The original Miss Santa had worked tirelessly for years, until illness forced her to step down, and now her daughter was at the helm.

All well and good, but what did this have to do with him? Miss Santa’s a great program, but how will wrapping gifts in a warehouse get me in the public eye?

Oh, you’re going to be a little more visible than that, Ernest said. For the last three years, ever since the new Miss Santa took over, she has invited a prominent member of the community to co-chair with her, with the understanding that the co-chair will bring a substantial financial contribution to the table. She and the co-chair are the face of Miss Santa and make any number of public appearances. Sheldon Harrington was supposed to do it, but the old man’s heart’s been acting up and his doctor put the kibosh on his participation. That’s where you come in. Not only do you bring a million-dollar contribution with you, you’re young and energetic. I talked to Gina Reyes, the new Miss Santa, this morning. It took a little convincing, but you are the new community co-chair of Miss Santa 2015. You’ll go on paid leave as of the first of November and work with them full time. Ernest dipped his head. Congratulations.

Win-win, Lalo mused. They get the money and the co-chair gets his face spread all over San Antonio as a community philanthropist.

And in our case it might help us counteract some of the bad PR we got last year over the Oficinas barrio development. PR we neither earned nor deserved, Joaquin added with a snap to his voice.

Pretty confident of me, weren’t you? Lalo asked dryly. What would you have done if I’d told you to take your political aspirations and shove them?

Are you kidding? You’re too pragmatic a man to turn down the offer of a lifetime, no matter how torqued you might be at me, Ernest said. I knew you’d put aside your personal feelings and look at the bigger picture. He handed Lalo a business card. Call her and set up an appointment.

Lalo nodded and left the older men, going back to his office and sitting down at the desk. So the old bastard wanted him to go into politics after all. About damn time. Not that he would have wished Leigh Anne’s murder and the loss of their unborn child on Alex. If it still made Lalo sick to think about it a year later, he didn’t want to think about what it had done, and was still doing, to his brother.

Still, the opportunity had presented itself and he was going to run with it. And the Miss Santa Christmas charity was going to be the starting point.

Lalo spread the newspaper out in front of him, but rather than reading the article, he was drawn to the picture of the beautiful woman in the photo. An arresting blend of facial features revealed both Castilian and Indio heritage: prominent cheekbones, a sculpted nose and dark, slanting eyes that shone with enthusiasm even in a grainy newspaper photo. Her generous lips curved into a wide smile and her pink business suit didn’t quite hide her sumptuous figure.

Sure, working with Miss Santa would give him plenty of exposure and positive publicity, but if Gina Reyes was as delicious in person as she appeared to be in the photo, he saw more than a political boon from being her co-chair.

Chapter Two

What have I gotten myself into? Why did I tell that man ‘yes’ this morning? Gina Reyes paced back and forth in the small, stuffy office of the Miss Santa warehouse. Late afternoon sunlight filtered through the filmy windowpanes, warming the room and challenging the already-overworked window unit. Why didn’t I just say it was too late to bring another co-chair on board and thank him for calling?

I don’t know about you, my dear Evangelina, but I can think of about a million reasons for your positive response. Cory’s blue eyes twinkled out of his freckle-covered face. "Besides, I don’t want to think about what Miss Santa Senior would say about Miss Santa Junior turning down that large of a contribution just because Miss Santa Junior