The Billionaire's Christmas Fake Fiancée: A Sweet Enemies to Lovers Romance (Christmas Billionaires) by Laura Haley-McNeil
Author:Laura Haley-McNeil [Haley-McNeil, Laura]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Huerfano Press, LLC
Published: 2023-12-18T16:00:00+00:00
CHAPTER 20
It was snowing when Ryan parked at the entrance to the family mansion. Gabby had said little during the drive. She gazed out the window to the front doors that opened. Walter stood at the entrance.
âDonât come out,â Ryan said to Walter as he climbed out of the SUV. He walked to Gabbyâs door. âIâll take care of the luggage.â
âItâs no bother to do my job.â Walter moved down the steps while putting on his coat, then smiled at Gabby. âYour room is ready and waiting for you, miss.â
âAlready?â Gabby looked at Ryan. âI didnât realize anyone knew I was coming.â
âItâs their job to know.â Ryan smiled at her and offered her his hand. He liked the light in her eyes.
âThey must operate through osmosis.â She took Ryanâs hand and climbed from the SUV.
âWhat can I say? We have the best staff.â Ryan chuckled.
Inside, Walter took their coats. âIâll have your luggage sent to your room.â
âThank you, Walter.â Gabby smiled as Ryan thanked him, too.
Ryan rested Gabbyâs hand on his forearm and walked her down the hall to the elevator. Upstairs he guided her to a suite of rooms decorated in gold and cream. The king-size bed was piled with pillows. A chandelier hung from the tray ceiling. Bay windows overlooked the snow-covered lawn that glistened. Through an archway was a sitting room with a desk that faced French doors overlooking the balcony.
âIf this doesnât work, thereâs a room on the other sideââ
âThis will be perfect.â Gabby looked at him and sighed. âThe room is beautiful. This is the perfect environment for an interior designer.â
âGood.â Ryan had hoped sheâd like it. âOnce youâre settled, we can check the kitchen and see what Susan made for dinner, then Iâll see how Momââ
âI should go with you,â she said.
He was surprised when she touched his hand. She flushed. Dropping her gaze, she moved her hand to her side.
He tipped his mouth at the wave of disappointment that rushed through him like cold water. He didnât want to release her. He wanted to hold her closer. He filled his lungs. The deep emotions that burrowed through him were foreign and surprising. All his life heâd focused on business. Nothing prepared him for what he was feeling now. He wasnât sure what he was feelingâstrange and pleasurable as it was.
âI can wait if you want to see your mother now.â She lifted her gaze to his. âIâm not hungry.â
âBut you will be. Eating doesnât take that long,â he said. âFreshen up. Iâll meet you downstairs.â
He left her room and strode to the opposite wing toward his room. He went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face, which did little to ease the sensation that was powerful and compelling and too outlandish to contemplate. He stared at his dripping wet face.
âGet it together, man,â he said firmly to his reflection. âYou know where your priorities lie.â
The words rang hollow. Had his priorities been wrong?
He shook his head. Grabbing a towel, he dried his face.
Download
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.
Biblical | Christian |
Historical | Jewish |
Mystery | Romance |
Science Fiction & Fantasy | Short Stories & Anthologies |
Western |
From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon(3719)
Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson(3455)
Lamb, the Gospel According to Biff by Christopher Moore(3043)
The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom(2874)
The Time Keeper by Mitch Albom(2709)
In the Woods by Tana French(2035)
Call Me by Your Name: A Novel by André Aciman(1895)
Unworthy by Antonio Monda(1798)
Unlocked: A Love Story by Karen Kingsbury(1793)
The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom(1791)
A Kingsbury Collection by Karen Kingsbury(1733)
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman(1672)
Smilla's Sense of Snow by Peter Hoeg(1634)
The Masterpiece by Francine Rivers(1607)
01 The Rising by Tim Lahaye(1597)
The Absolutist by John Boyne(1595)
LORD OF THE FLIES by William Golding(1529)
THE DA VINCI CODE by Dan Brown(1491)
Torrent Falls by Jan Watson(1461)