Karen Booth - Snowed In With A Billionaire

There’s a sexy secret under the tree this Christmas...

With no money and her real name under wraps, chef Joy McKinley isn’t expecting the greatest Christmas. At least her hideout is a luxury mountaintop estate. But when a gorgeous, gallant, incredibly sexy billionaire ends up snowbound with her, Joy wishes she could tell Alexander Townsend the whole truth about herself. Especially when the one thing she shares is her bed—and then discovers he has as many trust issues as she does. Will keeping secrets cost Joy the best Christmas gift she’s ever received?

“We have at least a whole day stuck in this house together,” Alex said.

He was now using both hands to massage Joy’s shoulders. It felt so good, his fingers so strong and insistent, she wanted them all over her body right now.

With the two of them alone in this big, beautiful house, it seemed like the best use of their time to just tear each other’s clothes off and fall into bed.

“What should we do now?” he asked.

“I don’t know. You have any ideas?” she muttered. Just kiss me.

“Well, it’s nearly Christmas and it’s a little sad that there are zero decorations up in this house.”

She’d done her best to leave behind no trace of herself while she was here. She had to.

He smiled and she thought she might melt into a puddle right there on the carpet. The bed was only paces away. He’d hardly need to do anything to have her.

Get your head out of the clouds. She had to be sensible.

* * *

Snowed in with a Billionaire

is part of the Secrets of the A-List series:

When you have it all, you’ll do anything to keep it

Snowed in with a Billionaire

Karen Booth

www.millsandboon.co.uk

KAREN BOOTH is a Midwestern girl transplanted to the South, raised on ’80s music, Judy Blume and the films of John Hughes. She writes sexy big-city love stories. When she takes a break from the art of romance, she’s teaching her kids about good music, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails. Find out more about Karen at www.karenbooth.net.

Special thanks and acknowledgement are

given to Karen Booth for her contribution

to the Secrets of the A-List series.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text There’s a sexy secret under the tree this Christmas... With no money and her real name under wraps, chef Joy McKinley isn’t expecting the greatest Christmas. At least her hideout is a luxury mountaintop estate. But when a gorgeous, gallant, incredibly sexy billionaire ends up snowbound with her, Joy wishes she could tell Alexander Townsend the whole truth about herself. Especially when the one thing she shares is her bed—and then discovers he has as many trust issues as she does. Will keeping secrets cost Joy the best Christmas gift she’s ever received?

Introduction “We have at least a whole day stuck in this house together,” Alex said. He was now using both hands to massage Joy’s shoulders. It felt so good, his fingers so strong and insistent, she wanted them all over her body right now. With the two of them alone in this big, beautiful house, it seemed like the best use of their time to just tear each other’s clothes off and fall into bed. “What should we do now?” he asked. “I don’t know. You have any ideas?” she muttered. Just kiss me. “Well, it’s nearly Christmas and it’s a little sad that there are zero decorations up in this house.” She’d done her best to leave behind no trace of herself while she was here. She had to. He smiled and she thought she might melt into a puddle right there on the carpet. The bed was only paces away. He’d hardly need to do anything to have her. Get your head out of the clouds. She had to be sensible. * * * Snowed in with a Billionaire is part of the Secrets of the A-List series: When you have it all, you’ll do anything to keep it

Title Page Snowed in with a Billionaire Karen Booth www.millsandboon.co.uk

About the Author KAREN BOOTH is a Midwestern girl transplanted to the South, raised on ’80s music, Judy Blume and the films of John Hughes. She writes sexy big-city love stories. When she takes a break from the art of romance, she’s teaching her kids about good music, honing her Southern cooking skills or sweet-talking her husband into whipping up a batch of cocktails. Find out more about Karen at www.karenbooth.net.

Acknowledgement Special thanks and acknowledgement are given to Karen Booth for her contribution to the Secrets of the A-List series.

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Twelve

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

One

Joy McKinley hated to lie to anyone, especially someone as sweet as her fellow bakery worker, Natalie. But she had no choice.

“This is me. On the right. Don’t bother pulling into the driveway. It’s tough to back out. Cars whiz around that turn so fast.” Snow was coming down like crazy now. By all accounts, they were in for one heck of a storm.

“Cute house.” Natalie peered through the window at the rustic cabin Joy had driven past every day on her way up the mountain. Her blond curls poked out from underneath her gray-and-white-striped knit hat. It had a giant pom-pom on top. “You make enough at the bakery to live here by yourself?”

If Natalie knew where Joy was really staying, her eyes would have popped out of her head. This house wasn’t nice enough to be the shed behind the one she was currently living in. “It’s really not that nice. It’s a total fixer-upper on the inside. And it’s just until I decide whether or not I’m staying in Vail long-term.”

Every fib out of Joy’s mouth, however small, ate at her. That was the reason she’d kept to herself since coming to Vail—it was easier to live covertly if you never had to speak to anyone about the details of your life. It made for a solitary existence though, one that was starting to chew a hole through Joy’s sanity and sense of self, especially now that Christmas was almost here. Unfortunately, lies and lone-wolfing were the best ways to keep her cover, and keep it she must.

Natalie’s car quaked and rumbled as it idled, but at least it was still spitting out heat. December in Colorado was no joke. Although Joy had grown up in Ohio and had lived through her fair share of bitter cold winters, she’d lost much of her immunity to chilly temperatures while living in LA and Santa Barbara over the last few years.

“Which way are you leaning? Staying or going?” Natalie asked.

“I’m not sure. I need to weigh my options, find a permanent place to live. Let me know if you hear of anyone who needs a roommate. I’d love to share the rent with someone.”

“I’ll definitely ask around. We’d hate to lose you at the bakery. I love working with you.”

“That’s so sweet of you to say. I love working with you, too.” Joy nodded eagerly. Those words were the truth. Still, her pulse was starting to thunder in her ears. What if the real owner of this house came outside, wondering what a strange car was doing idling out front? What if they suddenly came home? The thought put her too close to the edge, a place she’d spent the last several months. Someday she would get settled. Someday she wouldn’t have to be a nomad.

“Just so you know, I’m not trying to guilt you into staying. Seems like you’re pretty overqualified to work there.”

“I’m really not overqualified. Pastries and baking are just as much work as French or Italian cuisine.” Those were Joy’s specialties, but if she started talking about food, she’d never get out of the car, and she was already tempting fate by sitting there. Needing to force the issue, she pulled the handle and opened her car door. “I should go. I’m beat from today and you should really get home before the snow gets any worse.”