Page 113 of Christmas with the Elkin Billionaires

“Yeah,” said Annabeth. “I can see why you’d want to do that.”

“I want my own space,” Rachel burst out. “I want to be able to negotiate with him from a position of strength. Not from the middle of his family’s resort. A place he controls, I might add.”

“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do,” pointed out Annabeth. “Is he being—Rachel, be honest. Is he threatening? Too pushy?”

Rachel closed her eyes, thinking back over the past few days. He’d been nervous, yes. Shocked, yes. Thrown off-balance, yes. “He’s been high-handed at times,” she said slowly. “He’s used to managing things, but no, never domineering, threatening, or insulting. He loves Scott.” The truth dropped from her lips so easily that it shocked her. She opened her eyes and looked in the rearview mirror at her son, who was still playing with the ball from Jonas, utterly content.

“Does he?” Annabeth asked softly.

“He really does,” Rachel admitted.

“How do you feel about that?”

“Good,” she said slowly. “I feel good about it. They’ve spent more time together these past few days than I would have expected, and Scott loves him, too. They have a connection. It’s amazing to see.”

Annabeth sighed, and it was like the two of them were back in her hometown bedroom, sharing secrets about the school day. “Rachel, you know I love you.”

“I know you do,” she said.

“And that’s why I feel compelled to say that you can’t punish everyone for the way your mother behaves or for Daniel’s mistakes.”

Rachel scoffed. “Those weren’tmistakes. He was a jerk.”

“I’d argue that being a jerk is a long-term mistake,” Annabeth countered.

“Don’t leave out his cheating.”

“I haven’t. Look, I know you’ve been burned, but from everything you’ve said, Jonas sounds different. If you never give anyone a chance because theymightbe like him or your mother, then it’ll be a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

“Ugh.” Rachel didn’t like how right Annabeth was at that moment. “Maybe you’re right. I guess the only way to find out is to trust Jonas to do the right thing. At least a little bit.”

“Haven’t you already trusted him a little bit?” wheedled Annabeth. “Just a little?”

“I’m ending this conversation now,” Rachel said, laughing. “I have to get some work done.”

“Do the right thing,” Annabeth said, getting in the last word before she ended the call.

* * *

Jonas

Jonas had to see her. Couldn’t let her leave this way. He’d gone to his office and pretended to work. Walked the halls of Elk Lodge, looking for anything that needed his attention. And walked the trails around the property.

Nothing helped.

The more he pictured them driving away without a final goodbye, the more his gut twisted into knots. And yes, itwouldcall attention to their situation if the two of them stayed at his house, but he couldn’t let them leave without asking.Not now.

He went up to her suite and stood outside the door, trying to calm himself. Rushing into this like a desperate fool wouldn’t help matters, even if hewasa desperate fool.

Jonas knocked. There was no sound coming from inside, and he worried for one heart-stopping moment that he was too late.

The door swung open, and Rachel answered with a finger to her lips. “He’s finishing up his nap,” she whispered.

Jonas stepped into the room and shut the door with care. His need for the both of them rose again in the quiet. He could take her hand right now, and the three of them could go up to his grandmother’s apartment and tell her the truth. Jonas’s eyes landed on the album that lay open to a half-finished page. “Do you think you could take a break from work?”

She raised her eyebrows. “A break?”

“Don’t leave quite yet.” He motioned to the windows. “It’s a beautiful day. I thought we could take Scott sledding. He has snow clothes, and I have sleds.”

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