Free His First Christmas: The Lonely Billionaire - A Heart-Warming Romance Novel by Holly Rayner, Lara Hunter Page B

skidding towards them, out of control.
     
    “MOM! DAD!” he screamed, as the deafening crash ripped through the air.
     
    Time slowed to a halt as the force of the collision crushed Jason backwards into his seat.
     
    He could follow individual specks of glass and blood drops as they moved through the air. Then time sped up, and there was no sound except for the beeping of the vehicles.
     
    “M-mom…Dad?” Jason asked, voice shaking. No response.
     
    Jason squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself not to look. Feeling for the handle, he attempted to open the door, but it was jammed closed. He put his head between his knees, tears streaming from his tightly closed eyes.
     
    He didn’t know how long he stayed like that; he wasn’t sure if minutes or hours had passed when he heard someone banging on the outside of the wrecked car.
     
    “Anyone in there?” a man outside bellowed.
     
    Jason looked up alarmed. “M-me… Me! I am!”
     
    “Okay,” the voice outside yelled. “I’m going to cut you out! Try to stay down!”
     
    Slowly, dim light from the outside made its way into the car as the jaws cut through, and finally, the fireman was able to pull Jason out. The fireman took in the scene of the scared boy and the destruction behind him, piecing together what happened without needing to ask.
     
    He took off his helmet, and kneeled to Jason’s height. “I’m so sorry for your loss, kid,” he said somberly. “Is there anyone we can contact for you?”
     
    Jason was silent as the words sorry for your loss rang through his head. It was a confirmation that what just happened was real, and it struck him forcefully. It was a while before he could say anything, but finally he looked up at the fireman.
     
    “Lucy Mamai…” he said quietly.
     

 
    CHAPTER FIFTEEN

 
     
    Having concluded his story, Jason inhaled his glass of whiskey. Anna too felt the need to take a swig. She was reaching for her glass when she remembered that she couldn’t drink in case the snow let up, freeing her to drive home. Glancing outside, she saw the snow was easily five feet deep. Okay…there’s no way I’m going to make the drive back tonight, she reasoned, and took a swig, her eyes widening as soon as the liquor touched her lips. He wasn’t kidding about this being good whiskey .
     
    “Everything was taken care of for me, in accordance with my parents’ will. I spent the rest of my childhood in boarding school then went straight off to college. And when I graduated, at 21, I inherited the company,” he sighed. “Every Christmas since, I’ve come up to the cabin to protect myself. It would just be too painful to be reminded of what happened, being surrounded by families and festivities.”
     
    Anna was quiet for a while as she let everything Jason had said sink in.
     
    “Jason,” she started, looking at him. “I just want to…apologize. I thought you were a tyrant. But I was so wrong about you,” she said, shaking her head. “Here I was, complaining to everyone about you—”
     
    “It’s okay,” Jason said, interrupting her. “I wouldn’t like me either if I were you. I was rude and indifferent. I expected you to manage a huge workload during the holidays. I should have acted better.” He looked up, meeting her eyes for a long time. “Anna, if you’re willing to let me, I’ll make it up to you…”
     
    In the haze of the fire, Anna took the opportunity to simply gaze at Jason and admire him. He has really, really nice eyes… she thought.
     
    Anna found herself leaning in towards Jason, almost involuntarily. Her heart started beating faster. What are you doing… she warned herself, as she glanced between Jason’s lips and his eyes. Don’t do this, Anna. Not smart. Don’t do it.
     
    Before she knew it, her lips were on his. She felt his mouth for scarcely a second before pulling back.
     
    “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that…” she said, embarrassed.
     
    Jason brushed it off,