Christmas with the Denton Billionaires: The Complete Series Read online

  A limo.

  An honest-to-God stretch limousine.

  “Oh, hell no,” she groaned, pushing the window up so she could lean out and shout at him from the third story. Josh exited the back of the car, and she barked out, “Hey! Up here.”

  His grin was a mile wide. “What do you think?”

  “Uh, how about no?” she asked, her teeth chattering a little from the cold December air. “Josh, do you know where we’re going?”

  He narrowed his eyes, shutting the door gently. His dark waves were looser than he normally kept them at the office, and without his nicely pressed suit, his weekend vibes were strong. His jeans were just the perfect amount of distressed, and his sexy black leather jacket reeked of money.

  “Cedar Grove, obviously,” he said, heading toward the apartment building.

  “Yes, and Cedar Grove is a small town, a family-oriented place. It’s like, secretly the set of every Hallmark Christmas movie ever made.”

  “Really?”

  “Not really, but I’m just saying, it’s not the place to bring a limo, unless you want to prove to everyone you’re some rich jerk from the city who can barely turn down the side street to get to Dax’s Bakery.”

  He sighed, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “Okay. You have a point.”

  “I know I do. We’ll take my car.”

  Josh looked annoyed, but he didn’t fight her on it. She popped back inside the window and shut it tight, then shrugged on her heavy fur-trimmed wool coat. Only the best for Cedar Grove this time around. After all, if anybody asked her why she looked so dolled up, she had an arsenal of excuses at the ready. First and foremost: she was a big-city girl now and had access to all the latest trends with her big-city paychecks.

  The fact that Christmas was in a week was also a good fallback.

  But dressing up to impress her rich city-slicker fiancé? That was the last excuse she wanted to use.

  Even though nobody would necessarily blame her for it. She just hated the idea of anyone thinking that she would change herself for a man, for a relationship. Because if there was anything that she strove to project in her life, it was the fact that her career was her life and everything else came after.

  Which was, ironically, what had gotten her into this fake-boyfriend situation in the first place.

  When she hit the sidewalk outside her brick walk-up in Brooklyn, Josh was unloading his one compact rolling suitcase and talking to the limo driver. He slammed the trunk shut, and the driver got into the car and drove away.

  “Hope he’s not sad to miss the Cedar Grove trip,” Amelia said, tugging her keys out of her coat pocket. “My hatchback is in the garage around the corner. It’s not far.”

  She hoisted her big purse higher up her shoulder and started pulling her rolling suitcase. Josh tutted, easing the handle out of her hand.

  “Let me,” he said sternly, pulling both suitcases behind him. “You might tip over in those heels, with that purse.”

  She scoffed but couldn’t ignore the ripple of delight that coursed through her. She had a soft spot for the traditional gestures of chivalry, even though she prided herself on being independent and self-sufficient. She would never admit how much it made her melt on the inside.

  “You know I’m perfectly capable of using my rolling luggage, right?”

  “Just getting myself ready for the next week,” Josh says.

  “Ah, that’s right.” She tightened her grip on the strap of her purse. “My doting fake fiancé.”

  “You’re going to have to sound more excited than that if you want to convince the Lewises.”

  She sighed, steeling herself against the flutter in her belly. She hung a left before the intersection and led him through the pedestrian entrance of the parking garage.

  “You know, you could have included some training on how to be your fake fiancée before this,” she teased, thankful he couldn’t glean how hard her heart hammered in her chest.

  “I think we’ll be able to figure it out on the fly,” Josh mused, sending her a mischievous smile. “You’ve been my assistant for two years. You know me better maybe than my brother does.”

  A sarcastic laugh erupted from her, but he wasn’t entirely wrong. She did know him better than a lot of other people in his life. Hell, the only thing they hadn’t broached before this was the romantic realm.

  And hopefully that would still be the case after these next few days.

  Amelia unlocked her car once it was in sight, and the lights of her black hatchback blinked rapidly. Once they reached the back of the car, Josh held out his hand.

