Page 62 of Christmas with the Elkin Billionaires

“That’s okay.” Jonas spoke without hesitation. “If you need to rest, you can rest.”

Anna had noticed the tension in the woman’s body the whole time they’d been there, so it was nice to see her relax a bit. It was, she supposed, a family tradition for their grandmother to host many meals throughout the holidays, each lovely and elegant. The mood in the room shifted, and each brother set out to reassure their grandmother it was more than okay to take it easy.

Tana moved to sit on the sofa beside Elin as they chatted, but Anna couldn’t do it.

It didn’t matter, though, because she was never going to be a genuine part of this family—the thought caused a lump to form in her throat. She’d told Gabe some of her past, and so far, he didn’t act differently toward her. But that was way more than she could expect from the rest of his family. Or deserved, for that matter.

Anger swelled, heating her cheeks and making her mouth go dry. Her father could have been a decent man who led a normal life, and then she wouldn’t have any secrets. They weren’t reallyhersecrets, either, but no matter what she did, they seemed to cling to her like a second skin. It’s one thing to try to outrun your past, and another when he keeps popping up every time he gets out of prison.

Gabe appeared at her side and put a hand on her back, his thumb tracing a slow path over the fabric of her dress. “She likes the cookies,” he murmured into her ear, but she could see that he wasn’t sure the gift had been good enough.

“Shedefinitelydid,” Anna agreed. “I saw her face when she took the first bite. You can’t hide joy like that.”

He relaxed. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” He leaned in and kissed her temple, and just like that, all her frustration melted away. A kiss on the temple in front of his family didn’t mean anything, but the words he spoke only for her benefit were different. Those meant something. So did the way he pulled her in close to his side and held her there for a few moments. “We’ll let you rest, Gran,” he called. “Let us know if you need anything at all.”

Everyone said their goodbyes, and Anna and Gabe led the procession back out of their grandmother’s rooms and to the elevator. They exited, Gabe still holding her hand as he led her to their rooms.

“Home sweet home,” she said as Gabe paused outside the door.

His eyes met hers in a flash of heat that still managed to surprise her even though they’d already been intimate. Gabe smiled. A genuine, open, and filled-with-relief smile. “That’s right.”

10

GABE

Gabe woke to the sound of a hair dryer running, and for a minute, he didn’t know where he was. He kept a hair dryer in his penthouse in Vegas, of course, but these didn’t feel like his pillows. He opened his eyes. Ah. Elk Lodge. Home-home. Which meant, the person with the hair dryer was Anna.

He closed his eyes again and indulged in the fantasy of her for a few more moments. Home with Anna. It sounded right in his head. But it was the stuff of dreams, not reality.

No matter how much he wanted to keep her in bed, they sometimes had to leave the suite.

The hair dryer shut off, and she emerged from the bathroom, snugly wrapped in a bathrobe, her dark eyes lighting up at the sight of him. “Sorry if I woke you.” A sheepish blush came to her cheeks, layered on top of the pink from the dryer’s heat. “You’re usually up earlier than me.”

“I slept in.” Gabe rolled onto his back and stretched his arms above his head. “Too comfortable next to you.” He hadn’t meant to say that out loud.

Anna only laughed and headed for the closet. She reappeared at the side of the bed, the forest green of her sweater and matching pants stunning. Her eyes swept over him. “Are you going back to sleep?”

If you come with me.“No, I have plans for us.” He’d made the decision as he was falling asleep the night before. “We need to go to town.”

“Oh, okay. Hurry up, then.” Her smile was the perfect way to start the day.

He threw back the sheets. “You just want to see me in my boxers.”

Anna winked at him. “Well naked would be better, but as you said, you have plans for us.”

She was too perfect. Gabe headed for the shower, wondering at every moment whether she’d climb in with him.Or hoping. But no, she’d just done her hair for the day. His guess was she’d be waiting by the front door when he got out.Efficientshould have been her middle name.

Gabe was right. “Why are we going into town?”

“Shopping,” he said, as he pulled on his shoes.

Anna managed not to ask about it until they were in the car and on their way to the small downtown area not far from Elk Lodge. “What are we shopping for?”

“Christmas gifts, obviously.”

“Obviously? What more could anyone want other than a batch of homemade cookies?” At first, he thought she was making fun, but she took his hand, and the world fell back into place. “What do you have in mind?”

He pulled up into a parking spot in front of a jewelry store and got out. “I don’t know. I’m hoping you can help me.”

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