Page 61 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

“That was it,” Mitch said, reaching out to stroke Noelle’s cheek. “Now she’s a happy baby again.”

He held out his hands, and Jules passed Noelle off, grinning as he rocked her and cooed at her like any loving daddy would. As always, her chest went tight as she watched him. He would make a great dad someday, if he ever had kids.

Hell, the two of them would be great parents together. They’d already proven their teamwork and excellent cohabitation skills. It was only three days in, but it seemed promising. Maybe this was a sign—she and Mitch were a good fit.

Except she needed to stop thinking these crazy thoughts. Intense, early-morning kisses and three days of sharing a penthouse didn’t mean anything. She was here to work and share the responsibility of caring for Noelle.

That was it.

Why was that so hard to remember?

11

MITCH

Mitch felt as though he was being reprimanded by the school principal as he tried not to squirm during the Zoom call with his lawyer and his family law expert sister, who was presently enjoying a cruise with her family.

“Mr. Denton, you are damn lucky Children and Family Services is so backlogged or you and your friend Ms. Cardwell would probably be arranging for bail,” Jenna Miller told him as she scowled at him from where she was sitting.

Mitch cringed outwardly knowing his father would have a fit if that happened. “We did reach out for help but we either couldn’t get through or they were closing.”

Jenna held up her hand. “I get it. I do. But the law is the law and if they wanted to go after you, they could have. Theystillcan,” she emphasized.

“Well, shit. What do we do?” While he didn’t regret bringing baby Noelle back to the hotel, he also didn’t want to go to jail.

“Well, as luck would have it, the director for CFS is an old friend. I’ve already spoken with her, and they’ve agreed to allow the baby to remain in your custody while they try to track down any family she might have. I understand you’re cooperating with the police?”

Mitch nodded hard. “We have. We’ve provided them with CCTV footage of the front of the hotel where the nativity scene is set up and I’ve instructed security to cooperate immediately if they need anything else.”

The lawyer turned at some noise at her end and muted herself while she appeared to have a conversation with someone off camera. Turning her audio back on, she told him. “Excellent. The baby will need to remain at the hotel until her family is located or alternate accommodations are arranged. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a vacation to enjoy.”

Mitch started to say thanks, but she’d already left the meeting. Sitting back in his chair, he blew out a breath. “Wow, Donovan, your sister. Tell her thank you when you next speak with her.”

“She’s good, isn’t she? All right. I’m out. Try not to find any more children, Denton,” Donovan said before leaving the meeting.

Mitch closed his eyes and took several long, deep breaths. Given the dressing down he’d just received, he knew he was damn lucky things turned out the way they did. And he probably shouldn’t be so ridiculously excited that Noelle would be sticking around a bit longer. That little girl had grown on him in such a short amount of time that his penthouse was going to be much too quiet once she left.

He looked up when there was a knock at his door. “Come in.” Mitch smiled when Jules walked in.

“How did the call go?” she asked as she set down her laptop and binder.

“Better than expected. She called in a favor or three and Noelle will remain here while they try to find her family or arrange other accommodations for her. Oh and we won’t be arrested. Yet.”

“Well, that’s good, because I look terrible in orange,” she told him as she set up on the other side of his desk.

Mitch couldn’t help chuckling as he looked at her dressed in black again. “I’m pretty sure you would look amazing nude.” He froze before blurting out, “Shit. What I meant to say is that you’re so beautiful, you make the clothes. The clothes don’t make you.”

“Nice save, Denton. Now tell me more about how you think I’m beautiful,” she said, lifting her eyebrows and giving him an expectant look.

He could feel his face flushing as he suddenly found himself tongue-tied. “Uh. I mean. Well. You do know you’re incredibly beautiful, right? I mean, you must be every guy’s wet dream and I really need to stop talking now. Where’s Noelle?” He paused again and looked at her, sure that she would be pissed at him for talking about her like that. He was relieved when he saw her laughing.

“First. I am not every guy’s wet dream, but thank you for the compliment. And second, she’s with Angie in the hotel daycare. So how about we pretend you didn’t just say all that and we get to work?” Her grin was contagious and Mitch found himself smiling as he agreed with her.

They spent the next few hours hammering out the last of the details for the gala. Well Jules was. Mitch kept finding himself daydreaming.

He hadn’t been able to stop thinking about the kisses they’d shared in his weight room that morning or the fumbled flirting he did here in his office, which made concentration difficult. Every time he glanced up at Jules, all he could see were those perfect pink lips. The way they’d smashed against his like she wasstarvingfor him. Naked, of course. Because he’d opened his big mouth in an attempt to respond to her self-deprecating comment and ended up putting his foot in his mouth.

He was thankful to be sitting behind his desk because his cock had remained at half-mast since this morning, and even threats of arrest weren’t enough to calm down his simmering arousal. Not with her so near.

---