Page 50 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

To his credit, Patrick didn’t blink at the sight he’d stumbled into and Jules had to bite back her laugh. To go from her in nothing more than her bra and slacks in the ballroom to Mitch in much the same state of undress now along with a baby. A little snicker escaped her, and Patrick narrowed his eyes at her as he took everything in.

“I sent her home,” he began, walking into the office. “But I spoke with security before I came here and they’re checking video footage of the front of the hotel to see if they can figure out who left the baby in the manger.”

“That’s great. I know with the storm, we’re short-staffed, but I can’t believe no one saw anything. How is that possible?” Mitch was partially obscured by the open wardrobe doors as he shrugged off his shirt. A hanger clanged as he reached for a different button-down. When he shut the doors, he was fully clothed again, buttoning the last button on his shirt. Jules tried not to feel disappointed.

“Well you’re not going to like this,” Patrick said, referring to something on the iPad he was holding. “I managed to catch someone at Children and Family Services, and she said the soonest she could get someone over here to pick up the baby is Wednesday. Assuming we’re not buried in snow by then.”

Mitch frowned as he adjusted the cuffs of his shirt. “What do you mean, Wednesday? Isn’t protecting children their job?”

Patrick smirked at that, shaking his head. “Evidently that only applies when the weather cooperates and it isn’t so close to Christmas. I tried calling the non-emergency number for PD and got a recorded message.”

Jules turned back toward the windows. The flurries from a few moments ago got heavier and there was already accumulation on the street. Her heart raced as she looked back at Mitch. What were they going to do about the baby if no one could come for her?

Mitch started rubbing his forehead and moved to his desk. “The lobby was already a mess when we were out there just now. Flights getting canceled, people needing to rebook, and now this. We need to be business as usual despite the circumstances, but Mitchell Senior will have an epic fit if we end up having the cops crawling all over the place in addition to the cranky guests. And that’s assuming none of this impacts the gala.”

Mitch fished a remote control out of a desk drawer and pointed it at the far wall. A picture frame slowly slid down to reveal a television. She blinked. Sothiswas what rich guys spent their money on.

“Let’s find a weather report, shall we?” Mitch flipped through a few channels, then set the control down and pressed his palms to the desktop.

Jules should have watched the news program, but all she could watch was Mitch. His power pose yanked at her typical sense of calm. She hadn’t met a man in recent times who really set her ablaze, but Mitch was the exception. Even the furrow of his brow was somehow sexy.

“…Expected to reach upwards of six feet in some areas. Exercise extreme caution if travel is necessary,” the news reporter was saying.

Patrick sighed, shaking his head. “The predictions are getting worse. I should check in with my husband to make sure they’re okay.”

“Do that, and if you need to leave, go,” but Patrick was already shaking his head, which earned him a smile from Mitch. “I appreciate that, but if you do need to go, I’ll understand. In the meantime, anyone who can stay and work needs to. We need to prepare for a hell of a lot of rebookings and we may want to call over to some of the nearby hotels to find out if they have any vacancies in case we need to refer anyone to a different location.”

Jules swallowed hard as the circumstances began to sink in. The snowfall had turned thick.Shit.She’d taken a rideshare to the hotel today but doubted she’d be able to get one in a timely fashion now that the city was probably in a collective panic over this storm. Since she hadn’t planned on walking outside, she hadn’t thought to bring any winter shoes in case she needed to walk to the subway.

And nowshewas panicking too. Because she still had no idea what to do about the baby.

Where the hell were her parents, and why had she been abandoned today, of all days? Another wave of confusion and heartache crashed through her, and she looked back down at the little girl and her perfect button nose.

“Here’s the plan.” Mitch straightened, a hard edge sounding in his voice that made her straighten as well, like Patrick had. “Jules will be spearheading the gala setup based on her redesigned plans. But since she’s on her own for the duration, anyone who can be taken off their present duties will be asked to help. We still have time and hopefully the snow will let up midweek, as predicted, and we’ll be fully staffed again. Come Christmas, the gala will be a happy memory.”

"Is your father still planning on announcing you as the new CEO?” Patrick asked, and Jules perked up at that.

Mitch shrugged. “He did say he had a big announcement this year. But it is my father we’re talking about. He likes to keep his plans secret until the last possible moment.”

"Well you have my vote,” Patrick said with a smile. “Now, about this baby.”

“Right, the baby.” At that, Mitch looked to Jules.

“I still don’t understand why someone would abandon their baby like this. I mean, look at her,” Jules said. She stroked the little girl’s head. “If she were mine, I’d never let her out of my sight until she was eighteen.”

Patrick snorted in response. “Well, since I’m the only one here with kids, I can say that being a parent isn’t all snuggles and cuteness. Sometimes, life gets so overwhelming that giving your baby up is the best solution for both the parent and the child.”

“But leaving her in a manger?” Jules shook her head. “There has to be a better alternative.”

Mitch turned off the TV and tossed the remote back in his drawer. “That’s a question we may not get an answer to. In the meantime, what do we do with her until someone can come over here to get her?”

Jules spoke up. “I was thinking I could take her home with me, but…”

Mitch shook his head. “Not with all this snow on the way. How could you even make it back to your place? Besides, I’m sure you don’t have anything for her right now and who knows how much longer the stores will be open.”

Jules deflated a little. He was right. She had nothing for a baby, no accommodations, nonothing. Not even formula.

“Honestly, I think our best bet is to stay right here and ride out the storm. And that includes you, Jules.” Mitch propped his hands on his hips. The way his blue gaze swept over her sent a chill of excitement through her. Snowbound with this sexy man? She couldn’t say no to that. But she needed to do exactly that.

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