A Billionaire for Christmas

“They’re already talking,” he adds.

“I’m aware,” I answer, not bothering to take my eyes away from the crashing waves. A heavy sigh leaves me, knowing my love is going to have questions and there’s still a road ahead of us with twists and turns. But if they tell her anything that makes her question me, I’ll simply answer her honestly. I finally look at him, shoving my hands in my pockets as I say, “She knows I’m head over heels for her, and soon she’ll have a more important reason to stay.” I turn on my heels without waiting for him and walk back to the family lodge.

Lila will be back soon.

The sticks break under Drew’s weight as he hustles to catch up to me. “Are you sure it was wise?” he asks and I cock a brow at him, not knowing which part of this entire ordeal he’s talking about.

“Was what wise?”

“The fake birth control?” he asks and I don’t let my stride break. I don’t let him see that I’m affected in the least. I don’t know if the tradition had anything to do with what’s between Lila and me, but I’m too chickenshit to go against it. And according to legend, the bond must be sealed with conception before the next full moon.

Losing Lila wasn’t worth the risk. It’s one of a few lies. I may have deceived her, but it’s for us. She’ll forgive me because what we have is real. It’s so fucking obvious. I’ll never let her go.

I shrug as we come up to the back porch of the lodge and I climb the three stairs, gripping the wooden railing to keep me grounded. I’m not sure how she’ll react when she finds out I’ve lied.

But she knows the kind of man I am.

The kind who goes after what he wants. Who he wants.

That day I took the tincture I was so sure I’d prove to my brother how foolish he was being. It only took one article to prove how wrong I was. Lila’s face stared back at me, and all I could do was read her articles. Everything she’d ever written, everything I could find online. I was infatuated the moment I saw her.

And I’ll keep her with everything I have.

“I’m not sure she’ll ever find that one out,” I say, looking at him from the corner of my eyes and making sure the threat is clearly evident.

He raises his hands in surrender but says, “The pregnancy may give it away.” His voice is low, careful to make sure no one can hear.

I stop just outside of the sliding glass doors. “I know it’s not right to start it off like this,” I start to tell him, thinking about every deal I planned and manipulated, every lie and deceitful action. It’s not right, but this situation isn’t normal.

“She’ll forgive me if she ever finds out,” I tell him with confidence. “My intentions are pure.” I only want to love her. To keep her and have her. I’ll spoil her with everything she could ever want or need. The lies were necessary. If she knew the truth, surely she would have run far and fast.

He nods at my admission, but his eyes flicker to the floor.

“What?” I ask him.

“So were your brother’s,” he answers me. My body tenses at the thought of Annabelle.

I clear my throat and ball my hands into fists as I say, “She’s nothing like that.” I take a step forward, closing the space between us as the anger builds. “This is nothing like that.”

I love my brother Marcus. I’ve always looked up to him, thought well of him. But what he’s done, what he’s doing, it’s not right. I just don’t understand why. There must be a reason.

Either way, my Lila is nothing like Belle and our situations aren’t comparable.

“I’m not saying that,” Drew answers me with strength in his voice although he cowers slightly. I calm my breathing, the adrenaline pumping hard in my blood.

“I’m not saying that at all,” he repeats and takes a step back. “I’m just saying that maybe,” he takes a breath and looks behind me, straightening his stance and looking casual. I peek over my shoulder to see Lila walking toward us. The pea coat she’s wearing is a teal color that pops amongst the tree line, making her stand out even more.

The sight of her reddened cheeks and windblown hair makes my body crave to touch her, to hold her. To keep her safe.

She’s mine.

“I’m just saying,” Drew says in a low voice, gaining my attention again. He swallows and lick his lips. “Be careful with her,” he adds and his eyes search mine, a hint of worry evident.

I nod once and take a step backward. She’s not his concern, but I’ll put him at ease.