Christmas with the Billionaire (Holiday Encounters Book 1) by Amy Lamont Read Free Book Online Page B

gently. “Look at me.”
    I dug deep to find some courage and managed to raise my eyes to his.
    “You’re overthinking this.” He ran a hand soothingly down my back. “And I’m starting to see why your friends thought you needed to shake things up. I get the feeling you spend a lot of time living in your own beautiful head.”
    I nodded. “I guess you could say that.”
    “You know some people would say that sex is a great way to get out of your head and enjoy the moment,” he teased.
    I couldn’t help but smile up at him. As my gaze raked his face, I got the sense he wasn’t given to teasing and light conversations very often. Something about the way he looked earlier striding across the lobby, all pent up power and restrained energy. Even now, with a smile playing across his lips, there was something moving behind his eyes waiting to be unleashed.
    My mouth went dry and the grin slipped from my face. His teasing words repeated themselves in my mind and the truth of them struck me, leaving me breathless and wondering if I could do it. If this man holding me could help me get out of my head, and just this once let go and enjoy the moment, without having to pick apart and analyze everything.
    “What is it, sweetheart?” His smile faded and he searched my face. “I was only teasing.”
    I nodded. “I know. But you’re right. I do live in my head. It would be so nice if just once…”
    I bit my lip, struggling to finish my sentence. If I said the words that wanted to burst from me—that I wanted to be with him, that I wanted him to make me feel things I haven’t ever felt without having to think about the consequences—I couldn’t take them back. I couldn’t tell him yes and then run away. Not again.
    Was I ready to say those words and to really allow him to take me to his room upstairs?
    As usual, my brain went into overdrive, searching for the right answer, picking apart every thought. I wanted to be with this man more than I wanted my next breath. But I was afraid.
    “Excuse us.” A young man slid past us, pulling a pretty blonde woman behind him to get to the seats in front of the fireplace.
    Nate shuffled us out of the way, moving us to the doorway of another hallway that seemed pretty deserted at the moment, all while keeping me in his arms.
    “Talk to me,” Nate said.
    I stared up at him, wanting nothing more than to blurt out that he should take me upstairs. Now. But something stopped me.
    “Hey, you two.”
    Nate didn’t let me go, but we both turned to look at the elderly gentleman who had called to us. He had a kindly smile and pointed to something over our heads.
    We looked up at the same time, and my breath left me as a jolt went through my body. Tears prickled behind my eyes. I managed to fight them off, but I could not tear my gaze from the sprig of mistletoe hanging above us.
    I could almost hear my mother’s voice whispering in my ear as she retold the story of how she and my father had met in this hotel. And it all started when we found ourselves standing underneath the mistletoe…
    “Emma?”
    I lowered my chin and stared at Nate. And before I could form a coherent thought, I threw my arms around his neck, pressed my body to his, and took his mouth with my own.
    I could feel the muscles in his shoulders tense as I kissed him. But in seconds, he relaxed and pulled me in closer, taking over the kiss as his mouth slanted and opened over mine.
    His tongue plunged into my mouth, once and then again, before he pulled back. I stood there, my eyes closed, for several breaths. He held me tightly and I could feel his breath against my cheeks.
    “Emma?” Nate’s voice held a note of concern.
    My eyes drifted open. His face was still so close to mine and all I could think about was getting his lips back on mine.
    “Now that’s what I call a kiss.” The old man’s voice broke into my thoughts, but didn’t quite break the spell I was under. I turned my head to look at him. He winked and