Millionaire Under The Mistletoe

ready-and I don’t want anyone coming searching for us.” He wanted to keep the intimate joy he’d found with Miranda a secret from the world.

“No, we don’t want that.”

Miranda moved away, and this time he let her. Her cheeks were stained a rosy pink from the kiss they’d shared, and she took care to keep her nakedness covered. “Your mother told me she was old-fashioned, and didn’t approve of us sharing rooms. I feel like I’ve abused her trust.”

There was a strange expression in her eyes.

Callum resisted the impulse to pull her back into his arms, tumble her against the rumpled sheets and possess her with the desire that burned so hotly within him. Instead he said, “I wouldn’t worry too much about that. My mother will be only too pleased that I’ve found someone.”

Uncertainty glimmered in her eyes. “I don’t want to deceive your mother-your family-any further.”

“I wouldn’t ask that of you.”

Her shoulders stiffened, and her eyes grew wary. “So what are you asking?”

Callum hesitated. Hell, what was he asking? For a moment fear closed around him. He shook it away. This was no time to get cold feet. But he tempered what he meant to say. “I want to make this fake relationship real.”

He thought he glimpsed joy in the gold-brown eyes. Too quickly it was gone. For a moment he thought she was going to object. Then she smiled. “I’d like that, too.”

An overwhelming relief settled over him. Miranda hadn’t refused outright as he’d half expected. She had said yes.

And he had no intention of letting her escape.

Miranda floated downstairs after a quick stop at her room to pull on something more suitable than the red halter-neck dress she’d been wearing last night. She was unable to suppress the silly smile that curved her lips, all too conscious of the man padding down the stairs beside her, his fingers loosely linked with hers.

No doubt she was heading for heartbreak, falling for Callum. It was stupid. Totally insane. Yet she couldn’t help herself.

And she would allow herself no regrets.

This was her last chance to seize a slice of happiness for herself. It wouldn’t last. But she would enjoy it while it did. Because it would be over too soon-she knew that. As surely as she knew that Callum Ironstone would not fall in love with someone like her. He would find someone with the class and the social connections he needed. Not an embezzler’s daughter living under the fog of her father’s notoriety.

They entered the dining room, and her gaze settled on Petra. Someone like Petra Harris.

The blonde glanced across at them.

Miranda read the bruised hurt in Petra’s pale eyes as she took in their interlinked fingers. For Petra it had never been about business interests. The woman really had loved Callum, she realized. Then her gaze shifted to the man seated beside Petra at the breakfast table. She took in Gordon Harris’s tight lips. For Petra’s father it had been about business. And he looked none too pleased.

Hunter greeted them first. “We started without you. Mother decided you two must’ve gone for a walk again and lost track of time.”

Miranda felt herself grow red. Thankfully Pauline wasn’t in the dining room, and she didn’t have to answer any polite questions about how their walk had gone. She didn’t dare look at Callum as he held a chair out for her before sliding into the empty seat at her side.

“I promised to take Lindsey down to the craft fair in the village.” Jack rose to his feet.

“Can we go, too?” Anna turned to Hunter. “Please?”

Hunter rolled his eyes. “What have you got me into?” he demanded of his brother as he pushed his chair back.

Within minutes the dining room had emptied. Only the Harrises-and Fraser-remained.

“Gordon wants to schedule some time with you this morning, Callum,” Fraser told his brother as he, too, got to his feet.

“We can talk after breakfast,” replied Callum, lifting a pot of aromatic coffee. After Petra had refused the offer of a cup, he said, “Coffee, Miranda? Or would you prefer tea?”

Or me?

Miranda could’ve sworn the invitation was in his wickedly glinting eyes. “Coffee,” she said huskily, all too conscious of the effect he had on her as he filled first her cup then his.

Gordon’s mouth was suddenly grim. “After breakfast will do. I was starting to think you might be otherwise occupied.” He glanced meaningfully at Miranda.

Callum stilled, then carefully set the coffeepot down.

Petra put a hand on her father’s arm. “Daddy-”

“No, Petra.” Gordon shook his daughter’s hand off. He turned in his seat. “Callum, I had hoped the relationship between our families would be more than business. I had hoped…” He paused.

“Daddy, please.”

Petra looked mortified. A shaft of pity for the other woman pierced Miranda. Wasn’t it enough that she was hurting already? Did her father have to humiliate her, too?

She shot Callum a pleading look. Couldn’t he do anything to stop this? His arm came across the back of her chair, and his hand rested possessively on her shoulders. “Gordon, I think-”

“Petra would make you a very suitable wife. Much better than she ever would.”

The anger in his gaze stupefied Miranda.

“I can’t believe that you broke it off with Petra for her. Think whose daughter she is. The fruit doesn’t fall far from the vine. Will you ever be able to trust her?”

“Daddy!”

Callum’s body had coiled tight, and Miranda could feel the tension radiating from him. Suddenly she felt decidedly ill.

“Yes, I can trust her,” Callum bit out.

Oh, heavens. Miranda grew cold. Trust her?

Callum’s free fist hit the edge of the table with a loud bang. Both Miranda and Petra jumped. Callum glared at Gordon. “Frankly, I wasn’t intending to spend the morning closeted in meetings. And, yes, I had intended to spend the day with Miranda, who is one of the nicest women I’ve ever had the fortune of dating.”

Miranda sighed. Poor Petra.

“So you can be the first to congratulate us, Gordon.”

“First to congratulate you?”

Gordon’s shocked expression echoed Miranda’s own shock.

Callum’s hand tightened on her shoulder. “We’re getting married.”

“Married?” A gasp of delight came from the door.

Miranda closed her eyes as Pauline hurled herself across the room.

“Oh, Callum, I heard a thump and thought something must have broken. But this is wonderful. Just wait until I tell your father.”

Oh, help. What in heaven’s name had Callum done?

As Callum closed the door of the study behind them ten minutes later, Miranda wrenched herself out of his hold. “What possessed you to say such a dumb thing to Gordon in there? I feel like such a fool.”

“Hey, it’s not that bad,” he said, the protective streak that he hadn’t known existed still strong as he crossed the room to stand beside her. “I-”

“I told you that I didn’t want to lie any further to your family.” She covered her face with her hands and her curls bobbed. “Now your parents think we’re getting married. At least your brothers haven’t heard. You can tell them it’s a stupid misunderstanding.”

“Why?” Callum could see his bald question had thrown her.

She dropped her hands and stared at him. “Your parents like me. Once they hear that you only said it to protect me from Gordon’s nastiness, they’ll understand.” Then her mouth formed an O. “Of course, you can’t do that, can you? Gordon is an important shareholder. That’s the whole reason your brought me along this weekend-to stop exactly the kind of scenario that just occurred in the dining room from taking place.”