Page 46 of Christmas with the Elkin Billionaires

Gabe wasn’t the type to get into personal discussions with colleagues, but her voice was so forthright that something broke free in him. She wassointuitive. It was what had drawn him to her when they were interviewing for a PR specialist in the first place. “My grandmother has lung cancer.”

“Oh, Gabe, I’m so sorry.”

He suddenly had no appetite. “It’s all right. I mean—it’s not all right. My family wants me home for the holidays. I’m leaving tomorrow. But the thing is—” He paused, sensing the edge of a precipice under his feet. If he admitted this to her and she stormed out of there, he had no idea what he would do. “The thing is, I’ve never brought home anyone who passed muster with my grandmother.” An old ache to please her reared up. “I want to make her happy, especially if this is her last Christmas.”

“Make her happy?” Anna cocked her head to the side. “You mean, give her some good news? Maybe that you’re seeing someone?”

Not good enough.“I mean, I want to bring someone home with me.” The restaurant rotated, the smooth motion bringing different lights into focus on Anna’s face. Sure, she wasn’t an actress or a business magnate, but he’d tried bringing home women like that, and it hadn’t panned out. “I want her to know that everything’s going to be all right with me and that I’m settled and happy with my life choices.”

“Even if it’s an act?” There was no judgment in her tone or her eyes.

“Even then.” Nothing was more important than giving his grandmother peace of mind. And no one would be better at it than Anna. She was perceptive and skilled at making connections, and she would fit in at Elk Lodge. “This could be my only chance to paint the picture for her.” Another ache rose in his throat and he swallowed it back. “So, I have to ask you a question.”

Anna straightened up. “Are you proposing to me, Mr. Elkin?”

2

ANNA

“Yes.”

Anna stared at him, blinking her eyes. Of all the things she expected at the dinner, which Gabe had pitched as a thank-you meal between two close colleagues, she hadnotexpected a proposal.

He let out a laugh, causing the sudden tension across her shoulders to loosen. “I’m sure you think this sounds bonkers, but…what do you think about marrying me?”

“I do,” said Anna seriously. “Think it’s bonkers, that is.” She hoped that he was joking and this was just his way of burning off some steam, even if she could think of far better ways to do that.

“No, really. Would you pose as my fiancée and go home with me for the holidays?”

It was fine. Of course it was fine. He wasn’tactuallyproposing. Yet Anna’s heart didn’t seem to know the difference. It jittered and pounded and leapt up into her throat like he’d really gone down on one knee at the table with a ring in a box. Anna did what she usually did when she had no idea what to do—smiled. Big. Warm. Inviting him to laugh it all off if he wanted.

“I think we should get to know each other better before we go in front of the priest.” She threw in a wink for good measure.

Gabe leaned forward. “What do you want to know? I’m an open book.”

He wasnotan open book. They had their jokes and conversations, but Gabe didn’t talk about home or his family very much. Anna knew from tidbits he’d dropped into conversation that his parents had long since passed away, but aside from those drive-by facts, she didn’t know much about him.

Except, of course, that he was extremely handsome, with what she’d call sun-kissed hair that definitely didn’t come out of a bottle and made him look like he’d just stepped out of a magazine. That and his piercing blue eyes. And a body that might well make a nun swoon, it was so perfect.

Handsome. Driven. Talented. Rich. It had Anna at a loss for words. “You’re sure you’re not kidding about this?”

Those piercing eyes met hers again, as though he were planning something in his head. “I’m sure. I want you to be my fake fiancée.”

Maybe hewasa little bit crazy. Bad news could do that to a person. They’d had a long three days at the expo, with very little sleep. People often made rash decisions when they were tired. Anna didn’t know how often those decisions amounted to “come home and pretend to be my fiancée.” But it was certainly within the realm of possibility.

She scanned the restaurant, taking in all the other couples enjoying the view. They weren’t so much looking out the window as they were at each other, eyes alight in the candles from the centerpieces. Those were realcouples. It wasn’t feasible to expect she’d pull off an act like that with Gabe. Not without potentially losing her heart. And the way he was looking at her now...

It seems real.But obviously, it wasn’t.

“I don’t know if I’m up for the part.” She gave him a cheeky smile, one she hoped covered her nervousness andthe fact that she wanted to lean in close to him. Flirt with him—even more than they’d already been flirting. But then, with a man like Gabe, it wouldn’t be all fun and games. Prior to agreeing to take the gig with OTT, she’d googled him and his company and she knew his net worth, which was partly inherited, and that put him in a whole different class. Which meant there would be press and public recognition of their engagement at some point. And then Anna’s past would come out and things would get bad. Fast. “Maybe you should hire an actress.”

“If I did that, I’d have to get to know an actress. I already know you. And I already like you. I want you, Anna, not some random woman from a casting call.”

I want you.The words came out in a seductive tone that made her swoon. Not too much, but a little. Anna sat bolt upright in her seat, quietly assessing Gabe.

Heleaned in close, his eyes alight, and focused on her. Hewasflirting with her. Wantedher. For a fake fiancée if nothing else. And it would be nothing else—she decided that right away. Her last boyfriend hadn’t thought she was worthy enough to be seen in public with him. Anna wouldn’t make the mistake of giving anyone the power to hurt her again. Relationships were a thing of the past.

“My family’s not nearly as big-time as yours,” she said, trying to keep her voice in check. “We might not fit on paper.”

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