Free An Escort for Christmas: A Billionaire Novella by A. Zavarelli Page B

cloudy concoction and handed it off to me. “Trust me,” she said. “You’re going to love it.”
    I took a sniff and caught a hint of apples and cinnamon. It definitely smelled like Christmas. I brought the cup to my lips and took a sip, expecting a powerful hit but receiving only a sweet concoction that seemed innocent enough.
    “What is that?” I asked.
    “It’s Apple Pie,” she smirked. “Another King tradition. We’re going to use it tonight.”
    Something about her words told me I was going to be in for another surprise. I just shrugged and tossed back my glass, hoping it wasn’t more of Katherine.
     
    ***
     
    By six o’clock I was freshly showered and ready.
    After prying the guest list out of Lily, I learned that Katherine was in fact going to be there tonight. It wasn’t the greatest news I’d received, so I decided to up the ante on this one.
    I slipped into my sexiest black dress with a low cut back and sky high red stilettos. My eyes were smoky and my hair teased to perfection. I embodied the role that Jameson wanted. It gave me a small thrill and an aching heart at the same time.
    When he walked in to the room to collect me, his eyes trailed over my body in surprise. And then he frowned.
    I swallowed, wondering what that was all about.
    “Am I not to your liking?” I asked coolly.
    His eyes snapped up to mine, and he took a step closer as though he couldn’t help himself.
    “You look beautiful, Harper. It’s just…” He paused. “There’s going to be a lot of guests here tonight, and I don’t want any of the guys getting ideas about you.”
    “Like what?” I retorted. “That I’m an escort?”
    He looked at the ground and then back to me. “It has nothing to do with that.”
    His voice was deep and held a hint of possession that surprised me. And before I could stop myself, I took a step closer.
    “So what do you need from me tonight?”
    “What do you mean?” his eyes roamed over my face.
    “Katherine’s going to be here.” It came out much bitchier than I intended, and Jameson took notice. “So I’m just wondering if you want me to keep my distance or throw myself at you. It’s been a little bit of a guessing game which one you want whenever she’s around.”
    “Jesus,” Jameson groaned and ran a hand through his hair. “Is it that obvious?”
    His words were like a vice around my throat. “That you’re still in love with her, you mean?”
    His eyes widened, and he actually laughed. “God, no. Is that what you think?”
    I shrugged. What the hell was I supposed to think?
    “You’re partly correct in assuming she’s the reason you’re here,” Jameson explained. “But it sure as hell isn’t because I’m in love with her. I just…”
    He paused, and for a moment came across as vulnerable. I wanted to stroke his cheek and tell him it was okay. That he could trust me, and he could tell me anything. But that was far too intimate.
    “It sounds childish when I say it out loud,” he said. “But I didn’t want her to think I’m still in New York pining away from her. So I figured, what better way to accomplish that then by bringing a beautiful woman back home with me.”
    “She hurt you,” I whispered.
    Jameson rubbed his neck and looked away. “I’d rather not talk about it.”
    “I understand,” I said. “But just so you know, you can trust me, Jameson. I’d never betray your confidence.”
    My words seemed to dissolve some of his armor as his anguished eyes found mine. I could only imagine how difficult it was for him to trust anyone when he found out the woman he was supposed to marry slept with his own brother. Nevertheless, I still wanted him to know I wasn’t like her. I would never be like her.
    “Are you ready to go downstairs?” I threaded my fingers through his. “It sounds like everyone’s arriving.”
    For a moment, Jameson just stared at me, his eyes searching my face. His lips were so close I could feel his breath on my skin, and I