came to romance...
No. This wasn’t going to be a romance. This was going to be a project, like the one they had just wrapped up, only with more acting. A bright spark of anticipation lit up in her chest. A luxury Christmas—the very first in Anna’s life. And a chance to collaborate with Gabe on her own business idea. When she landed in Vegas after the New Year, life could be completely different.
The ten-year-old version of Anna, who had wanted a whole new life more than anything in the world, had become her personal cheering section inside her mind.
Look at him! that part of her squealed. Go to Christmas with him!
And really, she had nothing to lose...except Gabe as a client if the whole thing went south. Anna had never allowed a project to end on bad terms in her entire career. She wasn’t about to start now.
Gabe rested his fingertips on the linen tablecloth, his plate abandoned, and his body tense. He was ready to go now, she realized. Right now. And if she waited to leave until morning, she might lose her nerve. Might decide that it wasn’t very professional to jet off with one of your clients to spend Christmas as his pretend fiancée. Might consider all the many and varied possible consequences and decide that it wasn’t such a good idea after all—for either one of them.
“Let’s go now,” she said quickly.
His eyes went wide. “What?”
“Isn’t part of the bargain a flight on your private jet? How soon can it be ready?”
The shock on Gabe’s face gave way to a surprised grin. “Ninety minutes, if I make the call now. But we can’t just hop on a plane, you know. We need something first.”
“Our clothes?” She would have to shop, come to think of it, her mind was already picturing the Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace and wondering if she’d have time to head out to the sportswear store at the outlet mall. Anna’s wardrobe was geared toward convention centers and business dressy, not winter in Colorado. After a lifetime in the Nevada heat, she'd need a parka and boots. The thought thrilled her more than a little. Maybe a parka with faux fur around the hood. Something soft and sexy.
“More important than that.” He reached out a hand to her across the table, and Anna took it. The simple touch took her breath away. Play it cool. She couldn’t be breathless and blushing the entire time they were with his family, or else they’d know something was up. Gabe ran his thumb over the empty space on her ring finger. “We need a ring.”
3
Gabe’s high from getting the go-ahead on the most ambitious plan of his life lasted all through their trip to the jewelry store. The owner, a close friend of his, had opened during off hours as a special favor. They’d managed to catch the owner of the winter sports boutique next door as she was closing, and she was happy to remain open for them while they picked out what they would need, especially once she realized how much they were spending.
He’d bought Anna everything he could think of for the trip to Colorado. Never mind the cost. Any woman who agreed to marry him would have a full winter wardrobe, of course, and be comfortable in it. It took three hours to shop and another thirty minutes to get to the private jet, which waited for them on the airport’s tarmac.
By the time they landed in Colorado, it was late. Too late to wake up his entire family and have a meet-and-greet with Anna. Gabe felt like he was sneaking in after curfew. As he walked across the lobby at a fast clip, the night receptionist blinked at him curiously. “Mr. Elkin?” She wore a pleasant smile, but it was clear they hadn’t expected him to arrive mere hours after Jonas’s call.
“Hi, Rebecca.” He leaned on the counter, trying not to let sleep drag him down into oblivion. “I’m a bit early, or late, depending on how you look at it. I’m assuming the family suite is available?” He could have chosen to stay in his personal home, but he wanted to be close to his grandmother.
“Of course it is.” Like several of the properties around the resort, the penthouse family suite was reserved for visiting Elkin family members and other high-profile guests.
His phone beeped, signaling that it was set up to act as his key card, and the receptionist’s hand