The Billionaires Christmas Temptation

Recognition without a Name

✴ Damien ✴

I knew I knew her. From the moment she bumped into me, with those curious light brown eyes framed by a soft cascade of golden-brown hair, there was no mistaking how familiar she was. But her name? It was infuriatingly just out of reach. It felt as if it was on the tip of my tongue, like a memory I couldn’t quite remember. I had played it off, of course. A polite smile, a quick ‘no problem’ and ‘have a good evening’ and then I had pretended to be focused on my phone as I had walked away. What else could I have done? I couldn't admit to her that I couldn't remember her name. I certainly couldn't ask her outright. Nope. But even as I walked around the market, she stayed with me. She was so familiar, but for some reason, I just couldn’t remember her name. And honestly, that had never happened to me before. I always prided myself on my sharp mind and my ability to remember details about people I had met – even those I didn’t want to remember. And yet, here I was, haunted by the face of a woman who had once been a part of my life. I was still trying to figure out how I knew her when someone stepped into my path.

“Damien Gale!” a booming voice greeted me, and I looked at the owner of that voice. Josh Garrison. The Mayor of Wintervale. His broad smile was as jolly as the Santa Claus lookalike manning a nearby booth. Josh immediately extended a hand, his grip firm and enthusiastic when I shook it.

“Josh,” I said as I forced a polite smile. “It has been a while,”

“Too long, my friend,” he said as he clapped me on the shoulder as if we were old friends. “I heard you were back in town, but I hadn't expected to run into you this quickly. How are you? All good settling in?”

“Sure,” I replied. “It is strange being back here after all this time,” I added. I didn’t want to mention that nothing had really changed.

“I bet!” Josh said as he nodded sympathetically. “But you picked the perfect time to return. Christmas in Wintervale, nothing like it, eh?” I glanced around the bustling market. The scent of sweetness mingled with the cheerful hum of the carolers in the distance. It was charming, I supposed, in a small-town kind of way. “And of course, you are hosting the gala this year!” he said with a bright smile. I wasn’t going to argue that I hosted the gala every year, but I understood his point. “I have to say, Damien, it is great to see you stepping into the spotlight again. Greg always did a great job, but having the actual Gale heir take the reins? Now, that is something special,”

“Greg retired,” I replied simply.

“Yes, yes, I heard. Still, it is a big deal that you came back for this. I suppose you could have sent someone else…nevertheless, I was hoping to bump into you anyway…you see, I have a few ideas,” before I could protest, Josh began outlining his vision for adding more ‘local charm’ to the gala. Something about incorporating a live nativity scene. Perhaps even inviting some of the carolers from the market. I nodded politely as I half-listened to him. My eyes wandered over the crowd. And then I saw her. The woman whose name I just couldn’t remember. She was walking arm in arm with another woman, and they were both laughing as they stopped to browse at one of the market stalls. The sight of her lit another spark of curiosity.

“Josh,” I interrupted him, my gaze still fixed on her. “That woman over there, do you know who she is?” I asked. Josh followed my line of sight, and his face immediately lit up with recognition.

“Scarlett Matthews,” he said with a chuckle. “Surely you remember Scarlett, right? Her father owns the Matthews Estate – they are one of the oldest families in town. Big on charity work and all that. You must remember her, Damien…she had the biggest crush on you in high school…in fact, if I remember correctly, she used to tutor you…when you showed up,” he laughed again, but I was lost in the memories. Scarlett. Of course. How could I have forgotten her name? She was a few years younger than me, but I remembered the quiet, sweet girl that had hung around my group back in the day. I even remembered her helping me out a few times. Of course, back then, girls had been the last thing on my mind. I had been a lot more focused on cars and racing.

“Right…Scarlett,” I murmured.

“Ah yes, she has grown up a bit, hasn’t she?” Josh remarked with a knowing grin. I nodded, my gaze still fixed on her. “Scarlett’s a catch, you know. Smart and driven, and she has been doing a lot to help the town over the years…I mean, if you were looking for someone to partner with for some local projects, she is your girl,”

“Thanks, I will keep that in mind,” I said, distractedly. Business was the furthest thing on my mind. Josh launched back into his ideas for the gala, but my attention was still on Scarlett. I watched as she and the other woman wandered from stall to stall as they talked quietly and laughed loudly.

“Damien, are you even listening?” Josh’s voice broke through my thoughts, and I glanced over at him.

“Of course,” I lied.

“Good, good,” he said as he once again clapped me on my shoulder. “I will send you some notes for you to review. But…seriously, Damien, it is good to have you back. This town could use a little of that Gale magic again,” and with that, he walked off. That ‘Gale magic’ he had referred to, had been my mother, and I wasn’t about to dive into that. So, instead, I looked around to see if I could spot Scarlett again. But, of course, she was gone. I was, admitted, more than intrigued by her and the mystery of who she was. I silently scolded myself for my lack of interest when I was younger, but it didn’t matter. None of it mattered. What mattered was that we had crossed paths for a reason and all I wanted to do was get to know Scarlett. Of course, I not only knew her name, but I also knew that she was unattached. Otherwise, Josh would have mentioned it.