Free Christmas with the Billionaire (Holiday Encounters Book 1) by Amy Lamont Page A

When he pulled back, I stared up at him, noting the warm look in his eyes. Was it possible he was as unwilling to end this as I was?
    Music suddenly blared from across the room. Not just any music, but the lyrics of “Don’t Cha Wish Your Girlfriend Was Hot Like Me” by the Pussycat Dolls. And it wasn’t coming from just anywhere across the room, but from my little black clutch purse sitting on the chair by the door.
    Shit. I dropped my forehead to Nate’s chest. Nothing like being made to feel like a twelve-year-old while in bed with a super elegant, sophisticated man. The ringtone blared again and I tried to bury my head even more deeply into his chest.
    When I felt his shoulders shaking, I braved a peek out from under my hair. He looked down at me, not bothering to hide his grin.
    I raised my head and blew a wayward curl off my forehead. “My friend Paige likes to mess with my phone.”
    “So I hear.”
    No sooner had the words left his lips than the ringtone went off again. Suddenly I felt like Cinderella at the stroke of midnight, about to have my dream man ripped from me so I could return to my boring reality.
    But there was no use putting it off. Paige’s repeated texts meant she wasn’t going to stop. And I didn’t want her to worry about me.
    “I guess I better see what’s up.” I contemplated sliding out from under the sheets and making the trek across the room under his watchful gaze. My eyes darted around the bed, but no matter how hard I prayed, no articles of clothing were close enough at hand to spare me the mortification of having to make the naked walk to get my phone.
    “You stay here. I’ll get it.”
    I twisted to face Nate. He slipped out of bed and retrieved my purse, holding it out to me as he approached.
    The ringtone sounded yet again as I reached for it. I snatched at it, but in my hurry, I managed to knock it out of his hands and the contents of my purse and my wallet went skittering across the comforter. I sighed but grabbed the phone. Cutting her off before she typed another text was my main mission.
    I slid my finger across my phone to see a series of texts demanding to know if I was okay.
    Huh , guess Paige had second thoughts about letting me wander off with a stranger. I debated shutting my phone off and letting her worry for a while. It would serve her right for coming up with this crazy scheme.
    I snuck a peek up at Nate, who was picking my things up off the bed, and couldn’t help a small smirk. I guess I didn’t have too much to complain about. Her idea turned out to have its merits.
    No worries. I’m fine. More than fine. Be home later . I hit send on the text and switched my phone to vibrate before turning my attention to the stuff scattered on the bed.
    “Sorry, I just wanted to reassure Paige…” I looked up to find Nate standing frozen at the side of the bed staring at something in his hand. “Everything okay?”
    He looked up at me, all the warmth gone from his eyes.
    “This your press pass?” He held up an identification card one of my editors had made for me. “Brandi?”
    Even though I was a freelancer, I needed to meet with the editor of the small alternative press occasionally and having identification made it easier to get in and out of the building. The editor had thought it was hilarious when she handed me the card with my alter ego’s name on it.
    I squinched my brows together and reached for the card. “Yes, it’s mine.”
    His jaw tightened and he stood straight before reaching for his boxer briefs. He pulled them on and in short, efficient moves, followed with his pants and shirt.
    “Are…” I had to stop to clear my throat. “Are you leaving?”
    “Did you think I’d be spending the night?” His sardonic tone told me if I’d been holding out any hope for just that thing, I’d been way off base.
    “I guess not,” I whispered as I grasped the sheets tightly to my chest.
    His cold eyes raked over me as he grabbed for his jacket, making