This Christmas and Forever: A heartwarming anthology of billionaire holiday romances... by Connelly Clare

Author:Connelly, Clare [Connelly, Clare]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Published: 2019-11-04T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8

“No, no, no,” Elizabeth squeaked, laughing a little as Antonio sent her a look of pure exasperation. “You can’t have the tree put there. Look – it will touch the chandelier and catch fire.”

“You’re one to talk,” he retorted sarcastically. “I suppose you are the expert in all things fire, hmmm?”

“Hey.” She picked up a piece of tinsel and flung it at him. “That was uncalled for.” But her cross reprimand was ruined by a giggle as the tinsel landed flat on his head, draping him in a shiny yellow garland.

He strode across the ballroom, towards her, and as had become familiar in the week since they’d shared dinner at her London townhouse, her stomach lurched in a hormone fuelled sign of awareness. He unfurled the garland and slowly wrapped it around her wrist, his eyes locked with hers. He caught her other hand and weaved the plastic decoration around it, effectively binding her hands together. “This could come in handy, Christmas angel,” he said with a small flicker of a smile. “Let’s save this for later, mmm?”

Elizabeth bit down on her lip. They’d been avoiding any talk of what was happening between them. The ball was only a week away, and Elizabeth wasn’t sure what would happen after that. Antonio was resolutely not to be drawn on how long he intended to hide out in England, though she had gathered he was infuriating his older brothers by dodging their calls and remaining steadfastly off the grid. The question of later was always in her mind though. Not, she hastened to reassure her innermost thoughts, because she wanted to prolong their relationship. But just because it was a strange turn of events, to be in a relationship with someone knowing it couldn’t have a future. It was a decidedly un-Elizabeth thing to do.

She nodded, because the image he had conjured made her mind feel heavy. She swallowed past the desire that was swamping her senses.

“The auction will be held over there.” She pointed to the front of the ball room. “The decorators have a stage ready to go.”

His expression momentarily darkened. “And you are determined to auction yourself?”

Elizabeth pulled a face. “I have to. It’s sort of a joke. It’s the only way I can ask friends and acquaintances to do the same thing. I got the captain of the English cricket team to auction off a training session last year. This year it’s that Hollywood director who does all the car movies – he’s giving away a small speaking part in his next film.”

“While that’s all very impressive, I still don’t like the idea of you being sold like meat.”

She laughed, and pushed at his shoulder playfully. “It is so not like that, Antonio. It’s all very frivolous and fun. And I’ll have you know, I’m quite the big ticket item.”

“I’ll just bet you are,” he said quietly, thinking that her eyes sparkled like water in the moonlight when she was happy. As she was now. As she’d seemed all week.

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