The Billionaire’s Fake Christmas Engagement: Elkin Brothers Christmas Book Two

by North, Leslie

  She caught a flash of frustration on his face—let’s go back to bed certainly didn’t sound like something they would say to each other at any other meeting—but that was the situation.

  Gabe Elkin.

  A single bed.

  A holiday getaway.

  Anna headed for the bedroom and slipped back under the covers, her heart beating fast. Surely he wouldn’t stay out on the sofa in his own family lodge. Half of her hoped he would, just for some breathing room.

  And the other half—

  The other half yearned for him. Anna had mostly read about yearning in the context of her mom’s old romance novels, the ones stored in a cardboard box in the basement. But this—this was exactly what she’d imagined it would feel like.

  Gabe returned and slid into the bed without a word, turning away from her. Sleeping next to him and not touching seemed all wrong, but apparently he was okay with it. She was probably just a body to him. Good enough for sex, but not good enough for anything else.

  7

  “I can’t believe you guys do this,” Anna murmured into Gabe’s ear as she leaned closer and snuggled next to him in the sleigh. It was drawn by a team of two white horses with bells on their harness, and they tinkled as they rode over the flat cross-country trails at the back of the resort. The trees to either side of them had been decorated with lanterns and silver bows. “I’ve never even seen a horse-drawn sleigh, much less ridden in one.”

  Not in Nevada, anyway. There had been sleighs in Christmas parades, sure, but they’d moved on the back of parade floats or on wheels. She wondered how well a sleigh would run on desert sand, but suspected it would be difficult for the horses.

  Gabe squeezed her hand, sending a delightful heat to warm her cheeks. When was she going to stop having such a crush on him? Probably not during this trip judging by the way things were going so far. Especially not with his family sitting in the front row and Gabe in performance mode. All the holiday cheer made the air almost sweet, and his grin made her want to snuggle closer, not put distance between them the way she should.

  “Sleigh rides are a popular attraction with the guests.”

  “I can see why. It’s almost magical.”

  Gabe laughed.

  His brother Jonas turned around from the front seat where he sat next to Elin, his gaze zeroing in on their closeness. “You two lovebirds enjoying yourselves?” There was an edge to his voice that his smile didn’t hide.

  “Of course we are.” Anna smiled. She’d never give Jonas any reason to believe she wasn’t Gabe’s real fiancée. Any woman who wanted to marry Gabe would love the resort and everything they had to offer. Besides, the sleigh ride was so quintessentially Christmas that it would be tough not to enjoy it. “There’s something so romantic about a sleigh ride. Don’t you think?”

  The horses pulled them around a bend and back into view of the lodge. Elin put a hand to her mouth. “I’ve lived here a long time, but the sight of that building at Christmastime is one of my favorites and never fails to disappoint.”

  The lodge, all dark wood and glowing windows, was a festival of Christmas lights in matching gold tones that made the place look like it was gilded in the dusky evening. The last of the sunset bled from the sky in an orange and purple haze as they approached, and the sleigh driver reined the horses to a stop out front. Gabe climbed out first, Jonas following close behind. Both men helped the women down from the sleigh.

  His gloved hand felt big and powerful on hers, and he gave it a gentle squeeze as she stepped down. A smile played over Gabe’s face, warm and intimate. Is he acting?

  “I’m glad you got to come on a sleigh ride with us,” he said. “Maybe one day—”

  And then a snowball hit Gabe in the side of the head. His eyes went wide and he turned and ducked, scooping snow from the ground as Elin took Jonas’s arm and headed toward the lodge, laughing as she went. Tana and her daughter Lindsey had launched the attack and Chase was backing them up.

  A snowball fight.

  Another first. Anna had never been in a snowball fight before, and the snow seemed unwieldy in her hands. She got one ball together and launched it at Chase, who neatly ducked out of the way. Everyone was having fun, their voices echoing high in the clear night.

  Jonas came back out of the lodge at a run, scooped up some snow, and made a snowball without stopping. He aimed at her, but Gabe stepped in front, flinging out his arms to save her from the hit.

