Page 35 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

But work was at the forefront more than ever. And she wouldn’t be able to truly rest until she explored her options to the fullest extent.

Which meant paying Colin Forest a visit to find out if he truly was interested in hiring her or if it was nothing more than a powerplay like Josh had warned her.

19

JOSH

While Josh counted the minutes of his agreement to give Amelia time away tothink,his father decided to fly to Cedar Grove personally to celebrate Josh’s victory.

He arrived via private helicopter—his favorite mode of transportation—at a small, not-often-used helipad tucked away at the back of the Cedar Grove property. Plenty of people came out to witness the surprise arrival, including Stan himself. Josh stood back and watched as his father came out of the helicopter, waving at everyone like the damn president himself.

Mitchell Denton Senior was all smiles as he headed for Josh, his salt and pepper hair moving in the draft from the slowly chopping blades.

“Son! Merry Christmas!” Mitchell barked, hugging him briefly. Josh led him toward the small group of people gathered.

“Stan, please meet my father, Mitchell Denton.”

“What a pleasure.” Stan shook his dad’s hand vigorously, looking at him as if he were meeting a celebrity. “I’ve long been an admirer of your chain of hotels. This is an honor.”

“We’re happy to have your stunning property on board.” The three of them began a brisk walk back to the hotel. The path was powdered with snow that had fallen while they’d been waiting for the helicopter. “I’m sure Josh has told you what a special place Cedar Grove holds in our hearts.”

“Absolutely,” Stan said, and the two of them fell into a conversation about winter memories. Josh followed them on the path, thinking instead about Amelia. She’d been at her parents’ house for twenty-four hours, and it felt more like an entire week. This wasn’t a good sign.

Inside the hotel, after sending Stan off with a handshake, Josh led his father to the restaurant, where they’d planned to celebrate.

“Boy, I’m so proud of you. You really pulled it off.” His father adjusted his glasses, taking them off to inspect the lenses. “Let’s get one of everything to celebrate. And a shot of everything behind the bar.”

Josh laughed, unfolding his napkin over his lap. That was always the way his father proposed celebrations: with excess. If his arrival in a private helicopter wasn’t a good indication of his father’s tastes, then nothing was.

“I’ll definitely take one of every dessert,” Josh cracked, looking over the menu. The murmur of the conversations around him drew his attention, and he let his gaze drift around the restaurant. All he could think of was Amelia. And in so little time, even this place—where they’d dined a handful of times—had become linked with her.

The entire property now had her memory associated with it. Just like his mother. It seemed like a sign. That Amelia might really be the one.

“Josh?” His father looked at him with an arched brow.

He came to attention, realizing he’d missed what his father was saying. “What’s that?”

“You drifted off.” His father cleared his throat, lowering his own menu. “I said Mitch won’t be joining us this year.”

“Why not?” This didn’t surprise him though. His older brother was as much of a workaholic as the rest of them.

“He’s spending Christmas elsewhere. He didn’t exactly explain. When will you be coming back to the city?”

They had plans to celebrate Christmas together, but driving away from Cedar Grove during this tenuous time with Amelia seemed unwise. He didn’t want to leave, because if he did, he feared he might never see her again.

“In a few days, unless…something comes up,” he said cryptically, sipping his water. His dad searched out his son’s gaze.

“Boy, what’s going on here? We’re supposed to be celebrating, but instead you’re sulking like you didn’t pull off the greatest acquisition of the year.”

His father’s words warmed him some, but they couldn’t get past the deep freeze of Amelia wanting to leave.

“I’m happy. I am. Just having some…interpersonal problems, let’s say.”

His dad grunted. “Lady problems?”

Josh deflated slightly. “Yeah. You could say that.”

But he didn’t want to get into it, not now. Not when he was supposed to be happy. Because if he got into it again, he’d travel that same dark road that he’d been traveling the last twenty-four hours: toward the suspicion that Amelia was using the time away to figure out how to tell him, “Sorry, but no.”

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