Logline

When an egotistical playboy is forced to play Santa at the local mall or lose his Christmas bonus, he meets the woman of his dreams through her two kids, only the widow may not be ready to put her deceased husband behind her.

Jennifer Parker is doing the best she can to raise her two children, 8-year-old Ben and 6-year-old Cindi in the 5 years since her husband's death. A career and motherhood keep the widow busy, but the kids sense that their mom needs more than they can give her. When Jennifer is laid off a few weeks before Christmas, her whole life comes crashing down. There will be no gifts for the kids when she can't even pay her bills.

Kyle Williams is an egotistical playboy who has little respect for women. His boss, Mr. Bridwell, announces that all Christmas bonuses will be contingent on doing assigned volunteer work on behalf of his advertising firm. Kyle is assigned to play Santa at the mall on weekends because he doesn't like children. Unable to talk his way out of it, Kyle assumes the role and is pretty bad at it.

Jennifer brings Ben and Cindi to see Santa. Both tell Kyle that all they want for Christmas is someone to help their mom not be lonely anymore. Touched by the gesture, Kyle concocts a lie that Jennifer has won a prize package of tickets for four to different events that month just so he can meet her. He shows up at Holiday on Ice, where Jennifer invites him to use the extra seat that they have.

Something stirs inside Kyle after spending some time with the family and he breaks up with his girlfriend Amber. While tubing, Amber runs into Kyle's little group and makes a scene in front of Jennifer, telling her just what a snake Kyle is. Jennifer realizes that their dating may be a mistake after all, especially when her ex mother-in-law Brenda grows upset that Jennifer is trying to replace her son.

The kids convince Jennifer to give Kyle another chance. Things seem to go well for a while. Kyle even wins over the owner of a large pharmaceuticals company for his firm and personal reasons. Still caught up in an up and down relationship with Jennifer, Kyle confesses that he's the mall Santa. Stunned by the news, she throws Kyle out for what she believes to be the final time, despite how devastated Ben and Cindi are.

Kyle decides Jennifer is worth fighting for and confronts Brenda about her ill feelings toward Jennifer dating any man. Brenda realizes she may be completely wrong about this guy and agrees to help him with a Christmas surprise for the Parker family.

Early on Christmas morning, Brenda and Jennifer's brother Jason bring presents to Jennifer's house. Jennifer and the kids wake up and discover that Santa never came. Dressed as Santa, Kyle makes an appearance with gifts for the kids. When he mysteriously disappears, Kyle shows up with bikes for the kids and a job application for New Century Pharmaceuticals for the job that he has secured for Jennifer. She realizes that her true happiness has been right in front of her ever since meeting Kyle.