  Game on.

  It didn’t take long, however, for Anna to notice the cold seeping through her gloves. They were meant more for sleigh rides than skiing. The chill spread to her body and her teeth started to chatter.

  Gabe was the first to notice. “Time out,” he yelled, his voice louder than all the other noise. “Anna’s cold.” He put a hand to the side of her face and looked down into her eyes. “Let’s get you inside.”

  “No,” she protested. “I’m good to keep going.”

  “You’ll freeze out here.” Gabe slipped an arm around her waist and hustled them both toward the glowing warmth of the lodge. “If there’s anyone more in need of hot chocolate than you, I’d be shocked.”

  The lobby bustled with activity—more activity than Anna had expected, but Gabe had eyes for none of it. He led her straight to the gourmet hot chocolate station on a mahogany table at the side of the room, whipping her up a fresh cup of cocoa with surgical precision.

  “Here. Drink this.” The grey in his eyes was more intense when they were inside, giving the color a stormy cast. It wasn’t just the hot cocoa that made her blush.

  Gabe reached up and stroked a lock of hair away from her forehead. “Should we sit?”

  “I’m really okay.” The hot chocolate was smooth and delicious—still delightful, though it was the second cup of the night. The warmth of his gaze went to her bones, chasing away all the chills. “Shouldn’t we get out there and finish the battle?”

  “Not until I’m sure you’re thoroughly recovered from the cold.”

  She laughed. This was the Gabe she worked with and admired wholeheartedly. It wouldn’t be so bad to bask in it for a while, would it? Possibility glimmered in the air between them. They could go up to the room and cuddle on the couch until she was heated from her head to her toes. They could even go in the jacuzzi—

  Jonas and Chase, followed by Tana and Lindsey, came into the lobby on a burst of cold, fresh air.

  “You’re coming to the gingerbread house competition, right?” Chase clapped a hand on Gabe’s shoulder, and a twinge of disappointment marred the glow of the hot chocolate in her chest. They’d been having a moment together. Moment over. It did, however, explain all the people in the lobby who were making their way into one of the elegant meeting rooms to join the competition.

  “I wasn’t done throwing snowballs.” Anna grinned. “But I can hold my own with gingerbread.”

  Jonas gave a quick nod. “Good. You’ll make the competition much more exciting.”

  “Excuse me,” Tana cut in. “You’ve never seen me work with gingerbread before.”

  The four of them followed the guests into a room decorated with miles of tinsel and lights. A Christmas wonderland, for sure. The area was set up with tables covered in dark green tablecloths, topped with silver trays that held stacks of gingerbread and all the decorations a person could dream of.

  Gabe guided her to a table with a light touch on the small of her back. “This one’s ours.”

  First things first—Anna tugged off her gloves and coat, and Gabe took them over to a coat rack in the corner of the room. While he was gone, she rolled up her sleeves and considered the tools at their disposal. Plenty of frosting. Plenty of sprinkles. Little bowls of gold leaf. When the Elk Lodge did something, they didn’t skimp.

  “I think we go classic,” she announced as Gabe joined her. “A one-room house, and let the decorations speak for themselves.”

  He dropped a kiss on her cheek, sending a shiver all the way down to her toes. “G
ood plan.”

  Over at the next table, Tana had dipped a finger in frosting and was waving it in front of Chase’s nose. He laughed, a deep belly laugh that had Lindsey giggling behind her hands, and the three of them jostled and argued as they got the house set up. Jonas had taken a table in the corner with Elin, who sat perched on a chair, delicately painting on swirls of frosting and adding decorations. The room was full of people who were already working on their masterpieces—they’d gotten a head start.

  Anna and Gabe reached for a gingerbread piece at the same time, their hands colliding over the tray. Gabe caught her hand in his and kissed the back of it. Desire shot through her and heated her face.

  She cleared her throat and went about setting up the four walls of the house. Gabe stepped behind her, reaching around to pipe in the frosting as she held the pieces together. The hard lines of his body bracketed her in, and her breath caught.

