Page 32 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

“He’s ready. We should go down there.” He sighed and stood, recognizing the nervous flutters. He could be flushing all this hard work down the drain. Good thing his father wasn’t here to watch this. But Amelia’s opinion of him meant more than his dad’s disappointment. Because this thing between them promised to be something real…if only he could get the chance to cultivate it.

“And don’t worry about our arrangement,” Josh said, heading for the door. Amelia trailed close behind, the floral notes of her perfume hitting him in a nostalgic wave. She’d be gone from his life for good after the new year, unless he could convince her to take a chance on this. “I plan to pay you like we agreed. Nothing about that changes.”

“I wasn’t worried it would.” Amelia sniffed, clutching a small handbag against her thighs as they waited for the elevator. Josh drank her in, the oversized white sweater paired with shiny black leggings. Her work boot heels. The bright lipstick that always made him crave a kiss from that juicy pout. “But I appreciate that.”

“Amelia, haven’t you felt…” Josh paused when the doors slid open. They stepped inside and he jabbed his finger at the ground floor button. “There’s something between us.”

She lifted a palm to stop him. “Let’s talk about it after, okay? Let’s let one thing go down in flames before you light something else on fire.”

He clenched and unclenched his jaw, stuffing his hands in his pockets. He wanted to scoop her up in his arms and kiss away the confusion of the past few days. But she was right. One thing at a time.

And the next thing on his list was winning over Amelia.

They started a somber walk to Stan’s office once the elevator hit the ground floor. He ushered them inside, gesturing to two open chairs facing his wide wooden desk. The bay windows overlooked a secret corner of the property. A side door led out to a little, snow-covered garden, and Josh was suddenly desperate to see what that alcove might look like in the spring. Could already imagine the rhododendron in bloom and the wisteria lining the brick path. And beyond the hidden garden, he could see in his mind’s eye the paths he used to walk with his mother. The rolling hills that had formed a part of his childhood memories and now even his adult memories, with Amelia at his side.

He wanted this property, for reasons that went way beyond justwinning.It had been that way from the beginning, but if anything, Amelia’s dissent had caused him to look harder at why. She’d formed a new horizon of meaning for him. One that he wasn’t eager to let go of.

“Stan, I’m sorry for the abrupt meeting, but we need to talk.” Josh eased into his seat as did Amelia.

“Is everything okay?” Stan asked, lifting a brow.

Josh licked his lips, trying to recall the monologue he’d been practicing in the suite. “I haven’t been completely honest with you. Owning this resort is a dream of mine, but in my quest to…for lack of a better word,wooyou, I asked my assistant Amelia to pretend to be my fiancée.”

Stan’s eyes slowly narrowed as Josh spoke, which sent his stomach plummeting to his toes.

“I thought that if I came as a family man, you might be more inclined to choose me. Amelia is every bit as amazing and accomplished as you think she is, and you should know that this was my idea. I asked her to be a part of my ruse. And I wouldn’t feel good knowing that you chose me based on a lie.”

Stan’s gaze shifted to Amelia, who only grimaced in response.

Josh pushed ahead. “As I’ve told you before, my interest in this hotel is sparked by the amazing memories I have of being here with my mother. With my family. That much was true. But my mother raised me better than to accept an ill-gotten gain, so I had to come clean with you. I’m sorry for misleading you, and I understand if you decide to go with Colin.” The air went out of him, and he collapsed back into the chair, bracing himself for whatever came next.

Stan blinked, looking between the two of them. His face was an impassive mask, until suddenly he barked out a sharp laugh.

“Well! That was the last thing I was expecting to hear today.”

Josh pushed two fingers back and forth over his hairline, his entire body on pins and needles waiting for more from Stan.

“Honestly…what can I say?” Stan leaned back in his own chair and steepled his fingers. A strange smile curled at his lips. “I’m quite impressed that you decided to come clean with me.”

“It’s the right thing to do,” Josh said, clearing his throat. “I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t.”

“You know, I was planning to find you later today anyway,” Stan said. “To let you know that I’d finally made my decision. And that I wanted Denton Hotels to be the new owner.”

Josh’s stomach cinched, awaiting the final blow.

“But now I’m even more certain of my decision,” Stan went on. “Admitting something like this takes a level of honesty and reflection that isn’t often seen in today’s world.” Stan’s smile curled even larger. “In fact, you’ve made me even more certain in my decision to choose Denton Hotels.”

Josh’s eyes widened. This couldn’t be real. With such a sordid confession, he’d been one hundred percent ready to accept the defeat he knew was coming.

He hadn’t even planned for a response like this. Hadn’t even thought it possible.

“Are you…sure?” Josh couldn’t keep the disbelief from his voice.

“Oh, yes. Believe me, there are plenty of others I could pick for the new ownership. But none fully understand the vision of this place. Nobody else has the history with it. I have my own qualms about Forest Family’s offer and to be honest, given your recent confession, I have my doubts about Colin’s family.”

Josh waved his hands to stop Stan. “I can say with certainty that really is his wife and kids, but this is the first time I’ve ever seen them all together.”

“And right there, young man, you’ve just proved my point that you’re the best man for the job, Josh. Even if you got a little caught up along the way.”

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