Page 21 of A Billionaire for Christmas

PLAN A BACKFIRES

Molly yanked up her corset just in time. A man walked round the corner. He was tall. He was wearing a ski mask. He was entirely covered in snow. ‘I’m not sure the weather will…’ He lifted his goggles and stopped talking instantly.

Levi sprang away from her just as he had the other evening when they’d been caught. ‘It’s not what you think,’ he blurted.

The man burst out laughing. ‘I beg to differ.’ He looked at Molly splayed out on the bench. ‘Am I in the right place?’ He swivelled around, checking his surroundings. ‘Or have I wandered into the French version of Hooters by mistake?’

Oh. My. God.

It was Levi’s brother. She recognised the broad frame, the crop of blond hair and the delighted expression instantly. ‘Hello again.’

‘We were—’ began Levi.

‘Chopping onions,’ Molly shrilled.

‘Discussing the menu,’ Levi said loudly at the same time, which made his brother laugh even harder.

‘Molly is making dinner,’ added Levi, his tone suddenly formal. ‘Molly is our… chef.’

‘I am,’ she said, sliding down from the bench. ‘I’m the chef.’

‘And will you be wearing that chef’s uniform to cook in for the whole time?’ said Levi’s brother. ‘Because if so, I think I’m going to enjoy this holiday much more than the last one.’

‘Molly, this is my brother, Lucca,’ Levi said sharply.

‘Ignore him whenever possible.’ Levi walked over to his brother and gave him the world’s clumsiest hug.

‘But if you’ll excuse us, we’ll let you get on with cooking while we catch up.

’ He turned his back on her. ‘I wasn’t expecting you today.

Are the others on their way?’ he asked Lucca stiffly, leading him towards the bedrooms. Over his shoulder he called to Molly, ‘Perhaps a change of clothes might be in order.’

Molly couldn’t believe that Levi was dismissing her.

And in such an offhand way. As though she was no one.

As though his tongue hadn’t just been flicking her nipples.

Words failed her as she stomped back to her room very much bemoaning her impulsiveness.

She deeply regretted the fact that she had gone all out to win a game she had no chance of winning, but most of all, she regretted this ridiculous costume and the six-inch heels that went with it.

As soon as she reached her room she changed back into her jogging bottoms and sweatshirt, tied her hair up and wiped away the lip gloss.

She splashed her face with cold water and studied her reflection.

Foolish woman. Do what he’s paying you to do and put all fantasies of bedding him out of your mind. Focus on what matters.

She needed to fill in the blank pages of Ava’s journal, with dates, times, photos and memories as evidence of having completed the bucket list, otherwise on Christmas Eve, she’d lose everything she and Ava had worked so hard for.

Molly let out a frustrated cry. She was so mad at herself.

She belonged in her comfort zone where life was boring and busy but safe at least, and where she was always fully clothed.

The sooner she completed what she needed to do, the sooner she could stop working for Levi, secure the deeds to the restaurant and get her business back up and running.

Properly. Le Petit Ange deserved to be the successful Michelin-starred restaurant she and Ava had envisioned.

She made her way back to the kitchen. There was no sign of either of the brothers, so she put the radio on and busied herself with creating that evening’s meal.

Unsure exactly why, she wanted it to be mouth-wateringly spectacular.

She felt as though her reputation depended on it.

While she was busy rubbing herbs into a joint of lamb, Toby messaged again to say that he would arrive with the rest of the family in time for lunch the following day, by helicopter.

Molly shivered. She would make sure to stay inside.

Something about those massive rotating blades unnerved her.

There was no mention of rogue brothers arriving early.

She took out the bucket list and scanned the challenges left to tick off.

Fall madly in love

Spend the day blindfolded

Make your own face out of sausage meat

Publicly eat vanilla pudding out of a mayo jar (with gusto)

How could she fall madly in love in just a few days?

Was that even possible? She was definitely in lust, she knew that for sure.

But Levi would be keeping a professional distance now that his family had started to arrive, so she had very little chance of getting to know him properly.

She turned back to the list. There were at least two or three that she might get out of the way tonight, before everyone descended tomorrow.

