A Billionaire's Christmas - Jill Downey

Penelope

Penelope Winters poured over her mental list of the thousand and one things she needed to get done before the Bennett clan descended upon them next week. She nervously chewed on a fingernail as she went over the details. In a moment of sentimentality, they’d decided to extend an invitation to Griffin’s family to spend Christmas with them in Montana and surprisingly they’d all accepted. Even his parents. What had she been thinking? She’d never been around his family for any length of time and now they’d be in close quarters for an entire week. Yikes! It was nerve racking.

She had to go into town today to finish up some Christmas shopping and she was going to drag Griffin along whether he wanted to go or not. Josie Hernandez, her house manager, cook, friend, nanny and everything in between, had promised to watch Savannah while they were out. Thank God for Josie.

Penelope still had presents to buy, and one in particular was giving her heartburn. She’d drawn Griffin’s mother for the family exchange. Why me Lord? She didn’t have a clue what to buy for Giselle.

She pressed her lips softly against her baby’s forehead, who was now fast asleep in her arms.

This was her first Christmas with Griffin. Their daughter Savannah was five-and-a-half months old now and loved the decorations and lights. She’d happily sat on Santa’s lap for a photo. Penelope glanced down at her sleeping child her heart filled with love. After the whirlwind of the last year and a half, with the pressures of filming, releasing and promoting their blockbuster movie, hanging out at Winter Land Ranch was a much-needed respite. She peered out the front windows which covered the entire façade of the log chalet. The glass ran all the way up the entire two levels. After last night’s flurries, a foot of snow blanketed the ground, and everything looked white and pristine.

She looked towards the barn and her heart flip-flopped seeing Griffin standing there, looking incredibly sexy and rugged, dark mussed up hair, designer stubble, bundled up in his distressed sheepskin coat. Behind him was the mountain backdrop and snow-covered peaks…well it was right out of a magazine. He was talking to their ranch manager Walt and they were laughing together, Griffin animated as he gesticulated endearingly to make his point.

Her husband…just over five months now. How was that possible? How was it possible that she could love two people so much that it actually made her chest ache? She had surprised him with an early Christmas present, a baby grand piano. Ultimately, it had been a gift to herself and Savannah, because he played for them almost every night.

Griffin looked up and saw her standing at the window. He stilled as if mesmerized. Walt turned to see what had caught her husband’s attention and a huge smile spread across his weathered face. Penelope’s eyes devoured Griffin as he made his way back to the house. He bounded up the front porch steps as if he couldn’t wait to see her.

“How are my girls? Looks like peanut fell asleep,” Griffin said, taking off his coat and hanging it in the closet.

“Yes, she’s sound asleep,” Penelope said. “She’s getting to be quite the chunk.”

“Here give her to me. I’ll put her in her crib, then take a shower.” He gently lifted Savannah into his arms and buried his nose against the soft blanket. “I love that smell.”

“I know. It’s the best.”

“You know there’s only one thing that smells even better.”

Penelope smiled sweetly, “Oh yeah, and what is that?”

“Wait for me. I’ll tell you when I get back.”

Her body tingled as she watched him walk away. Her sexy man. She sighed. She would wait all day long if she had to.

Penelope was equal parts excited and anxious about hosting Christmas. It wasn’t as if they didn’t have enough space to get away from one another if they needed to. Their home was certainly big enough. The house was built from logs and architecturally it was more along the lines of a Swiss chalet. Three of the four bedrooms were upstairs with their own en-suites and terraces. Penelope and Griffin’s master suite was on the main floor with a connecting nursery and they had their own private bath.

The living room was massive and open, and the heart of the home. It had loads of windows, cathedral ceilings, and an incredible view. The gorgeous stone fireplace was a focal point to gather round with a sizable U-shaped sectional sofa and