Page 121 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

“I thought you would have headed back to New York by now,” she said, her voice sticking to her throat. Damn, it was hard to hang on to her hurt when he was facing her. When he was mere feet away after a painful five days apart.

“There’s been a change of plans.” His gaze dropped for a moment as he ran his thumb over his knuckles. “Mara, I’m sorry.”

She tried to force a smile and brush it off, but her cheeks only twitched. “For what?”

“For everything?” He laughed softly, but it faded quickly. “For not trusting you, mainly. For not fighting for you.” His jaw flexed as he studied her, something clouding his eyes. He reached into his pocket suddenly, and when he brought his hand out, he had a slip of paper there.

“Take this,” he said.

Mara blinked, stepping forward to examine what he was offering her. A check. She took it from his fingers and read it over. It was addressed to her, from Chris’s own bank account in New York. The sum was for two hundred fifty thousand dollars. What? She looked again and her hand shook.

“What is this?” she asked slowly.

“It’s my prize money.” He stuffed his hands back into his pockets.

"Your prize money?”

“Well, not exactly. I’d already agreed to donate my prize money to the community center along with another donation from Denton Hotels. So, I don’t know. Consider it an investment in your future.” He pulled his hands out of his pockets and then put them immediately back.

"My future?” Why was she repeating what he was saying?

“I ran into Dan and he told me what you intended to do with the money, and honestly, I want to see you achieve those dreams. Your dreams are important. Besides, I can’t think of a better way to thank my hometown than by investing in a business as amazing as yours will be. And since I work in the biz, I know how crazy startup costs can be. I don’t want you to stress over it or feel like you have to settle.”

Mara’s bottom lip trembled as she stared at the check. Her entire body had gone hot, and all she could think of was calling Julia to reverse her decision from earlier that week.

“Are you…serious?” she whispered.

Chris nodded. “Way serious.”

A laugh rocketed out of her, and she wiped away a tear that had spilled. “You don’t need this for…Dubai, or whatever?”

Chris shook his head. “Definitely not. And if for some reason it’s not enough, please let me know. I’d happily write you another check for whatever amount you need. As to Dubai. That won’t be happening for a while. Not until I givethemthe greenlight.”

She sniffed, wiping away another tear. “I don’t understand.”

“I’m not leaving right away. I met with the executives again to hammer out a new plan. One that involves me heading abroad when I’m ready.” His gaze darted away from her briefly. “It’s going to be on my terms. And my terms for this show include giving me all the time I need to beg for your forgiveness.”

More tears bubbled up, and soon she was wiping them away from both cheeks. “I—I don’t…forgiveness?” She was doing it again.

Chris stepped closer, a smile teasing at his lips. She caught a whiff of his scent and it nearly sent her to her knees. This man was a magnet for her. He always would be. And God help her, she didn’t want to ever be away from him.

“I know I’ve got some apologizing to do. Some kisses to dole out.” He ran his fingertips up her arm, which sent a shiver down her spine. “Alotof hot chocolate to make.”

She laughed through the tears. “A metric ton, at least.”

17

MARA

“Ametric ton. Got it. But how about I start with that apology.” He took her hands in his and gave them a light squeeze. “So where should I start? The most recent or the first?”

This was happening!“Let’s go back to the beginning so we can put it behind us.”

“High school, then. I was an asshole to you. You’re right. I didn’t give you a chance to explain when I saw you with Dan and that was wrong. You didn’t deserve that.”

Mara shook her head to clear the tears before shifting to wipe her eyes with her shoulders because she didn’t want to let go of Chris’s hands. “And I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have danced with Dan. I don’t know. I think part of me was flattered that you were both interested in me even though I only wanted you. I know that’s a dumb excuse, but I was sixteen, dammit.” She tried to pull her hands out of his but he only tightened his hold.

Leaning forward, he kissed her forehead. “I know you were sixteen. I was seventeen. And I talked to Dan. He told me what happened. That he’d timed it so I would see because he knew I’d get mad. Should I keep going?”

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