The Billionaire's Lessons in Christmas

by Holly Rayner

  She looked down both ends of the hallway again for good measure, and, finding nothing, she picked up the box and brought it inside, setting it on her coffee table as she stared at it.

  There was no note on the outside that she could find, but it looked harmless enough. Unable to repress her curiosity, she pulled off the bow and tore at the paper, revealing a wooden box with a sliding top.

  Annabelle pushed the lid away from her, gaining access to the inside. She reached in and pulled out a long, red scarf.

  Her scarf, from the year before.

  Beneath the scarf there was an envelope with her name on it, and under that she saw her red dress and shoes neatly tucked away.

  Annabelle made short business of prying the envelope open and unfolding the letter inside.

  Belle,

  Long time no see, huh? If you’re not busy, I’d love it if you could come over tonight.

  It just doesn’t feel like Christmas Eve without you.

  Chase

  Annabelle read and reread the letter several times. He wanted her to go over there tonight? On Christmas Eve?

  She sat in shock for a minute, hardly daring to believe that this was real. Her lips erupted in a huge smile, and she dashed to her room to change. Donning jeans and a cozy sweater, she tossed her scarf around her neck, grabbed her purse, and rushed out to her car, making her way to Seattle as fast as the speed limit would allow.

  ***

  Annabelle parked in an overnight garage across the street from Chase’s apartment building and headed past the doorman towards the elevator. It felt like forever, yet also no time at all since she had last been there, and her whole body tingled with the anticipation of seeing Chase again.

  As the bell dinged when she reached the top floor, his door was before her, and there would be no turning back.

  She rang the doorbell, and a moment later, Chase threw open the door, his expression full of joy.

  “You came!” he said.

  Annabelle crossed her arms, though her expression was far from stern. “You didn’t think I might be busy on Christmas Eve, the best night of the year?”

  “I might have looked into the situation and judged accordingly,” Chase replied.

  “Did you have someone follow me home from work or something? That’s called stalking!”

  “To give you your scarf back, yes. I call that diligence.”

  Annabelle rolled her eyes. They stared at one another for a beat, then she jumped into his arms and they hugged each other, laughing.

  “You’re such a brat,” she said, holding him as tight as she dared. It felt better than she had ever imagined, and in spite of herself, she had imagined it quite a lot.

  Chase pulled back and looked at her, lifting his hand as though to caress her face before he dropped it to his side. Annabelle tried not to feel disappointed.

  “Well, what do you think? Does it meet your standards?”

  Chase released Annabelle and gestured grandly around the room. Annabelle placed a hand to her heart as she gazed around in astonishment.

  The apartment was the epitome of Christmas cheer. The curtains were striped with red and green, crystal snowflakes hung from the ceiling, and in the corner, an enormous Christmas tree stood proudly decorated with a series of colorful bulbs and lights. The star at the top glittered above the room, casting soft sparkles along the walls.

  “Wow,” Annabelle breathed. “You really went all out this year.”

  “Do you like it?” he asked, concerned.

  She stared at him then, realizing that it was important to him that she approved of his apartment. Chase Frost, the coldest businessman in town, cared what she thought about his Christmas decorations.

  The world was a funny place.

  “I love it,” she said, beaming. “There’s just one thing we should add.”

  Reaching into her purse, she pulled out the ornament they had bought together and walked over to the tree, placing it firmly on a middle branch. When she turned back to grin at Chase, his expression was hard to read.

  “You kept it, after all this time.”

  “Yeah well, I never clean out my purse that well, you know. Really it’s just a testament to how much of a slob I am.”

  Chase’s eyes gleamed. “Liar.”

  Annabelle shrugged, doing her best to keep it light. “I saw you, you know.”

  “What? When?”

  “Over the summer. You gave a speech at a hotel I was staying at for a bachelorette party, and I snuck in to see you. I tried to get to you after, but you disappeared into thin air.”

  Chase frowned. “I wish I’d known. I would have liked to see you.”

  “You have my number,” she reminded him.

  Chase had the good grace to look guilty.

  “Yes, well. Let me tell you the story of the past year, and perhaps I can shed some light on that end.”

  He cradled her arm as he guided her towards the living room sofa, and they both sat down. Annabelle waited in anticipation as Chase took a breath, like he was about to begin, then he glanced toward the kitchen and stood abruptly.

  “Hold on, before we have this conversation, you have to try this eggnog. I had it brought in from one of the finest places in the state.”

  He opened his fridge and poured them two ice cold glasses of eggnog, sprinkling a little nutmeg on top before rejoining her and handing her a cup.

