Page 3 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

“It’s a prospective property I’m excited about. Located in upstate New York. It’s one of the oldest luxury hotels in the state.” He had a smile on his face as he clicked through the listing’s photos of the property. “It was my favorite Christmas destination as a child. And it's currently on the market.”

She blinked and cocked her head. “I know that place. I grew up down the street.”

Josh spun in his chair to look at her. “What?”

“Yeah.” She shrugged, reaching for her beer again but then deciding against it. “It’s so beautiful, especially in the winter. It looks like something out of a Christmas movie.”

“Wait. You’re from Cedar Grove? How did I not know this?”

3

JOSH

Cedar Grove Hotel and Spa wasn’t justanyregular hotel property going up for grabs. No, this place was family-owned and operated. It had generations worth of history, and the owners—a married couple set to celebrate their fortieth wedding anniversary this Christmas season—were very clearly searching for therightbuyer. Which meant price, or the thickness of the wad of money Josh was prepared to offer, didn’t matter. At all.

They wanted a family-oriented buyer, and Josh was the farthest thing from it. Both he and his brother Mitch had graced the covers of enough regional magazines and gossip sites touting the billionaire brothers’ single status that would make it impossible for him to pretend otherwise. Unless.

He must have spent too much time staring at his computer screen in thought, because Amelia finally said, “Uh, Josh?”

“Hm?” Secretly pleased that she’d not only used his first name, but had shortened it to Josh, he clicked through a few screens as a new idea occurred to him.

“Are you planning to go out there to view the property and make an offer? What do you need from me?” Amelia asked.

“I’m thinking.” Josh worked his jaw back and forth, swinging to face Amelia. He studied the top of his desk, lost in thought.

“Sooo…” Amelia reached for pen on his desk and clicked the top. “Are we trip planning?”

“Do you know the owners of the Cedar Grove Hotel?” he blurted.

She knit her brows. “Not personally, no…. But I think their youngest might have been a few grades above me in high school.”

Prickles spread through his gut. He was on to something here.

“And you’re, uh, single, right?” He hated that the words hadn’t flowed easily for him. When she’d started working for him directly, she’d had a boyfriend, but along the way he’d caught wind that situation had dissolved. He made it a point not to inquire into her love life. Deep down, a part of him worried he’d get jealous, which was ridiculous.

Her brows formed a ridge. “Yes…”

He drew a fortifying breath as the final piece of the puzzle clicked into place. The plans he’d wanted Amelia to make were for him to visit Cedar Grove and woo the owners himself. But what if he included her in the mix, and they just happened to think she was his doting fiancée?

“I need you to hear me out before you storm out of here and go straight to HR to file a complaint against me,” he began.

“Well, this should be interesting,” she said.

“Why are you saying it like that?”

She lifted her hand and pointed to his desk while waggling her finger. “Have you already forgotten the events of what…” she looked at her wrist as though she was wearing a watch, “forty-five minutes ago?”

“Okay.” He raised a palm. “I get it.” He fought a smile. “I have an idea.”

She sighed exaggeratedly, pushing her glasses back up her nose and cocking her head, but he could see the smile gracing her lips. As she shifted in the chair, the front slit of her blouse opened, and he caught a glimpse of the fascinating landscape beneath, pure cleavage and creamy skin. His gut tightened.

“The owners of the resort, Stan and Betty Lewis, have a particular type of buyer in mind for their resort. I had originally intended to go out there hoping to woo them with everything Denton Hotels could offer the resort, but depending on who would be offering competing offers, the biggest hurdle I’d need to get past is my single status.” He paused, wetting his bottom lip as he raked his gaze over her. She had to agree to the plan. He’d make sure she couldn’t say no. “Now I want you to come with me and pretend to be my fiancée.”

Amelia’s eyes went saucer-wide. “What?”

“Do I need to repeat myself?”

She scoffed. “Josh.I can’t do that. That’s my hometown, everyone thereknowsme.”

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