Page 17 of Modern Romance Collection December 2024 Books 5-8

The heat sparked in his gut at the artless expression on her face.

He’d been edgy ever since their almost kiss earlier. But as the hot flush spread up her neck he couldn’t resist a smile.

This deal was already a lot more complicated than he’d imagined it would be. He hadn’t counted on their chemistry—which was looking more problematic by the second. But even so, he’d pushed for a Christmas break when she’d insisted on a public wedding.

Their ‘honeymoon’ would be his last chance for at least a year to visit the hideaway he’d built in the Colorado Rockies—and where he always headed over Christmas and New Year to de-stress.

He’d be damned if he was going to break that tradition to accommodate his fake wife, when he was already accommodating her enough.

‘Holding hands is kind of lame, don’t you think?’ he said.

‘What exactly do you suggest, then?’ she asked, frowning.

‘How about we try this,’ he said, and slung his arm over her shoulder.

She let out a huff of surprise against his neck. And the heat spiked.

Yeah, their chemistry was definitely going to be a problem... But he only hugged her closer when her security chief gave him the stink eye again.

‘Your Majesty?’ Jensen asked, clearly not at all happy seeing Travis manhandle his queen.

Tough.

‘Tell your guard dog to back off, Belle.’ He nuzzled her ear, deciding to go for broke as he spotted the flicker of a camera lens in the distance. ‘We’re on candid camera already.’

She shuddered—which he felt all the way to his toes—but announced crisply, ‘It’s okay, Jensen. Mr Lord has my permission to hold me.’

‘Now put your arm around my waist,’ he instructed, because she was as stiff as a board beside him. Seriously, if he didn’t know better, he’d think she’d never snuggled with a guy before.

She reached around his waist, her fingers curling into the fabric of his ski jacket—the gesture so awkward, it was almost sweet.

Go figure.

He tried to stroll with her under his arm, but her body was so rigid beside his she couldn’t get into step with him.

‘Relax, Belle,’ he murmured. ‘You adore me, remember.’

She huffed out a scoffing breath, but the teasing had the desired effect and she finally began to soften enough not to fall on her face.

They headed into the main town square followed by their entourage, including the still scowling Jensen.

Dusk had fallen and fairy lights hung from the rafters of the wood-framed buildings, sparkling in the evening light. The place looked magical, like the set of a romantic movie, or a winter fairy tale. The locals stopped to stare and smile at them but kept a respectful distance. Spotting a coffee house in the corner of the square, he released her from the shoulder hug and grasped her hand to tug her towards it.

‘Let’s get a hot chocolate,’ he said as inspiration struck. ‘I’m parched.’

Isabelle’s eyes widened. She was clearly taken aback by the suggestion.

He knew the plan had been to get photographed together and then split before they could cause too much commotion. But he wasn’t ready to let her go just yet.

‘I... Okay. But I’ll need to check with Jensen,’ she said.

He forced himself not to object. ‘Go ahead.’

The presence of her security team had annoyed the hell out of him up on the ridge—and was one of the reasons why he’d nixed any official engagements straight after the wedding and pushed for the Colorado trip. Putting up with the constant scrutiny was going to be a major pain in the butt during his year in Androvia, which he hadn’t really considered until now.

It took a good five minutes of negotiation for Jensen to agree to the detour on the condition they remained in sight.

‘Of course,’ Isabelle said. ‘But could you find somewhere discreet to observe us?’

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