Under the Millionaire's Mistletoe by Maureen Child Read Free Book Online

she was beautiful?
    Wouldn’t that prove to his brother that Sam had been right all along?
    Only problem?
    Sam wanted her.
    Bad.
    When his cell phone rang, he lunged for it, eager for a distraction. “Hale.”
    â€œYou sound like you want to hit somebody.”
    Sam scowled at his brother’s cheerful tone. It was Garret’s fault that Sam was, at the moment, tied into knots. “You volunteering?”
    â€œHell, no,” Garret said, laughing. “Just wanted to tell you I’m leaving town for a while.”
    â€œWhat?” Irritated, Sam wondered when the hell his younger brother was going to grow up. “You can’t leave town. You’ve got a job.”
    â€œOh, that didn’t work out,” Garret dismissed it easily.
    â€œDamn it, Garret—”
    â€œI didn’t call for a lecture,” his brother interrupted. “I’m heading to Aspen for a few days. Just wanted you to know, is all.”
    â€œGreat,” he muttered. “Thanks.”
    Garret sighed, clearly as irritated as Sam felt. “I don’t want to fight with you, Sam. I just need some time, okay?That job you got me at the advertising firm was making me nuts.”
    Sam thought about the favor he’d called in with a friend in San Jose and realized he’d have to make another call to his old friend. To apologize for his brother. “Garret, you said you wanted that job.”
    â€œIt just wasn’t me.”
    â€œWhat is? ” Sam asked, unable to understand his younger brother’s inability to find something he had a passion for. So far, all the younger Hale had been really good at was women and snowboarding. “What’re you going to do for a living, Garret?”
    His brother laughed shortly. “Don’t worry,” he said. “I’ll think of something.”
    That was what worried him, Sam told himself silently.
    â€œLook, I’ll be back for Christmas. Promise.”
    â€œAll right,” Sam said, lifting his gaze toward the office where Anna’s singing had quieted. “I’ll see you when you get back.”
    Anna stepped out of the office. When he hung up, she asked, “Problem?”
    â€œNo,” he said flatly. He wasn’t going to discuss his brother with the very woman he’d forced Garret to stop dating. “How’s it coming?”
    She watched him for a second or two, then said, “Great. Want a look?”
    He walked to the office, brushed past her and stared at the wall where blue painter’s tape was applied in a series of arches and straight lines. Sam couldn’t see where she was going with this, but she seemed happy enough with it. “That’s good?”
    â€œIt is,” she said, coming up beside him. “I’m almostready to start laying down some background color along with the outside detail lines.”
    â€œWhat is it?” he asked, watching her face rather than trying to make sense of the taped wall.
    She looked up at him. “A surprise.”
    She was too close and smelled too good. Her dark red hair pulled back in a ponytail at the base of her neck, her bright green eyes glittered with excitement. Her blue denim jeans and oversize blue work shirt over a paint-stained black T-shirt somehow looked…perfect.
    Sam had never seen a more beautiful woman. He was in deep trouble here and he knew it.
    He just didn’t care.
    Before he could think better of it, he reached out, took her arm and dragged her close.
    â€œSam…” Her voice was a whisper.
    â€œDon’t talk, Anna,” he told her and slowly bent his head to hers. He had to see if everything he’d felt when he first kissed her was still there.
    She lifted one hand to his chest and he could have sworn he felt the heat of her palm slide down inside him, easing away the chill. “This isn’t a good idea,” she told him.
    â€œYou’re still talking,” he