  Taking a sip, Annabelle had to agree that it was the best she had ever tasted, and that was saying something.

  After another pause, she stared at him pointedly. “So, you were going to tell me why you’ve ignored me for the past year.”

  “You’re the one who stormed out of here,” he reminded her.

  “Are we here to play the blame game, or are we rekindling our friendship?”

  “Right, of course,” Chase agreed. “So, the past year has involved a lot of soul searching. I realized the moment you walked out my door the sheer number of people who must hate me for the things I had done. They were decisions made in a boardroom, away from it all, and I didn’t care about the outcomes, so long as it resulted in a profit. When the door closed behind you, I realized that I never wanted anyone to look at me the way you did ever again.”

  He took a breath, and continued on. “I sold all my shares in oil, and changed the focus of the company to green energy. It’s a field that’s really gaining ground, and it didn’t really take long for me to make a profit while also helping the environment. I found that the ability to do both was extremely satisfying.”

  He turned to her then, and she saw his hand twitch once more, like he was aching to hold her hand, but for some reason wouldn’t.

  Just do it, you idiot! she thought.

  “I did this Annabelle, because I knew I wasn’t worthy of your company. I figured, if I could become that man first, then I would reach out to you and see if you would still like to have me in your life. I know I’ve wronged you, your family, and your community, but I hope I have started to make up for it. In every presentation I gave this year I made sure to mention Bluewater as a desirable travel destination in Washington, and it seems as though that effort paid off. I hear the town is thriving once more.”

  Annabelle took another sip, her mind going a mile a minute. “Wait, so you promoted the town, and that’s why we saw the surge we did?”

  Chase shrugged. “I’m sure it’s not the whole reason, but I hope it helped.”

  “And you are totally focused on green energy now?”

  “Well, green energy and Christmas spirit at the moment, yes. Now, tell me about you. What happened in the past year for Annabelle Williams?”

  Annabelle finished her eggnog before setting it down on his coffee table, next to a jingle bell center piece. Where to even begin?

  She told him about New Year’s Eve and about Will; how she dated him for a while, for the wrong reasons, and had now found herself in a better place, emotionally. She had heard that Will had already found another girlfrie
nd, and wished him all the happiness he deserved.

  “So you don’t harbor any regrets in ending it?” Chase asked, his expression blank. He really did have an exceptional poker face.

  “None. The only regret I have is hurting him.”

  “Well, it sounds like he’s already healing, and so are you.”

  “And what about you, Chase Frost? How are you these days, after such a transformational year?”

  “Never better,” he said, smiling. “And the truth is, Belle, I have you to thank for all of it.”

  Annabelle couldn’t believe what she was hearing.

  Chase Frost had just personally given her credit for turning his life around. This time, he did reach for her hand, and sparks of energy shot up her fingers at his touch. She stared at their connected hands before gazing up into those beautiful green eyes. Her imagination had kept the memory strong after all this time. They were just as stunning as she remembered.

  “Now I have just one final ambition to fulfill, Belle. Last year I spent Christmas day alone, with plenty of time to think. It wasn’t the most pleasant day of my life. This year, I was hoping I could spend the day with you.”

  Annabelle’s eyes were wide as she absorbed what he was saying. She opened her mouth, fully planning on accepting his offer, before she shut it. Her brain had returned, and logic threw all her hopes down the drain.

  How could she spend Christmas day with Chase? She had her family to think of, and they never missed Christmas brunch together.

  “I have to be with my family tomorrow,” she said apologetically.

  “I figured you might say that. Of course, I understand completely.”

  Annabelle cast a sideways glance at him, not wanting to look at him directly. “No, no. I mean, I’d love to bring you along. The thing is, they, uh, really aren’t fans of yours.”

  She finally braved a look at Chase. He looked unfazed.

  “Not many people are. Still, as I said, I’m trying to change that. Will you give me a chance to try?”

  Annabelle considered his request seriously. It was clear that the man sitting in front of her had changed, and he had worked hard to right the wrongs he had inflicted upon the town, whether the people of Bluewater knew it or not.

  “I will,” she said finally. “I would love to have you with me. But I have to warn you: the Williams clan play a pretty mean game of charades.”

  “Well then you’re in luck, because I happen to be an expert.”

  “You?” she asked, dubious.

  “What? You think just because I was raised in an ivory tower that I don’t know how to play games? I win at charades every time I play.”

  “Oh, we’ll see about that. I imagine that you’ve won every time you’ve played only because your opponents were paid to lose.”

  Chase’s eyebrows shot up. “My God, I never considered that! I wonder if I’m actually terrible at everything!”