  “There. Four walls are done,” Gabe said, smiling down at her and at what they’d accomplished as a team.

  “Let’s do the roof,” she said.

  Anna couldn’t help but notice the strong lines of his forearms, and the capable way his hands moved. But then he stepped back, letting her take over with the decorations as she added a row of gumdrops to the “front lawn” of the gingerbread house. Anna popped one in her mouth and savored the sweetness on her tongue.

  “Don’t you want to help with the gumdrop picket fence?” she teased.

  “It’ll be better if you do it.” Gabe stood close, supervising but not touching the candy. He always wanted things to be perfect and that’s what she intended to do. Gabe’s grandmother would only ever see her being perfectly happy and content. The ideal fiancée.

  The host—one of the head staff members—called time on the contest a few minutes later. Gabe took their house to the judging table. The winners would be announced the next day.

  He returned with their coats and a relieved smile just as Chase and Tana approached.

  “Dinner at grandmother’s?” Chase asked.

  “We wouldn’t miss it.” Gabe nodded. “What time?”

  “As soon as everybody’s there.” Chase took Tana’s hand and she took Lindsey’s, and the three of them headed for the exit.

  Elin left on Jonas’ arm right after them, leaving Anna and Gabe. They made their way to the elevator and rode up, but outside the door to Elin’s apartment, Gabe hesitated. He put his hand in hers, and Anna straightened. Obviously, they needed to make a convincing entrance.

  However, she was surprised when instead of going into his grandmother’s suite, he tugged her down the hall. They stopped at a shadowy alcove with a round window overlooking the ski slopes and abandoned their coats on a low table nearby.

  “Did you want to show me the view?” she asked as he led her into the deeper shadows.

  “No.” And then his mouth was on hers, answering the need in her. She sucked in a gasp as the kiss deepened and Gabe’s tongue found hers. Oh—there was the wall, coming up against her back and holding her upright. His hands worked down her sides before one came back up to cup her face. Anna was almost sure her knees would buckle. She stayed standing, arms around his neck, pulling him in tighter than she’d expected. Gabe nipped at her bottom lip, and a tiny moan escaped her. They shouldn’t be doing this—not in the hall outside his grandmother’s suite, not where someone might come across them—

  And what? See that they were all over each other, the way an engaged couple might be? She sank into the kiss, losing herself a little bit more. It wasn’t right that they were wearing so many clothes. It wasn’t right at all. Anna ran one hand down the front of Gabe’s shirt, feeling the hard plane of his chest and the ridges of his abs underneath. Tear off the buttons, shrug it down his shoulders—

  His grasp tightened on her hips, and he brought her close, so close, and then let go. In the dim light from the hall she could see the fire in his eyes.

  That wasn’t for show. None of this was for show.

  It had been for the two of them, and only the two of them.

  The line between acting and reality blurred, becoming hard to see. What was she going to do about the thudding in her heart and the desire burning hot in her belly? Because there was nothing acted about her reaction.

  Gabe took her hand. “I had to.” It sounded like a confession. “Let’s go to dinner.”

  8

  When dinner was over, Gabe’s grandmother led them to the sitting room and pulled a familiar book from the shelves. A photo album—a scrapbook really, one that she’d been keeping for years. She patted the sofa next to her. “Whenever someone new comes to the family, we go through the old memories.” That was his cue, along with Anna, to sit with her so they could have the best view.

  Anna tucked in next to him, and he put an arm around her. It was getting harder to resist stroking her skin or playing with her hair or planting quick kisses on her cheeks. A lot harder. And yes, he’d given in to the desire to haul her into his arms and kiss her senseless—but he hadn’t known how to get through dinner otherwise. His reward was the satisfied smile she wore for the entire meal.

  Just enough to help him stay in control.

  Everything was different with Anna. Gabe had never had to focus on keeping his hands off a woman before. And he’d never craved the softness of a woman’s skin or the sensation of her curves under his palms like he did with her.

