His First Christmas: The Lonely Billionaire - A Heart-Warming Romance Novel by Holly Rayner, Lara Hunter Read Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Holly Rayner, Lara Hunter
she was talking about. “Oh. That was probably Karen. I put her in charge of charity,” he explained.
Oh. Anna wasn’t sure if he was being honest with her, or just incredibly modest.
“Ah,” she said, smiling awkwardly. She stood there for a moment, looking at Jason, noting for the first time how light his eyes were. Icy blue eyes for a person who, turns out, is not that icy. Seeing Jason out from behind his fancy desk, it was undeniable that he had a sturdy physique—tall, broad shoulders. She could sense the outline of his muscles through his clothes.
“Right,” Anna said, tearing her eyes away, suddenly conscious that she was staring. “Well, I wish you Happy Holidays...Mr Hawthorne,” she said, turning towards the door. “See you in the New—”
“Wait,” Jason said, stopping her. “First of all, Anna, call me Jason. Second, before you head back, I wanted to make it up to you for making you drive here…by extending an invitation for you to join me for lunch. I’m a pretty good cook, if I do say so myself,” he smiled.
Anna was taken aback. He’s inviting me for dinner? Her instinct was to immediately decline his offer, but her curiosity stopped her. She was no hound for luxury, but the world of the superrich was so alien to her that she couldn’t help but be fascinated. What would it be like to eat the kind of food that billionaires eat? she mused. Secondly, she wanted to see what was up with Jason Hawthorne’s completely different demeanor outside of the office. Why the Jekyll and Hyde act, CEO?
Slowly, Anna pushed the thought of her waiting family from her mind. “Well,” she said, coming to a decision. “You know what, I am kind of hungry,” she nodded.
“Wonderful. Help yourself to a drink while I get things going,” Jason said, heading into the kitchen.
Following him into the kitchen, Anna thought, Sorry for the delay, Mom and Dad… As Jason busied himself by the stove, Anna pulled out an intricately-carved chair and took a seat at a grand mahogany dining table that was so huge she was afraid it would swallow her whole. I might as well get some food for all my trouble.
With Jason occupied, Anna took the opportunity to properly check out the kitchen. The liquor wall was even more impressive up close, and the professional-looking set up with endless fancy gadgets, many of which Anna didn’t recognize, would be enough to make even the most popular TV chefs jealous. I mean, there’s a wood brick oven here. A wood brick oven!
Still, just as she had found in the reception area, Anna thought that the space felt empty, and lacking any real warmth. She knew that if Jason ever put the place up for sale, and for some reason she ended up being in charge of selling it, she would definitely be faking any enthusiasm she expressed to the clients.
“Wow,” she said, noting motifs of dragons and grape vines on the chair she was sitting in. “What an interesting piece, it’s so unusual. Where did you get this set?” Anna asked.
Jason looked up and turned from the stove, coming over to check out the chair. “Huh…I guess I never noticed.” he said, raising his eyebrows. “I don’t know where it’s from,” he said as he dashed back to whatever was sizzling in the pan. “My parents probably hired someone to take care of the decor, way back when,” he said quietly.
“I see,” Anna said, tracing her fingers along the carvings.
Jason cleared his throat. “I’m making grilled salmon. Dressing it up with bell peppers, nuts, and nutmeg,” he said cheerily. “Do you cook?” he asked.
“Ah, yes. I wouldn’t say I’m a great chef, but I love to cook,” she said.
Everything about Jason’s behavior was contradicting her initial impression of him. He was addressing her in a pleasant manner, taking a seemingly genuine interest in her, and hadn’t shown even a hint of the strained, aloof character she had first seen
Oh. Anna wasn’t sure if he was being honest with her, or just incredibly modest.
“Ah,” she said, smiling awkwardly. She stood there for a moment, looking at Jason, noting for the first time how light his eyes were. Icy blue eyes for a person who, turns out, is not that icy. Seeing Jason out from behind his fancy desk, it was undeniable that he had a sturdy physique—tall, broad shoulders. She could sense the outline of his muscles through his clothes.
“Right,” Anna said, tearing her eyes away, suddenly conscious that she was staring. “Well, I wish you Happy Holidays...Mr Hawthorne,” she said, turning towards the door. “See you in the New—”
“Wait,” Jason said, stopping her. “First of all, Anna, call me Jason. Second, before you head back, I wanted to make it up to you for making you drive here…by extending an invitation for you to join me for lunch. I’m a pretty good cook, if I do say so myself,” he smiled.
Anna was taken aback. He’s inviting me for dinner? Her instinct was to immediately decline his offer, but her curiosity stopped her. She was no hound for luxury, but the world of the superrich was so alien to her that she couldn’t help but be fascinated. What would it be like to eat the kind of food that billionaires eat? she mused. Secondly, she wanted to see what was up with Jason Hawthorne’s completely different demeanor outside of the office. Why the Jekyll and Hyde act, CEO?
Slowly, Anna pushed the thought of her waiting family from her mind. “Well,” she said, coming to a decision. “You know what, I am kind of hungry,” she nodded.
“Wonderful. Help yourself to a drink while I get things going,” Jason said, heading into the kitchen.
Following him into the kitchen, Anna thought, Sorry for the delay, Mom and Dad… As Jason busied himself by the stove, Anna pulled out an intricately-carved chair and took a seat at a grand mahogany dining table that was so huge she was afraid it would swallow her whole. I might as well get some food for all my trouble.
With Jason occupied, Anna took the opportunity to properly check out the kitchen. The liquor wall was even more impressive up close, and the professional-looking set up with endless fancy gadgets, many of which Anna didn’t recognize, would be enough to make even the most popular TV chefs jealous. I mean, there’s a wood brick oven here. A wood brick oven!
Still, just as she had found in the reception area, Anna thought that the space felt empty, and lacking any real warmth. She knew that if Jason ever put the place up for sale, and for some reason she ended up being in charge of selling it, she would definitely be faking any enthusiasm she expressed to the clients.
“Wow,” she said, noting motifs of dragons and grape vines on the chair she was sitting in. “What an interesting piece, it’s so unusual. Where did you get this set?” Anna asked.
Jason looked up and turned from the stove, coming over to check out the chair. “Huh…I guess I never noticed.” he said, raising his eyebrows. “I don’t know where it’s from,” he said as he dashed back to whatever was sizzling in the pan. “My parents probably hired someone to take care of the decor, way back when,” he said quietly.
“I see,” Anna said, tracing her fingers along the carvings.
Jason cleared his throat. “I’m making grilled salmon. Dressing it up with bell peppers, nuts, and nutmeg,” he said cheerily. “Do you cook?” he asked.
“Ah, yes. I wouldn’t say I’m a great chef, but I love to cook,” she said.
Everything about Jason’s behavior was contradicting her initial impression of him. He was addressing her in a pleasant manner, taking a seemingly genuine interest in her, and hadn’t shown even a hint of the strained, aloof character she had first seen
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