Page 46 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

“That’s amazing. I don’t know why I didn’t put it together that you’re related, given the last name. I watched him on a recent competition and tried to make his winning recipe.” Jules laughed. “I made such a mess of the kitchen, it’s the first time I’ve ever contemplated moving just so I wouldn’t have to deal with the cleanup.” She shivered dramatically and was pleased when Mitch chuckled. Wait. Why was she pleased? This wasn’t the time to think of her client as anything other than HER CLIENT, even if he was gorgeous.Get it together, Jules!

Flustered, she tried to redirect her thoughts back to the urgent matter at hand. The gala. As she continued to outline the plans and explain why her suggested changes worked better, she could no longer control her awareness of Mitch. Was his voice suddenly sounding huskier? Was his smile warmer? Was that a twinkle in his eyes?

“…not a fan of the man bun.”

Jules jumped realizing that he’d been talking to her and she’d completely tuned him out. “Sorry. I was thinking of something else. Man bun? Oh! You mean the Santa?” She laughed, feeling flustered that she was allowing her thoughts to get away from her. “Hipster Santas are all the rage right now, and the guy I have scheduled to work the gala is amazing. You won’t be disappointed. He’s great with kids and women.”

Mitch crossed his arms, and Jules felt like he was going to veto Hipster Santa. “If you think it’s too much, he can also rock the traditional Santa role and wear a wig.”Please don’t want that. Please don’t want that.

He uncrossed his arms and turned away from her to study the room. “We’ve always used our traditional Christmas decorations, some of which date back to the mid-1900s. Will Hipster Santa seem too out of place?”

“Not at all.” Grabbing her phone, she pulled up Hipster Santa’s Instagram to show the different outfits he’d worn and handed Mitch her phone. “He’s surprisingly versatile, and I can guarantee that he’s well liked.”

Mitch scrolled through the photos before handing her phone back. “I’m going to trust you on this. I don’t have time to micromanage the gala, even if I wanted to.”

They continued to go over her ideas, and Jules was happy to see that Mitch was on board with everything else. Every few minutes, they were interrupted by his phone, but he was quick to take care of it before returning his attention to her. “My executive assistant would normally handle these calls when I’m in a meeting like this, but she was one of the ones who didn’t make it into work today.”

“I’m actually surprised you’re spending this much time with me, and on a weekend. This seems beneath a…future CEO.” His answering smile gave her butterflies that she needed to stop.

“Not at all. Well, maybe.” He rubbed his face before shoving his hands into his pockets. “I cannot stress how important this year’s gala is to me, and with the weather refusing to cooperate and being short-staffed, everyone has to help out, including me.”

Jules squeezed his arm. “Well, with you helping out, this gala will definitely be the best yet.”

Mitch appeared to blush at that. “I wouldn’t go that far.” He rubbed the side of his face and she could see him visibly trying to get it together.

Did he think she was flirting with him?Wasshe flirting with him? Jules knew she was excited about the job, but was she coming across too strong?

“Right then,” he went on. “Most of the Christmas decorations for the public areas were set up over Thanksgiving weekend, which just leaves the additional decorations we add for the gala. Should we check to see what’s left to do? I know the tree for the lobby was delivered over the weekend, but it hasn’t been decorated yet with the Children of the World ornaments. And the manger was set up yesterday.”

“Oh, really?” Jules perked up. At least that was one thing she could cross off her list. “I didn’t see it.”

“They moved it this year—it’s right inside the main doors.” Mitch led the way back through the lobby, past the huge—and real—Christmas tree. Lights and ribbons draped the tree along with oversized silver and blue balls. Boxes were stacked next to it and someone dressed in a hotel uniform was digging through them. Mitch stopped at the tree and gestured to the open boxes. “Each year, we choose a different children’s charity to showcase, and Denton Hotels matches the donations given at the gala and any others received through the end of the year. As a thank you, every donor will be able to pick an ornament off the tree.” He reached into the box and pulled out an ornament and handed it to Jules. “Each ornament tells a different story about a child helped.”

Jules took the ornament, which had a pictures of a smiling toothless little boy waving at the camera. Turning it over, she read his brief bio, which included his favorite things to do and country of origin. “This is such a great idea, and everything looks so festive.”

This was her favorite time of year, without exception. The decorations, the crisp New York mornings, the flurries, and even the snowstorms—she loved all of it.

Something about Mitch at her side made her feel a little dreamy too. He hadpresence. Strong and tall and safe—not to mention drop-dead gorgeous. His dark brown hair looked expertly styled yet somehow like he’d spent most of the morning tugging at the front of it. A Manhattan socialite wrapped up in a bachelor billionaire package was how the tabloids described him.

Exactly the sort of man her mother had always warned her about.

“We’re trying,” Mitch said, sending her what looked like a genuine smile. “This was always my mom’s favorite time of year, so we try to go big.”

“Go big or go home,” she joked, without even meaning to. On the inside, she grimaced—what a dumb thing to say!But Mitch laughed.

“Exactly. Sort of our ethos around here. Which would explain why we never go home.”

Jules smiled to herself, the crisp winter air hitting her in a whoosh when the lobby doors opened. Just inside the main entrance, in the vestibule, sat the nativity scene, which looked as though it was nestled in a winter wonderland with the falling snow outside the huge window behind it. Mitch strode quickly toward the creche, which featured a miniature stable and figurines that came up to her hips.

“This is our star decoration,” Mitch said. “It’s always the first thing to go up. Nothing else can happen until the nativity is out.”

Jules peered down at the Mary and Joseph statues. She tilted her head, examining Baby Jesus.

“You always usethesestatues?” Something about Jesus seemed very…lifelike.

“Yes. Since probably the early eighties. Before I was even born. They’ve gotten some facelifts over the years, but it’s always the same.”

Jules’ chest tightened as she knelt. She could have sworn Jesus had moved. “This baby looks very realistic. Is it supposed to move?”

---