She whipped up some vanilla pudding and filled an empty mayonnaise jar, putting it in the fridge to set.

She popped trays of delicious seasoned vegetables into the small oven ready for roasting.

She set the huge rack of lamb rubbed with garlic and rosemary into the oven to slow roast. She would throw the hors d’oeuvres together later.

She slipped on a hair net and checked for signs of life nearby.

She padded to the top of the stairs that led down to the spa area and heard Levi and Lucca chatting.

It sounded like they would be down there a while.

Molly wondered which task to complete next.

She chose the quickest and easiest. She opened the fridge and pulled out what she needed – a giant pack of sausage meat.

It was trickier than she first thought. She would have to lie down to do it.

She cut out a face shape with eye holes and a slit for the mouth from a sheet of rice paper, dipped it in water for two minutes and draped the soft wrap over her face.

She worked deftly, working the sausage meat across her face.

Making sure to mould it to her features.

She whipped out her phone to take a selfie.

She would take another one once it was cooked and decorated to look like her.

It took an age and several bouts of cursing her friend before the task was complete. Honestly, what was the point?

As Molly lay on the couch while the meat mask rested, she was reminded of when Ava decided they must learn how to make their own sausage, arguing that there would be a market for corporate BBQs and quirky-flavoured meats.

The more bizarre and alcoholic-sounding the combination, the more popular they had become.

As she lay, eyes closed, Molly revelled in the memories, the days spent laughing together, creating recipes with outlandish names.

The What Happens in Vegas sausage with its shot of tequila and lime running through it had them tipsy by the end but was by far their most sought after.

The Date Night steak, Manchego and red wine sausage had been another messy night, ending in a sausage that was 10 per cent proof but hugely popular.

Sex on the Sausage was a turkey, vodka and cranberry-infused creation that graced every buffet they catered.

No wonder they had won an award for their ingenuity.

Molly reached for the baking tray at her side and, with gloved hands, she gently peeled the meat mask from her face.

She wondered how running the restaurant without her best friend at her side was ever going to work, let alone be any fun.

Shaking away the heaviness, she added the final touches and placed her sausage-meat face in the small oven above the slow-roast lamb cooking in the main oven.

She took a photo of it going in and breathed in the aromas.

Blooms of garlic-infused herbs filled the kitchen.

‘Something smells nice.’

Molly jumped, slamming the oven door shut.

‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,’ said Lucca. ‘I just wanted to apologise for walking in earlier and… erm’ – he was trying not to sound amused while he explained – ‘disturbing you. But here I am, doing it again.’ He gave Molly a self-deprecating grin.

‘No worries. You weren’t disturbing anything.’ Molly straightened, wiping her hands on her apron.

‘Yes, that’s what my brother said,’ Lucca stated, sounding bemused. ‘Is there anything occurring I should know about?’

Molly wondered how to answer this. Even a fool could see there was clearly something going on. Lucca had caught them in compromising positions twice now.

‘What did Levi say?’

‘My brother remained tight lipped as usual.’

‘Did he now?’

‘He never mixes business with pleasure so it’s no surprise. He’s hardly what you’d call a diagnosed people pleaser, unlike myself. And he’s been professionally trained to deny everything.’ Lucca was smiling at her in a friendly way. ‘Are you sure nothing romantic is blossoming between you?’

‘Why do you need to know?’ she asked him, picking the jar of vanilla pudding from the fridge and spooning some into her mouth to give her some time to think.

Why was she protecting Levi when he was trying to hide the truth?

Molly wasn’t sure, but it felt like the right thing to do.

At least until she could establish what sort of brotherly relationship they had.

She needed to bring this conversation to an end.

Her chest burned at the thought of having to be untruthful.

She took another spoonful of the cool pudding, grateful as it slid down her throat.

‘No reason,’ Lucca said. ‘Wait. Are you eating mayonnaise?’ he asked, his mouth open as he squinted at the label.

She put the jar down with a clack. ‘Yes. Yes, I am.’ She offered him some.

‘Mayonnaise? Out of a jar?’ he repeated. ‘I always imagined gourmet chefs would have a hard time choosing what to eat. Normal food would taste too simple, too run-of-the-mill.’