The Billionaire's Christmas Son - Leslie North Page 0,26

up. I was here alone, and I felt adrift. I’d been cut off from everything in the scandal of canceling the wedding. My mother was furious with me. She’d been the mayor of our hometown for years and was in the middle of a senatorial run.” Rachel laughed. “She’s in the middle of one now, too.”

A weight had lifted from her shoulders. The more she spoke, the lighter it got. “Anyway, when I was at the Elk Lodge, I saw you, and you—you looked like a safe place. The same way you do now.” She felt, in a way, like she was putting her heart in her hands and showing it to Jonas in all its beauty and imperfection. “But that’s why I didn’t get your number afterward. I didn’t want to ruin anything. I didn’t want the perfect fantasy to be ruined for us.”

Jonas made a noise in the back of his throat. “And then you got here, and I ruined it.”

“Not completely.”

He laughed, the sound a rumble against her skin.

“I didn’t love it when you took charge and wanted to hide Scott and—and all those things. It reminded me of my ex. But now that I know you a little more, and know about your family, I can see why you did.” Was she too forgiving? Too vulnerable? It just felt so good to trust him. So peaceful.

“I’m sorry,” Jonas said, pulling her closer and kissing her temple. “Truly. I’m sorry about that.” He offered no excuses and didn’t run from the confession. “I’m sorry for something else, too.”

“What is it?” she asked.

He stared up toward the ceiling, blowing out a quick breath. “That I want you so much.”

Rachel trailed a hand down the front of his body and found him already hard, though they’d just finished their first round of sex a few minutes ago. “I’m not sorry,” she said. She swung one of her legs over him and straddled his body.

He ran his hands up the sides of her waist, grinning at her.

“I’m not sorry at all,” she repeated, rocking back against his length. It was like Christmas all over. The lights coming on. The fire starting. “Don’t be sorry, Jonas.”

“If you’re sure,” he said, his eyes locked on hers. Such a gorgeous man, such a gorgeous room, such a gorgeous place. Was it so bad to let herself live in the moment?

It was too much—too trusting. But when Jonas entered her again, all her fears melted, taken over by desire, and Rachel let go.

11

A knock at the front door woke Jonas from a sound sleep.

He rolled over onto a cooler part of the mattress and rubbed at his face. Did he imagine the knock? It came again. Rachel didn’t stir. He listened hard for any sound from the spare bedroom down the hall—nothing. Scott was still fast asleep.

Jonas crept out of bed at top speed, throwing on a pair of sweats and a long-sleeved shirt, the first available from the dresser. The cold hallway floor against his feet made him wish he’d taken enough time to put on socks.

He pulled open the door.

“Good morning. We need to talk.” Chase stood there in his oversized parka, the hood pulled up over his head.

Jonas stared at him. “Right now?” A high, cheerful peep from the spare bedroom alerted him that Scott had awakened. Jonas’s stomach plummeted. “You’ll have to come in.”

He ignored Chase’s wide-eyed expression and ushered him inside. “I’ll be right back.” Before Chase could answer, he headed up the stairs to the second floor two at a time. There was no sound coming from his bedroom—a good indication Rachel was still asleep.

Jonas found Scott standing in the crib, grinning at him. He swept his son up into his arms, emotion tightening his chest. It was a first of its kind moment. And the last thing he wanted to interrupt the moment was having to deal with whatever it was his brother found important at this hour of the morning.

Jonas noted Chase had taken off his parka and seated himself on the sofa. He didn’t stop to answer the questioning look on his brother’s face but headed for the kitchen to get Scott a sippy cup full of milk.

Jonas settled into the loveseat opposite where Chase sat, his brother watching them closely. Gradually, his expression turned to a dawning recognition. He knew the truth.

“That little boy has your eyes,” Chase commented casually.

“Yeah,” Jonas said. His heart burned in his chest. This was the conversation he’d been