  “Now,” his grandmother began, “this is Chase and Gabe.” The two boys had carefree smiles in the photographs as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

  “It was a little before my parents were killed in a car accident.”

  Anna took his hand and squeezed. “I’m so sorry,” she murmured. She turned her head and kissed his cheek.

  Out of the corner of his eye, Gabe caught his grandmother watching.

  “You’re good for him,” she told Anna. “Much more demonstrative than some of the others.” She cleared her throat, letting out a little laugh. “Not that everyone needs to be demonstrative every minute, but...it’s lovely to see.”

  Pride and guilt rushed through him, but he pushed them down in favor of pulling Anna close. “You’re right,” he said, smiling at his grandmother. “She is good for me.”

  “But how?” Jonas chimed in. “How did you learn to be good for our high-powered businessman of a brother? Does your family move in the same circles?”

  Anna tensed in his arms. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that, no.”

  “Ah. What do your parents do, Anna? I don’t think you’ve mentioned it.”

  Gabe wouldn’t have noticed the stiffness in her shoulders if he didn’t know her—if he wasn’t sitting so close. “Chase, I’d rather hear about your plans. You’re definitely going to stick around, right?” he said, hoping to divert the conversation.

  “Oh, yeah.” Chase beamed. “I’m going to work with my friend’s company from the Elk Lodge and direct the athletic program. It’ll be the best of both worlds.”

  Anna relaxed as the conversation turned to work plans and stories from their childhood, and Gabe let out a breath. He’d done it. He’d protected her. Of all his achievements in life, this ranked pretty high.

  The conversation rose and fell around them. It settled into a rhythm Gabe recognized from his younger days—Chase telling an old story about learning to ski, and Jonas telling one about the first night managing the hotel on his own. The evening reached the end of its cycle when his grandmother stood. “Time for bed,” she said. “I’ll see all of you tomorrow.” Everyone responded with a chorus of goodbyes.

  Anna stuck tight to his side on the way to their room. “You’re quiet,” he said, as she kicked off her shoes and put away their coats. “I hope—I hope we’re all right.”

  She looked at him, an instant of warning before she was on him, backing him up against the wall for a change and kissing him with desperate, hungry little noises. “Thank you,” she murmured against his mouth. “I didn’t want to talk about my family, and yo
u... you... thank you.” Her hands worked at the buttons of his shirt and then lower, lower. Anna sank to her knees on the carpet in front of him, and he gripped the waist-high chair rail. Every inch of him came alive, the feeling made even more intense by the sound of his belt coming undone in her hands and his zipper slipping down.

  Gabe was already hard, and it was the sweetest relief when Anna unleashed him from the cage of his boxers and pants, her hand wrapped around him. She kissed the tip of him, and it was so unbearably sexy that he let his head fall back against the wall.

  And when she took him into her mouth...

  Heaven. A wet, warm heaven with a rhythm he settled into, his body arching toward her with every long pull of her tongue. The rest of the world fell away. All the acting, all the stolen kisses, they were elsewhere. Gabe only existed here, at this moment.

  He ran his fingers through Anna’s hair, feeling them catch and tangle, and allowed himself a few more moments of pleasure so intense it was almost pain. Then he coaxed her up with his hands and with urgent whispers. “Here.”

  Gabe took her to the bedroom and went for her clothes. Her pants came off first, then panties, leaving her shirt intact. Anna was ready in seconds, and he perched her on the edge of the bed and spread her legs. It wasn’t enough to have her mouth on him—he needed his mouth on her delicate folds. Now.

  The first gentle kiss of his lips made her shiver. The first lick made her shudder, and suddenly she was gripping the covers and moaning as he devoured her. Delicious. Soft. Pink. Wet. He licked along her core with a full-on fantasy in his mind.

  This, repeatedly, for the rest of his life. Anna coming home to him each night so he could please her. She writhed a little, and his tongue contacted new, undiscovered places between her legs. Oh, he needed this. It wasn’t until now that he realized how much he’d been aching for it. His need for her crept over every inch of his skin and suffused him down to his bones. More. More.