Page 53 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

“Settle in?” She finished getting the baby dressed, wrapped the blanket around the baby again and scooped her up into her arms. “Does that mean room service and a hot tub?”

Mitch looked over his shoulder at her, a smile so slick that her core tightened. “If you want it to, absolutely.”

7

MITCH

Mitch sat in the living room, the baby in his arms, while Jules freshened up in the guest suite. The whole situation still seemed surreal to him—bombshell house guest, tiny defenseless baby without any parents, and now the storm. The world beyond those thick glass planes overlooking the city had turned into a white sheet in just the short amount of time Jules had been in her room.

When she came back out to the living room, she gasped.

“Oh wow!” Her gaze was fastened on the falling snow, but Mitch’s gaze slid to that delectable curve beneath her slim-fit pants. He wet his bottom lip, unable to stop his thoughts from turning south.

“So the forecasts were right,” she concluded, heading over to the couch. As she sank back into the cushions, he remembered they were probably in for the rest of the evening and night. Which meant she had no clothes to speak of.

“Since you’re trapped here, I can lend you clothes,” he offered, yanking his gaze off her body. The longer he watched her, the more he wondered what he might find underneath those sharp clothes. “Something to sleep in. Whatever you need. Or I can have something sent up from the giftshop if you’d prefer something new.”

“Can I get a Denton Hotel onesie too?” she joked, nodding toward the baby. They’d added a small pair of sweatpants to match the onesie and some oversized socks they’d found in the box of baby things. “After my unexpected stay here, I can rep the brand with confidence now for both infants and adults.” She pointed to the black polo she was wearing.

Mitch laughed, enjoying the scent of her amber-laced perfume that drifted his way as she relaxed nearby. He watched the baby for a few more moments. She’d drifted off to sleep again after he’d given her a bottle, which felt like a small victory. He could handle the baby thing, sort of. As long as Jules was here, at least.

“What do you think her name is?” he asked.

Jules snorted. “I wish her mom or dad had left that little detail on the note. Maybe we should name her.”

Mitch nodded. “That’s a good idea. We can’t just keep calling her ‘girl’ or ‘baby.’”

“Right.” Jules fell silent and nibbled on the inside of her cheek. “The note said that she wanted her to have a better Christmas. So maybe we should call her Noelle.”

“Noelle.” Mitch watched as the girl’s chest rose and fell softly. “I think it’s beautiful. And very appropriate.”

“Good.” Jules smiled wide, leaning closer to look down at the baby. The warmth in her face was hard to look away from. “It’s nice to meet you, Noelle.”

“A true pleasure,” Mitch added, directed toward the baby. He gently laid Noelle down on the couch, where she continued snoozing.

“She’s really passed out,” Jules said. “She even slept through her naming ceremony.”

“That’s okay. We can celebrate on her behalf, right?” Mitch pushed to standing, heading toward the small bar in the adjoining room. “Do you prefer wine, whisky, or rum?”

“Um…whisky?” Jules said.

“You don’t sound very sure,” Mitch called out as he pulled out a bottle of Scotch.

“I like all of them. And, well, isn’t it a little early to get drunk?”

“We’re not getting drunk. Simply having a toast.” He poured them each a finger of whisky and brought the tumblers back over to the couch where she sat. Jules had lined the couch with pillows so the baby wouldn’t tumble over the edge…not that she moved all that much. “Now’s as good a time as any. Since Noelle is asleep.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Jules received the tumbler gratefully. Mitch raised his glass.

“Here’s to the strangest day of my entire life,” he said, and Jules dissolved into laughter. She looked up at him in a way that made him feel like he’d known her for years instead of hours. Like this woman held her own secrets as well as his. “To rescuing children, to planning parties, and to weathering the storm.”

“Hear! Hear!” Jules agreed, and they clinked tumblers gently. Mitch tossed his back in one gulp while Jules took delicate sips.

“This stuff isgood,” she said.

“That’s why it only comes out on the most special days.”

“Yeah. I guess this day is pretty special, huh?” Jules fingered the leather seam of his couch, her gaze turning shy as she looked up at him.

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