Free Christmas With The Billionaire by Susan Stephens Page A

his lips lingered on hers a few moments longer than she had expected.  
    They left the café to do all the things that Kate had ever wanted to do in London at Christmas. Coming from the countryside, she had dreamed of this, and she guessed that Jason had missed out too. He certainly embraced the opportunity to explore London with her, and there was so much that was free to enjoy, and she suspected that was a novelty for him, as everything in Jason’s life seemed to come with a hefty price tag.  
    Braving the crowds, they bought hot chestnuts from a street vendor, and went skating in the park, where she fell over and they were both laughing so much Jason couldn’t lift her up, and in the end had to grab the hood on the back of her jacket to yank her up. He wrapped his arms around her to keep her safe after that, and took her slowly around the rink until she built her confidence enough to skate alone. He praised her and she felt ten feet tall.
    They bought hot dogs to feed the ducks with the bread. He kept her warm inside his jacket when the snow began to fall. They rode the Ferris wheel and her teeth chattered as she snuggled into him. But it was worth braving the cold to have this view of London through the misty air, and to see monuments that appeared to be floating, and the River Thames flowing like a ribbon to the sea. Walking away from the wheel, they found a fairground stall where Jason won a ridiculous fluffy dog, which he handed to her with a flourish.
    “As if we need more dogs!” She laughed, and just for a moment allowed herself to believe that they were a proper couple with a regular home life that included dogs.  
    But Jason frowned and the spell was shattered. “Talking of dogs—we’d better get back.”
    She turned for home, sensing that this wonderful day had been a moment out of time for both of them, and might never be repeated again.  
    Everything went a bit flat when they got back. Kate supposed reality had kicked in for both of them. They carefully avoided the topic of what would happen next. The answer to that was probably nothing. This remained the elephant in the room as if they were both trying to hold on to the magical Christmas they’d shared for as long as they could.  
    Woolly had stayed in Kate’s apartment to keep Yappy company and it seemed so final when Jason clipped the leash on the big dog’s collar.  
    “I’ll call you later,” he promised.  
    She hoped so, but there was an empty feeling inside her that refused to go away, and that feeling said there was no later.
    Cupping her face in his hands, Jason’s expression turned serious as he did his best to reassure her. “Don’t go anywhere,” he whispered.
    She stared for a good few seconds into his eyes. “I won’t,” she promised.

Chapter Eleven

    “Gone?” He stepped back with alarm. “What do you mean, she’s gone? Gone where?” He stared at the thin-lipped woman in front of him with disbelief.  
    “She’s gone wherever these girls go—” Lady Vallender stared at him impatiently. “The North of England, I suppose.” She made a dismissive gesture with her manicured hand. “That’s where I’m told the agency gets most of their girls. They’re cheap,” she explained, “because they’re not used to London wages.”  
    It wasn’t the girls who were cheap in his opinion. “Is that something to be proud of?”  
    “You may not like it, but it’s a fact of life,” the so-called lady told him. “And, frankly, I would have imagined a man of business such as yourself would not only understand why these girls are so popular, but approve of hiring them because they cost less.”
    “That,” he said through gritted teeth, “is because you don’t know me, Lady Vallender.”  
    He stepped back as she slammed the door in his face.
    He was eaten up inside at the thought Kate might have left him, and that she might even be homeless. It took him a moment to calm down enough to order his thoughts. He had