  “I unlocked it,” she said. “The trunk should be open.”

  “I know. But give me the keys. I’m driving.”

  She blinked. “Why?”

  “Because fiancés always drive. That’s the rule.”

  She huffed, but passed the keys over anyway, trying to fight the grin.

  Having a hot-as-hell fake fiancé wasn’t so bad after all.

  For now, at least.

  3

  It was just about four p.m. when they hit Cedar Grove after five hours of fun, laidback driving.

  The car ride with Amelia at his side went about as Josh expected, full of jokes and work conversation and a stop for an iced tea refill halfway through.

  By the time they pulled up to the brick-laid driveway winding through the expansive property of Cedar Grove Hotel and Spa, Josh felt like he was stepping back in time.

  “Holy shit,” he whispered, slowing Amelia’s car to a crawl as he peered through the windshield at their surroundings. Pine trees dotted the rolling hills of the front lawn, which was coated in a fine sheen of white snow. It had started flurrying about halfway between the city and Cedar Grove, and the tracks from a previous car were just barely visible on the brick path beneath them.

  “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “It looks just like I remember it,” Josh said, drawing a deep breath. He crept along the path at five miles per hour, drinking in as much as he could of the expansive lawns. He gasped when he saw the first gnomes—tiny little statues nestled in the grass. They’d been more famous than the Taj Mahal for him during his childhood. “There they are!”

  Amelia snorted. “Wait, you’ve been here before?”

  “Used to come every Christmas with my family,” Josh said, squeezing the steering wheel. They’d even come the final Christmas before his mother had passed. It had been a bittersweet reunion, knowing that she wouldn’t outlive her cancer to see another Christmas after it. But spending one last season in their favorite place as an entire family was a memory he still cherished.

  “I’m surprised we never ran into each other,” Amelia mused. Josh followed the curving brick path down a hill, where the big, cabin-like hotel stood proud. If the exterior was slightly rustic with a touch of neglect, the interior more than made up for it. He couldn’t wait to see if it had changed, and how, on the inside. “I always used to play an angel in the nativity play the church put on here,” she said.

  Josh cast a glance her way. Of course she’d be an angel, with those icy eyes and strawberry blonde locks. “Tell me there’s photographic evidence.”

  “Bursting with it, I’m afraid.”

  “Well then, I’ll need to see it before I release your bonus check.”

  She scoffed, swatting him on the arm as he pulled into the cul-de-sac hugging the big front doors. When he cut the engine, she said, “I can’t believe you’re haggling to see my old church pics.”

  “I’ll haggle if I want to,” he shot back. “You ready for this? Mr. Lewis knows we’re arriving, so it’s game on once we get inside.”

  Amelia nodded, chin lifted. “I was born ready, Denton.”

  He laughed at the name she liked to use in special moments of decisiveness. And the laughter made him sad, because once the new year hit, he’d be forced to watch her go. He fully intended to honor her request for a promotion, which meant the early stages of mourning were already kick
ing in.

  They swept inside the hotel, where the big, atrium-style foyer greeted them. Everything was just as he remembered: the glass-paned dome looking up into the heavens; the log-cabin siding lending an earthy scent to the air; the colorful, unique rugs across the floors.

  “It hasn’t changed a bit,” Josh murmured as he looked around. But that wasn’t entirely a good thing. Sure, it was great for the trip down memory lane. But he guessed the place hadn’t been updated in all the years since he’d last visited. His mother had passed about five years ago, and even then, the hotel had seemed a staid reminder of years past.

  The Lewis family had barely touched this place, which meant the next owners had a lot of work cut out for them.

  “I just love this place,” Amelia said, pulling her coat around her tighter. He glanced at her, catching her arctic gaze. A shiver raced through him.

  Amelia was beautiful on any given day. But here, right now? With that wonder shining in her eyes? Josh’s mind went blank, and he struggled to remember what she’d said. He gazed at her for a moment too long, not even noticing when a hotel employee approached them.

