The Billionaire Who Bought Christmas

“Not exactly. But did you get a good look at his cousin?”

“You fought with Hunter all night long.”

“Not the entire night.”

Kristy stared at her sister’s telltale expression. “You didn’t,” she whispered.

“Got a plane to catch,” sang Sinclair, turning for the door.

Kristy hustled after her. “Whathappened? ”

“The hot chocolate was great. He was cute. And there was all that leftover adrenaline from skating.”

“So you jumped his bones?”

“It was more the other way around.”

“I don’t believe this.” Then a memory kicked in. “Oh, wow. You have red hair.”

“Yeah? It’s how most people tell us apart.”

“Plus, I’m taller.”

“A single inch. Get over it.”

“You slept with Hunter.”

Sinclair responded with a secretive smile.

“Is this in some way going to screw up my life?” asked Kristy.

“Relax,” said Sinclair. “We’re both grown-ups, and it was a one-time, impetuous thing.”

“You’re not going to call him?”

“Not in a million years. It wasn’t that good.”

“It was so.”

“Okay, it was. But I’m not going to call him. Quit worrying. Phone me from London. And take the cool clothes!”

“Fallen for your wife yet?” asked Hunter, sauntering into Jack’s study in the early afternoon.

For a split second Jack wondered if Hunter had found out about his phone call this morning to Zenia Topaz, and the huge favor he’d just called in. But then he realized his cousin was only fishing.

He pointedly opened a financial report on a beauty products company acquisition that Cleveland was considering. “Don’t you have work to do?”

Hunter shrugged, stopping in front of the desk. “I’m on holiday.”

“Then how come I’m not?”

“Because you’re a workaholic?” Hunter picked up a round, crystal paper weight and tossed it from hand to hand. “Or maybe it’s because you’re trying to keep your mind off a certain knockout blonde who’s making you crazy.”

Jack scoffed away the notion. “In case you haven’t noticed, that knockout blonde is married to me…and sleeping with me.” The last part was only technically true, of course. But Hunter didn’t need to know that.

“Back to my original question,” said Hunter, “have you fallen for your wife yet?”

Jack glanced back down at the spreadsheet, pushing aside images of Kristy asleep in his bed.

“Absolutely not.”

Only a fool would fall for his bride of convenience. Naturally, he wanted to make love with her. Who wouldn’t? And he wanted her to succeed—as much for Sierra Sanchez as anything. But he was a long way from feeling more than lust, admiration and respect.

“If you’re sure,” said Hunter.

“I’m sure,” said Jack.

Hunter set down the paperweight. “The moms wanted me to remind you about the sleigh ride tonight.

Seven sharp.”

“I’ll remember,” Jack assured him.

Hunter moved to the doorway and stood there for a moment. “Mind if Kristy rides with me?”

Jack felt as if he’d been punched in the solar plexus. He glance sharply at his cousin. “Yes.”Hell, yes. He bit back an order for Hunter to keep away.

A knowing grin grew on Hunter’s face. “Gotcha,” he exclaimed, backing out before Jack could form a response.

Not that there was any response Jack could reasonably form. Because Hunter was right to laugh at him.

He was feeling entirely too possessive of Kristy. He was beginning to act as if she was his real wife. In fact, he was beginning towish she was his real wife.

He turned back to the financial report, forcing the unsettling thought from his mind.

Kristy shoved Sinclair and Hunter, and Sinclair’s cavalier advice from her mind for the day. She had more pressing issues, like struggling to perfect the Irene collection and watching the clock until it was time for Isabella and Megan to head home. She couldn’t wait to talk to Jack.

Jack.

She smiled just thinking about being held in his arms again. Then she got a hollow feeling in the pit of her stomach when she thought about the holidays ending.

Christmas Day was rushing up on them. And she was leaving the day after that. She’d already filled out a dozen forms for London, and her trunks were being shipped at the end of the week. The collection would be sent on a transport plane to meet up with her at the event. Cleveland had insisted on buying her a first-class ticket, accommodations at the luxury Claymore Diamond Hotel and limo service to and from the airport.