Page 27 of A Billionaire for Christmas

Levi regarded the glass object. ‘You know, you always think nothing will top making your first fifty million or buying your second island, but that’s nothing compared to being recognised with a sit-down dinner in a room full of strangers, while they give you an oddly shaped award made of glass with your name scratched onto it. ’

Molly giggled, getting up. ‘I felt the same way at the Annual Sausage Awards.’

Levi burst out laughing and Molly felt an instant bloom of joy at the sound. ‘I can certainly make you a sit-down snack for your heroic efforts in saving my life today but don’t expect an award to go with it. Are you hungry?’

She held out her hand to pull him up. As soon as he took it, she wished she hadn’t. She turned to immediate mush. She dropped his hand. It was the wine. It was making her feel things she shouldn’t.

Levi followed her to the kitchenette, watching her as she clattered about, grating cheese, chopping herbs, whisking eggs, toasting big slabs of frozen homemade bread. She cut strips of bacon and left them sizzling while she searched for plates.

‘A cheese toastie?’ Levi smirked.

‘A Molly cheese toastie special. Where are the fresh figs and the rounds of camembert?’

‘No idea. I usually have food delivered, and the fresh stuff is only for emergencies like this one.’

‘Thank goodness I’m so creative.’

Levi watched, mesmerised as Molly improvised, flitting around the small space, deftly stirring, poking, toasting, and as the smells increased in intensity, she heard his stomach growl.

‘You take the chair this time,’ said Molly as they walked back to the fireplace. She sat cross-legged in front of him and watched as he took his first bite of the toastie. When his eyes lit up, she ate her own.

‘That was fantastic. They do say the way to a man’s heart is—’ Levi stopped talking and reached for his wine, taking a huge slug.

Her skin prickled. She had caused this with her relentless pursuit of him. ‘I’m sorry.’

‘Sorry for what?’

‘Sorry I came on to you so strong. Sorry I made such a fool of myself. Sorry you have to watch everything you do and say around me. The list is endless.’

‘Don’t apologise.’ His eyes were twinkling with mischief. ‘I got used to it with alarming speed.’

Molly laughed.

‘But if it’s any consolation, you have been the hardest to resist.’

Molly blinked slowly at him. ‘And if I wasn’t technically your employee?’

He stalled before answering her. ‘But you are. Case closed.’

* * *

After they had cleared the plates, there was the awkward issue of the bed to consider. ‘You take it,’ said Levi. ‘I insist.’

‘No. I insist. It’s your hut. Your bed.’ Molly was scoring a silent point for when he had called her beautiful, quaint restaurant a food hut . She felt inwardly smug.

‘That’s very kind but it’s a hunting lodge not a hut , and I’m giving you the bed for the night. I’ll sleep here in the chair. That’s final.’

‘You’re too big for the chair. You take the bed. I’ll be fine here.’

‘Christ. Are you always this stubborn?’

‘Yes. Are you?’

Levi stopped unpacking blankets from a drawer in the bedroom. ‘This is silly. I’m sure we can spend one night in the bed together and keep our hands to ourselves.’

Molly held her hands up. ‘Mine want nothing to do with you, so you’re quite safe.’

‘Are you sure?’

‘Absolutely. You’ve rejected me three times now. I’m not going in for a fourth.’

‘I wouldn’t call it rejection. That was me being a good boss and not letting things go too far.’

Too far? Molly had a searing flashback to Levi’s tongue flicking her nipples while overwhelming desire ripped through her entire body. ‘Yeah. Whatever.’

Levi turned down the many covers on the bed. ‘We’ll sleep with our clothes on. I’ll make a wall with these.’

Molly watched him roll up quilts and blankets and line them up down the middle of the mattress. Her soul drooped. He really didn’t want to run the risk of her accidently touching him during the night.

‘I have spare toothbrushes in the bathroom. And T-shirts if you get hot in that sweater.’

Spare toothbrushes? How many visitors did he entertain here?

Molly fought off a pang of jealousy. ‘That’s very kind.’

They climbed into bed, each trying not to touch the other as they politely swapped pillows and shuffled under the numerous plush quilts.

They were warm and cosy, the sheets silky as butter and freshly laundered, smelling of lavender.

Molly lay facing him once he’d switched off the remaining lamp.

In the moonlight, his eyes were tipsy and inviting.

Molly felt her resolve evaporating. ‘Goodnight. And thanks again for coming to help me.’

He reached out to smooth a strand of hair from her face.

‘Goodnight, Molly Johnson.’ His fingers grazed her cheek, leaving a tingle in their wake.

His gaze dropped to her mouth. She held her breath, willing him to continue.

He ran his thumb lightly across her lower lip.

‘Christ. You are so beautiful,’ he whispered.

‘If there is anyone worth breaking the rules for it’s you. ’

Molly melted inside. She wanted to kiss him more than anything in this world.

‘Please don’t look at me like that,’ he begged. ‘I can’t offer you what you want. And you should be with someone…’ Levi’s breath was ragged. The energy between them was intensifying. He shifted closer. ‘You should be with someone special. Not your boss.’

Her heart hammered in her chest. ‘And if you weren’t my boss? If we’d met under different circumstances?’

‘But we didn’t.’

Molly inched closer. She mirrored his actions, trailing the back of her hand lightly down his cheek, tracing the line of his jaw. ‘But if we did?’

Levi nodded slowly in answer.

‘Well, you’re not my boss any more,’ she whispered against his lips, desperate for him to kiss her.

Levi jerked away. ‘Sorry?’

‘I quit.’

‘You quit?’

‘Earlier today.’

‘You did?’ Levi sat upright. ‘When? Why?’

‘Before the avalanche.’ Molly sat up too. Her timing left a lot to be desired. ‘Well, you did ask me to leave.’

‘Yes. Leave the house. Not the company. And only because I wanted to protect you from…’ Levi left the sentence hanging. He dragged his hand through his hair. ‘Look. It doesn’t change anything. You can have your job back.’

‘I don’t want it back.’ Suddenly, Molly knew what she wanted – she wanted to sleep with him. She was twenty-nine. It was time she broke the ludicrously long dry spell.

They stared at each other for a moment, the atmosphere charged. He was inches away. All she had to do was reach out to him.

‘I still can’t offer you what you want. I don’t have time for a relationship.’

Levi was being very stoic, and she wasn’t at all impressed.

‘Fine. Have it your way,’ she said, trying not to sound sulky as she piled the cushions high between them. He was simply exasperating.