Page 60 of Christmas with the Elkin Billionaires

Whatever this was, he’d protect her from that, too.

The longer he kept his body close to hers, the more she relaxed. “Let me get you some water.”

“I’d rather you stay and hold me some more.” Anna’s tone was light, but it had a layer of longing that called to him.

“I like the sound of that even better.” It was something, how they fit together—so right, like they’d been made to do this. Gabe wanted to stay like this all night. He wanted to stand between Anna and whatever it was that made her shoulders tight and her voice thin.

“Are you sure?”

Was he? It wasn’t often that he felt this fierce protective instinct. It wasconfusing. “I’m very sure.” He kissed her hair. “Now go to sleep. I’ll be here all night.”

9

ANNA

Gabe’s phone rang in the hazy light of morning, and Anna stretched out the pleasant ache in her limbs while he rolled over to grab his phone.

“We’re not up yet if you’re calling to invite us somewhere.” His voice had a gravelly, sleepy quality that made her body respond—nipples peaking, desire curling low.

Anna rolled over on her side to watch him.

He pushed a hand through his hair, eyes still closed. Seconds later, they shot open. “Okay. I’ll tell Anna. When?” A pause. “All right. Thanks, Jonas.” He hung up and let the phone fall to the covers. “Gran isn’t feeling well. No big lunch or dinner today.” His lips had turned down at the corners, a good indication of his fear for his grandmother.

Sympathy squeezed at her chest. “What else?”

Gabe glanced at her, a wry smile suddenly tugging at his lips. “Jonas has arranged a gift for Gran. He’s got a photographer coming for Christmas to do family portraits for a couple of days.” His eyes grew distant. “Which means I need to think of something better for my grandmother.”

His determination would have made her laugh if she didn’t feel deeply for the man lying next to her. Resentment of his brother’s one-upmanship was written plain as day on his face. “You know, if you really want to impress your grandmother, you should bake something. It always adds a special touch.”

Blue eyes met hers, the full force of his gaze making her blush. “It might if I knew how to bake, which I don’t.”

“Didn’t you text a celebrity chef for advice on how to beat your brothers at making a gingerbread house just last night?”

Gabe rubbed his chin giving her a remorseful look. “I did, but I don’t think I could ask him for help on this. He’d laugh even harder.”

“Well then, lucky for you, I’m an excellent baker. Come on, get up. Let’s go.”

“Go where?” Gabe’s expression took on an open, hopeful cast that made her heart beat faster. He scrambled out of bed behind her and followed her into the bathroom.

“If we’re going to bake, we need supplies. You don’t want to go down to the lodge kitchen, do you?”

“No,” he said quickly. “Let’s go into town.”

Two hours later, they carried bags back into the suite and set them out in the kitchen. It was a well-appointed place, if a bit small, with marble countertops and stainless-steel appliances that looked brand new. Like everything at Elk Lodge, it was top-of-the-line. Perfect. And the man standing in it with her—

He looked pretty perfect, too.

“Peanut-butter chunk cookies,” Anna announced. “They’re my favorite, and everybody loves them. Roll up your sleeves so we can get started.”

Anna might have had practice baking, but Gabe was clueless. They mixed the first ingredients, then added the flour, baking soda, and vanilla extract.

Twenty minutes later, the whole endeavor resounded of failure. At first, she’d thought they bought too much at the grocery store—way more than they could possibly need. But the first batch was too dry from being overmixed and there wasn’t enough milk at the lodge to help with that. There was no choice but to try again. They couldn’t possibly serve these to Gabe’s grandmother.

Gabe shook his head and reached for the mixing bowl again. This time she took control of the flour while he added the brown sugar and other ingredients mixing slowly and watching the consistency. Anna felt her shoulders relaxing as she enjoyed the easy camaraderie between them.

Here, in the small kitchen, it seemed safe enough to talk. To let some of the heaviness from last night go. “My parents really hated each other,” she said, watching as Gabe stirred the mixture. “It made everything in my childhood...very tense.”

The set of Gabe’s jaw told her he was listening intently, and she was grateful for his silence, allowing her to maintain the courage to continue. “My father was never around when we needed him, my mother was always angry, and none of it was idyllic. Not like this place.” Anna took a deep breath. “Baking always made me feel better.”

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