  Annabelle shrugged, smiling slightly. “Possibly, but I suppose the only way to find out will be playing with my insanely competitive family. You better get ready for some tough competition.”

  Chase laughed, and his joy reached his eyes. “I look forward to it.”

  A natural pause in the conversation had Annabelle realizing the time. Not wanting to fall asleep in Chase’s arms again, or perhaps more afraid of what would happen if she did, she stood and prepared to make her exit.

  Chase walked her to the door, making sure that she remembered her scarf this time. He wrapped it snugly around her neck. “No need to catch a cold now, eh? Not when there’s so much fun ahead of us.”

  Annabelle glanced past his shoulder. She hadn’t noticed the sprig of mistletoe hanging just above his kitchen door.

  Talk about a missed opportunity.

  Repressing a sigh, Annabelle bid Chase farewell, and he watched her as she stepped into the elevator. As the doors closed, her last sight was of him leaning against the doorframe, his forearm pressed casually against the side.

  He looked sexy as hell, and she strongly considered hitting the stop button on the elevator and jumping back into his arms, but she held herself in check.

  Annabelle drove back to her apartment and made quick work of changing into her pajamas before sliding into bed. Her palm still tingled from where he had held it, and she rubbed it with her fingers as she curled up against her pillow and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

  TWENTY-TWO

  The next morning was one of the quietest Christmas mornings Annabelle had ever had. She woke up alone in her apartment, made herself a cup of coffee with Irish cream (some traditions happened whether people were there to join in or not) and sat on her couch watching Christmas movies on television. She was halfway through Miracle on 34th Street when there was a knock at her door.

  She set her mug on the coffee table and padded barefoot to the door. When she opened it, she found Chase standing on the other side, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit complete with a red tie and pocket square.

  “Woah! What time is it?” she asked, wrapping her arms around herself as though to hide from his gaze. Her hair was perched haphazardly on top of her head in a messy bun, her tank top making it clear she was braless, her pajama pants sporting stains from spills of red wine and splatters from cooking.

  Chase’s smile was transcendent. “It’s a little after nine. I know I’m early, but I figured we could hang out a bit before we head over.”

  “You’re not that early. How is it an hour before the party?” Annabelle exclaimed, glancing at the clock on the wall.

  Wondering exactly how she’d lost track of the time, Annabelle realized that Chase was still standing awkwardly in the hallway, and she waved him in as she turned back into her apartment.

  “Cozy,” he observed, stepping inside.

  Annabelle stared at her apartment, keenly aware of the dirty dishes in the sink, the box she had opened the night before still on the coffee table, along with several mugs she’d been too lazy to wash. Her cheeks heated as she realized what Chase Frost, the man with the impeccably clean apartment, must think, seeing such a sight.

  “I’m kind of a hot mess,” she said, refusing to meet his gaze. She couldn’t bear to see the judgement there.

  “I think it’s nice. You can tell someone lives here, right?”

  “Someone who may be a hoarder, yes,” Annabelle laughed. “Make yourself at home. I’ve just got to change and then we can head over.”

  “Sure thing,” Chase said, plopping onto the couch and stretching his arm along the back.

  Annabelle stared at him for a moment from the doorway. He looked so casual, so comfortable. She couldn’t believe that Chase Frost was sitting in her living room, waiting for her to get ready so they could have Christmas brunch with her family. Her stomach twisted at the thought.

  She hoped they wouldn’t eat him alive.

  Throwing on a green dress and some boots, Annabelle fixed her hair up and put on a small amount of makeup before heading back out to the living room. When Chase saw her enter, he stood.

  “You look lovely,” he said.

  Annabelle blushed. “Thanks. What better time is there to dress up than Christmas, right?”

  “Absolutely,” he agreed. “Shall we head over now?”

  “Yes, but…” she said, unable to finish.

  Chase gazed at her, willing her to continue.

  “Just don’t be upset if they’re a little rude to you, okay? For a while there, we thought we were all going to lose everything because of your rig.”

  Chase looked thoughtful as he looked at her, considering her words. “I understand,” he said softly.

  His expression was guarded, and Annabelle wished more than anything that she could read his thoughts.

  The two of them put on coats and left the apartment, strolling down the quaint main road of Bluewater.

  “This town really is adorable,” Chase observed, glancing around as he walked next to Annabelle.

  “You really think so?
”

  She had thought about moving to Seattle. She had considered leaving, if for no other reason than to try to find a man that made her feel half as tingly as Chase did. His presence by her side was enough to keep her on her toes, as though she would float into the clouds just for being near him.

  “Of course. I always thought Bluewater was a great little town. I’ve heard the ice cream shop here is award-winning.”