Page 84 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

“I was thinking about what the rest of my life might look like, now that my dad named me CEO.”

Her brows shot up. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. It’s everything I wanted. At least, everything I thought I wanted. But then I turned it down.”

Jules gasped. “You turned it down? But this is everything you wanted. Why would you do that?”

“It’s everything I thought I wanted, but I was wrong.” He sighed, gesturing toward Noelle in the bassinet. “Actually, everything I want is here. In this apartment. I don’t want to envision a future without you and Noelle in it.”

She kept shaking her head. “I don’t understand why you would do that. I thought you wanted to be CEO?”

“I did but not if it means I’d lose you.”

Jules ears were buzzing with white noise and all she could manage was a weak, “What?”

“I told my dad that I was in love with you and if he couldn’t accept it, then I resign.”

Reaching up, Jules pinched her arm. She had to be dreaming.Ouch!She wasn’t dreaming. She was awake, which meant… “So, not only did you give up your dream job, you quit? For me?”

Mitch’s whisper faltered. “You are the only woman I want to be with, Jules.”

Jules covered her face with her hands, and Mitch swooped forward, wrapping his arms around her. She cried into his chest, clinging to him as pulled her into a tight hug. It felt so right—so undeniably right—to be in his arms.

“Will you take a chance on me?” he murmured into her ear. “I promise that I will make sure you come first for as long as I live.” She squeezed her arms tighter around him, feeling the decision reverberate through her. She nodded, unable to speak or potentially ever leave his embrace.

Because there was one place she wanted to be, and it was right there. In his arms. Bathed in his scent. Right alongside him on this crazy journey they’d started together.

When she finally found her voice, she tipped her head back to look at him, tears shining in her eyes.

“I needed you to be an asshole,” she said quietly, “because that’s what my mom taught me all rich men are.”

Mitch snorted.

“But you’re not. An asshole wouldn’t climb a fire escape at midnight to profess his love. An asshole wouldn’t choose his new family over his dream job. An asshole wouldn’t…oh no, the gala.”

“I don’t want to be there if you’re not at my side,” he whispered, and then pressed his lips against hers for a kiss.

Happiness and certainty swirled through her, making her dizzy. But Mitch grounded her—his embrace and his solid heat kept her from floating off into space. Because that’s what partners were for. They were the complements you didn’t know you were even looking for.

“Just look at us,” Mitch murmured. “We started as perfect strangers, and now we’re a perfect family.”

She dissolved into laughter, more tears escaping. Because it was true.

It was so, so true, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Before either of them could say anything else, Mitch’s phone began to vibrate. A lot.

“I think someone is trying to reach you.” Noelle began to stir, so Jules grabbed his hand and led him to the bedroom as he pulled his phone out. She watched as a smile spread across his face. “Good news?”

“Text from my father.”

He was smiling, so clearly it was something positive. She smiled back at him. “Well? What does it say?”

Instead of answering, he turned the phone around so she could read it.

“You have balls, Mitch. I’ll give you that. And I don’t accept your resignation. The job is yours. So get the girl and get your ass back here in time for brunch tomorrow with the family.”

“Oh wow. Are you going to take the job again?”

---