Page 118 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

It took guts to start a new business venture. And in the shadow of someone like Chris?

“I wish she had mentioned it.” Heat prickled through his body, and suddenly the synapses were firing. Gears turning. Ideas sparking to life. His phone vibrated in his pocket, and he slipped it out to see the caller. His cousin Josh.

Chris tapped out a quick text message—"Call you back in a minute”—and decided to finish his drink and leave. Getting blind drunk was no longer the course for the rest of the evening.

“Well, she at least got lots of coverage from the show, so I think whatever she launches next will have a good shot at making it,” Dan went on.

“I know it will.” Chris took another sip from his glass. “She’s the hardest worker I know. She ran laps around me in that kitchen. And she makes killer gingerbread, apparently.”

“We all saw that,” Dan teased.

Chris laughed, even though part of him wanted to give him shit for the comment.

"So.” Dan spun the bottle in front of him, catching it easily and taking another sip. “I owe you an apology. I should have done it years ago, but I was an asshole teenager who didn’t like to lose, especially to American royalty.”

Chris frowned trying to make sense of what he was saying. “What now? Royalty?”

Dan shot him some side eye. “Dude, your family owns Denton Hotels. You probably went to birthday parties for Paris Hilton.”

Snorting at that comment, Chris told him, “Actually she’s quite a bit older than me. But her younger brothers used to throw some amazing house parties.”

Dan elbowed him. “That’s what I’m saying. I was so jealous, I couldn’t see straight. I know that’s not why Mara dated you, but you getting the prettiest girl in school on top of all your money and connections was like salt in the wound. It was my fault you broke up with her. I wanted you to catch us kissing. That was a dick move.”

“It was.” What else could he say? His tension about Dan was melting away and puddling at his feet. In fact, finding him here tonight had been something of a blessing. For whatever reason, Dan was helping things click into place. “Water under the bridge, man. That was a long time ago. We all made our share of bad moves back in the day.”

“When do you head back to the city?” Dan asked.

“In the next couple days. I have meetings with the planning team for my new show. There’s still a lot we need to do to get everything set up before we shoot our first episode.”

"Sounds like a helluva commute, constantly flying out of the country.”

“Not as much as you might think. The plan is to stay in the field while we film the first eight episodes for the first season. I expect to be gone for at least six months.”

There it was again—that painful jolt in his gut. The same one that had accompanied his win in the gingerbread competition, all throughout the press conference, and the second he’d spotted Mara stride through the community center doors and out of his life.

“Sounds like the job of a lifetime.” Dan offered him a smile and raised his beer bottle in a toast. “Make us all proud back here in Glenford, okay? Tell the world about us. Make sure they know about our little slice of upstate heaven.”

“Promise. And here’s to your dad.” Chris clinked his tumbler to the bottle and downed the rest of his drink. He settled his tab with the bartender and then clamped his hand on Dan’s shoulder. “Good luck, Dan, and Merry Christmas.”

He let himself out into the chilly night of downtown Glenford. As soon as he began the trek back to his rental, he slid out his phone and called Josh. His cousin answered on the third ring.

“There you are! Congratulations! My extra-famous cousin is about to become even more famous!” His cousin whooped with laughter. In the background, Chris could hear cheering. “You’re on speaker. Amelia, Mitch, and Jules are all here too. We wanted to call to help you celebrate the good news.” Chris had sent both Josh and Mitch a quick “I won” text, with strict instructions to share it withnobodyoutside their inner circle. The network would have killed him if the results leaked early; all the reporters had to swear to abide by the information embargo to be permitted into the final press conference.

Chris laughed, pressing the phone to his ear. “Oh, come on. I’m notextrafamous. Just normal famous.”

“Once news breaks about this win, you’ll be in high demand. I can’twaitto see what you do with this cooking show. It’s going to be so great. Are you excited?” Josh had always been supportive of Chris’s aspirations and the first to try anything that Chris came up with in the kitchen. Having grown up, initially, as an only child, he’d had to adjust to living with other guys his age, but his cousins became a huge support to him after his parents died. They’d been as tight as siblings ever since.

“I’mthrilled,” Chris clarified, his steps scuffing lightly over the sidewalk as he strode toward his condo a few blocks away. And it was true. But he was also confused and a little bit anxious. He had a lot to figure out before he headed back home. “I just wonder if it’s a little…soon.”

“It’s never too soon to achieve your goals,” Josh quipped.

“Yeah, yeah. I know.” Chris heaved a sigh, unsure if he should say more. The situation with Mara was burning inside of him, but maybe now wasn’t the right time.

“Okay. Something’s going on. What is it?” Josh demanded.

Chris couldn’t help but smile. “You can always tell when I need your brotherly advice.”

“It’s my specialty. What’s going on?”

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