Page 8 of Christmas with the Denton Billionaires

Amelia smiled sweetly. He wanted to high five her.

“We’ve been so eager to visit the hotel during the holiday,” Josh went on, slipping his hand over the small of Amelia’s back. He brought her closer to him, flush against his body. The warmth made it hard to think, but he pressed on. “I used to come here each holiday season with my family growing up, as well. It looks just like I remember.”

“I’m very pleased to hear that,” Mr. Lewis said, bowing his head slightly. “Now grab your keys! Let me show you to your room, and I’ll tell you about the fun lineup of activities we have planned.”

A porter had loaded their bags on a cart already, so Josh grabbed the room keys and kept his hand on the small of her back, unwilling—maybe even unable—to break this connection now that it was opened.

“I always knew you’d be a possessive boyfriend,” Amelia murmured as they followed Mr. Lewis down a moose-themed hallway. Josh snorted with laughter.

“Just need everyone to know that you’re mine.”

“Next time, bring the collar,” she said from the side of her mouth as they headed for the elevators. Mr. Lewis awaited them inside, waving them closer.

“You’re funny, Meelie,” he said as he stepped into the elevator. Amelia arched a brow, which he could see in the mirrored walls of the elevator car.

“Oh, please. Not as funny asyou,Joshie.”

Josh didn’t bother hiding the grin as the elevator soared upwards.

This arrangement wasn’t anything he’d tried before, but he suspected that being fake engaged to Amelia was going to be a lot of fun.

6

AMELIA

Once Mr. Lewis—orStanas he insisted they call him—had left their room, Amelia and Josh looked around in silence for a few moments.

There was a lot to take in.

It wasn’t only the elegant luxury suite, but also the lingering sensation of Josh being so close to her. She wasn’t immune to the shift in energy once he’d put his hand on her. Even though she’d teased him when they were out in the hall, it still felt possessive. Or maybe she was imagining it all, but a part of her didn’t want to know the answer.

Whatever it was, her head was spinning now that they were alone in this gorgeous room.

“They put rose petals on the bed,” Josh said, chuckling. She walked farther into the suite, staring at the king-size bed.

“It’s so pretty,” she murmured, looking around. In the attached living room, there was a couch. And this bed. Which meant… “Where will we sleep?”

Josh blinked, and slowly the realization crept across his face too.

“I couldn’t have asked for a room with two beds,” he said.

“I’ll sleep on the couch,” Amelia suddenly said, feeling like she needed to draw this line in the sand. Even though there was plenty of room for both of them to splay out and not touch each other in that huge bed, it seemed wise not to tempt fate.

“No, no,” Josh said. “I really don’t want you to do that. I mean, look at this bed. We can both fit, as well as about three others. I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

She narrowed her eyes playfully as her heartrate picked up. Better not to think about what it might be like if hedidn’tkeep his hands to himself. “You better, because I didn’t see anything about consummating the fake engagement on the agenda.”

Josh laughed, but it sounded nervous. Maybe even forced. Of course, Amelia’s cheeks went hot, as she regretted what she said. To him, the idea of having sex with her was probably laughable. Why would a man like him want to sleep with his assistant? She’d done enough social media stalking to see that she didn’t fit the profile of the women he dated, if the photos of him with his last girlfriend was an indicator, which Amelia was sure it was. She had no idea why it didn’t work out or who had ended it. But if that was who Josh went for? Then, personality aside, Amelia couldn’t even hope to compete. Only after a full year and a half in NYC did she finally splurge on her first set of name-brand heels.

She put a stop to the direction her thoughts were going. What was she thinking? That she and her boss had a chance at something real? She was too realistic for that. Besides she had career goals and those didn’t involve being in a relationship.

“If you sleep on the couch, it might look suspicious,” Josh went on. “The maids will be in here every day and it might somehow get back to the Lewises. It’ll be better to share.”

“Fine.” She flopped back onto the bed, sighing as her body sank into the cloud-soft mattress. She’d been wrong to think that there had ever been a glimmer of attraction between them, even if it was only for thirty seconds a half hour ago. Her time here with him was business, not personal. “I suppose I can’t complain. This mattress is amazing.”

Josh surprised her by sitting down on the bed, and then laying back so they were side by side. He let out a groan. “You’re right. This does feel good. Especially after spending five hours on the road in that tiny car of yours, when we would have been far more comfortable in the limo.”

She was not going to contemplate what kind of fun they might have had in the limo while someone else drove them to Cedar Grove. “While I won’t deny that, if we had arrived in that ginormous vehicle, you would still be calling Stan Mr. Lewis. That, I can guarantee.”

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