  “May I help you two?” the clerk asked.

  “Hello!” Josh snapped back to the present, feeling his clarity return to him now that he wasn’t ogling Amelia. “We’re Josh and Amelia, here to visit with Mr. and Mrs. Lewis during our stay.”

  “Ah, yes. We’ve been expecting you. Please follow me.” The clerk led them toward a sweeping wooden receptionist’s desk, where he checked them in quickly. Before they were handed their room keys, Mr. Lewis breezed toward them with a big smile on his face.

  “You must be Joshua Denton,” Mr. Lewis boomed, offering a solid hand shake. His white hair was slicked back stylishly, and the man’s frame looked like he was a retired linebacker.

  “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Josh said, returning the man’s firm grip. “I’m here with my fiancée, Amelia McTaggert.”

  “Great to meet you, sir,” Amelia said, offering her hand and a bright smile.

  “In fact, I think Amelia is acquainted with your children,” Josh went on. He’d been looking forward to dropping the detail early on. “I believe she went to school with your kids.”

  “Class of ’06,” Amelia clarified. “CGHS.”

  “Well I’ll be damned,” Mr. Lewis said, looking at Amelia like she’d just performed a magic trick. Yes, this link was proving to be a very good idea. But he couldn’t get too excited. Not yet. “A homegrown Grover looking to buy the hotel?”

  Amelia smiled sweetly. He wanted to high five her.

  “We’ve been so eager to visit the hotel during the holiday,” Josh went on, slipping his hand over the small of Amelia’s back. He brought her closer to him, flush against his body. The warmth made it hard to think, but he pressed on. “I used to come here each holiday season with my family growing up, as well. It looks just like I remember.”

  “I’m very pleased to hear that,” Mr. Lewis said, bowing his head slightly. “Now grab your key! Let me show you to your room, and I’ll tell you about the fun lineup of activities we have planned.”

  A porter had loaded their bags on a cart already, so Josh grabbed the room keys and kept his hand on the small of her back, unwilling—maybe even unable—to break this connection now that it was opened.

  “I always knew you’d be a possessive boyfriend,” Amelia murmured as they followed Mr. Lewis down a moose-themed hallway. Josh snorted with laughter.

  “Just need everyone to know that you’re mine.”

  “Next time, just bring the collar,” she said from the side of her mouth as they headed for the elevators. Mr. Lewis awaited them inside, waving them closer.

  “You’re funny, Meelie,” he said as he stepped into the elevator. Amelia arched a brow, which he could see in the mirrored walls of the elevator car.

  “Oh, please. Not as funny as you, Joshie.”

  Josh didn’t bother hiding the grin as the car soared upwards.

  This arrangement wasn’t anything he’d tried before, but he could tell it wouldn’t be all bad.

  4

  Once Mr. Lewis—or Stan as he insisted they call him—had left their room, Amelia and Josh just looked around in silence for a few moments.

  There was a lot to take in.

  It wasn’t just the elegant luxury suite they’d chosen, but also the lingering sensation of Josh being so close to her. Claiming her, almost. She wasn’t immune to the shift in energy once he’d put his hand on her. Or maybe she was just imagining it all, desperate for male contact after so many years in defiant, career-caused abstinence.

  Whatever it was, her head was spinning now that they were alone in this gorgeous room.

  “They put rose petals on the bed,” Josh said, laughing a little. She walked further into the master suite, staring at the king bed, something niggling at the back of her mind.

  “It’s so pretty,” she murmured, looking around. In the attached living room, there was a couch. And this bed. Which meant… “Where will we sleep?”

  Josh blinked, and slowly the realization crept across his face too.

  “I couldn’t have asked for a room with two beds,” he said.

  “I’ll sleep on the couch,” Amelia suddenly said, feeling like she needed to draw this line in the sand. Even though there was plenty of room for both of them to splay out and not touch each other in that huge bed, it seemed wise to not tempt fate.

