The Billionaire's Christmas Son - Leslie North Page 0,34

best. It reminded her of her mother. It reminded her of Daniel. They’d both wanted the best in life, and Rachel hadn’t been the best. She’d never even come close to measuring up. It hit her like a cymbal crash, loud and startling and still somehow familiar. It was a short distance from I love you to I’ll handle everything, because you can’t handle it yourself.

No. Everything in her recoiled from that message. Rachel didn’t want to be cosseted or controlled. She’d made it with her son this far, and she could keep doing it for the rest of her life if necessary. An ache in her throat forced her to swallow, and she straightened her back. If there was really no pressure in his offer, then he would accept it if she left.

“Thank you for that,” she said, as gently as she could. Except the steel in her voice didn’t send the same tone as her words. “I need some time. I’m going to be taking Scott back to Denver, and I’ll be in contact with you later.”

Jonas’s face drained of color. There was a long silence between them, filled only by the sound of Scott, babbling to the elk. “If that’s what you need, then you’ll have it,” he said finally. “I meant what I said.”

It made her want to kiss him, but she braced herself against that possibility. If she kissed Jonas now, she would never walk out of here. “I think it’s best if we leave now. I was on the last page of the scrapbook, and your grandmother will love it. I’ll leave everything in my suite.”

Jonas turned and went into the living room. He came back a minute later with the diaper bag over his shoulder and Scott in his arms. He hugged his son tightly, and then handed him over to Rachel. “You’ll let me know if you need anything before you go?”

“Of course I will,” she said, the weight of her son in her arms grounding her. But Rachel knew she wouldn’t ask Jonas for anything at all.

14

Jonas sat at his desk, staring blankly at his computer screen, feeling like his brain was on fire. It had all gone so horribly wrong. More like the worst possible scenario, and now, Rachel was gone.

He hated the idea of her out on the highway, driving home with Scott in the dark as she headed back to Denver. She’d made her position clear, and he’d waited until the front desk called to tell him that she’d left before he went to collect the scrapbook and any extra unused photos.

Everything had been stacked in a neat pile on her desk, symbolizing the finality of her decision. A decision that broke his heart.

“You okay?” Gabe asked, entering his office and dropping into one of the chairs across from his desk. “I know she left.”

Jonas tore his eyes from his computer and glared at his brother. “No, I’m not,” he answered. “Any other questions?”

Chase came in next, looking sheepish, and stood behind Gabe’s chair. “Don’t be mad at us too long, Jonas. It’s the holidays.”

“The holidays,” he scoffed. "Is that why you’re both acting this way? What has gotten into you? First, you—” He stabbed a finger at Chase. “Showing up at my house uninvited to question me about something personal, and then you—” He waved in Gabe’s direction. “Coming after Rachel like that? Yeah, happy holidays.”

“We were only trying to protect you,” Gabe said. “You’ve used that argument a million times over the years, usually to justify your own pain-in-the-ass behavior.”

Jonas saw the truth in his brothers’ eyes. He had said that to them, usually when he wanted them to go along with his plan for the lodge. Maybe there was a point where he should let go a little more. But he didn’t think now was the time. “I’ve tried to be the best older brother possible for you. I’ve tried to fill our grandfather’s role at the head of the family. Ever since Mom and Dad died—”

“We’re worried,” Chase cut in. “Worried she’s using you or trying to get her hands on your money. We know how hard you’ve been trying since we lost Mom and Dad. I swear we know.” Chase and Gabe shared a glance. “That’s why we’re asking questions. We don’t want you in some situation where you lose what’s important to you and everything you’ve given your life to make a success.”

“She doesn’t want my money,” Jonas insisted. “I offered her