  “No, no,” Josh said. “I really don’t want you to do that. I mean, look at this bed. We can both fit, as well as about three others. I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

  She narrowed her eyes playfully as her heartrate picked up. Better not to think about what it might be like if he didn’t keep his hands to himself. “You better, because I didn’t see anything about consummating the fake marriage on the agenda.”

  Josh laughed, but it sounded nervous. Maybe even forced. Of course, Amelia’s cheeks went hot. Because probably the idea of having sex with her was laughable. Why would a man like him want to sleep with his assistant? She wasn’t even his caliber of woman. She’d done enough Facebook stalking to see his last serious girlfriend, and the lady was a blonde bombshell, Barbie edition. She had no idea why it didn’t work out or who had ended it. But if that was who Josh went for? Then, personality aside, Amelia couldn’t even hope to compete, with her self-made manicure and her general neglect for haircuts and high fashion. Only after a full year and a half in NYC did she finally splurge on her first set of name-brand heels. And probably, it would be the last.

  Besides, what was she thinking? That she and her boss had a chance at something real? She was too smart to commit that level of career suicide.

  “If you sleep on the couch, it just might look suspicious,” Josh went on. “The maids will be in here every day. It’ll just be easier to share.”

  “Fine.” She flopped back onto the bed, sighing as her body sank into the cushy material. She’d been wrong to think that there had ever been a glimmer of attraction between them, even if it was only for thirty seconds a half hour ago. He’d probably always seen her as a shapeless, sexless employee. “I suppose I can’t complain.”

  Except her mind rioted with complaints as she watched him open his suitcase and then rummage through the contents, removing neatly pressed slacks, trendy ties, and a small stack of black boxer briefs.

  It wasn’t fair that someone like Josh could be inches from her, yet realistically a million miles away.

  She’d made a bad choice when she said yes to this idea. Sure, the money would be nice. But more than that, this trip would serve as a reminder of that one thing she worked daily to ignore: She was secretly in love with her boss and had been since the day he’d hired her.

  Amelia and Josh took some time to settle in and freshen up for that evening’s festivities: the Cedar Grove Hotel tree lighting. It was a separate occasion from the town’s tree lighting, which took place in early December. Their trip just so happened
to coincide with this very popular event, so of course all of Amelia’s family would be in town and ready to meet the fiancé.

  When she’d texted her mom to let her know that she’d be coming home early for a work trip, with plans to stay on through Christmas, her mother had been ecstatic. When Amelia had hinted at wanting her to meet “someone special,” her mother had about blasted the phone open with exclamation marks.

  Amelia had intended to leave the fiancé bit to the side, since that aspect was purely for the Lewises’ sake. But of course her family couldn’t leave well enough alone, and Amelia’s attempt to keep the fiancé part quiet lasted approximately five minutes.

  “I just hope you’re ready for, like, all the hugs,” Amelia warned Josh once she’d touched up her lipstick in the bathroom. “My parents have been waiting for me to find someone since the second my older brother got engaged. Now he has a kid and another one on the way, so basically this is a sigh of relief for them.”

  Josh hummed. “Won’t they be upset when we don’t end up getting married?”

  “Honestly, I don’t care. I can work it to my advantage. They’ll get over it. At least they think now that I stood a chance of getting married.” She laughed, but to her ears it sounded hollow.

  Josh stood in front of a floor-to-ceiling mirror, grabbing for a sweater hanging over the back of the arm chair. He’d taken off his leather coat once they arrived at the suite, and the sight of his olive-toned forearms left her wishing for more.

  “You don’t plan on it?” he asked before tugging the sweater over his head.

  “Nah. I need to focus on my career.”

  Josh arranged his sweater, turning to her with a smile on his face. “Good?”

  A grandmother’s knitted rendition of a sleigh being pulled by reindeer greeted her. She snorted.

  “Looks like you’re ready for an ugly sweater party.”