An Escort for Christmas: A Billionaire Novella Read Online Free PDF Page A

face was. Katia had put so much black makeup on my eyes I probably resembled a raccoon now.
    “There was a little accident,” Julia said. “Harper has a cut.”
    “What happened?” Jameson stood up and strode towards me.
    “I knocked over a vase,” I said sheepishly. “And then tried to clean it up.”
    “Well don’t just stand there,” Julia chided. “Take her to the bathroom and clean it up before it gets infected, Jameson.”
    “Oh.” He blinked. “Of course. Come with me Harper.”
    I followed dutifully, with Julia in my wake. If I didn’t know any better, she was getting a kick out of this.
    She stood in the doorway and watched as Jameson gestured to the chaise. “Just sit there and I’ll get the supplies.”
    I took a seat even though it was totally unnecessary. I could have cleaned it myself if they’d just told me where the Band-Aids were. Jameson kneeled before me and opened the bottle of peroxide, pouring it onto a cotton ball.
    “This might sting a little.”
    He pressed it to my cut and started cleaning with a gentleness that surprised me. I couldn’t stop my gaze from raking over his face, so close I could see the depths in his dark eyes. He was incredibly handsome. A well-defined jaw had just the lightest dusting of stubble to match his dark hair. It wasn’t overly perfect, but artful in that messy way. I wanted to run my fingers through it and feel the silky strands. But that would be totally inappropriate… of course.
    “I raised my sons to take good care of their women,” Julia boasted proudly. “So if he isn’t taking care of you, you just let me know Harper and I’ll set him straight.”
    “You have more than one son?” I asked.
    Jameson stiffened, and belatedly I realized I’d screwed up. I was supposed to know this already.
    “Didn’t you tell her about Lleyton?” Julia furrowed her brows.
    “No, mom, I didn’t,” Jameson replied flatly.
    “You two are brothers. I don’t know what has gotten into you, but this stupid rivalry has to end sometime…”
    “Mom,” Jameson’s voice was thick with warning. “Please don’t do this in front of Harper.”
    She nodded and gave me an apologetic smile. “I’m sorry. He’s right. I just want us all to have a good holiday.”
    Jameson remained quiet as he wrapped the Band-Aid around my thumb and set my hand back into my lap. I missed his fingers and his warmth already, and it surprised me how much.
    “Jameson.” Julia shook her finger at him. “Aren’t you forgetting the most important thing?”
    He looked up at me with what I could only describe as embarrassment before averting his gaze to his mom. “Shouldn’t you be catching up with the girls?”
    “I’m not leaving until you do the thing.” She planted her hands on her hips. “He used to love this when he was a boy, Harper.”
    I observed the two of them and grinned when I saw Jameson squirm. His mother was embarrassing him on purpose, and I kind of enjoyed it.
    That enjoyment turned to something else entirely when he scooped my hand back up in his and brushed his lips over the Band-Aid.
    “A kiss makes it all better,” his mother whispered.
    I swallowed as Jameson and I locked eyes, and my heart started to beat so loud in my chest I swore he could hear it.
    “Thank you,” I whispered.
    His thumb moved over my palm, bringing to life a swarm of butterflies deep inside me.
    When we both glanced back at the doorway, Julia was gone.

 
     
    Chapter Seven
     
    Dinner with Jameson’s family was one very loud, very boisterous affair.
    I finally got to meet his brother Lleyton, and I was surprised how different they were. Lleyton was much more outgoing and a definite smooth talker. He had confidence in spades, but he didn’t have Jameson’s looks.
    Jameson was the quiet one. The observer of the bunch. The broody, mysterious guy that you couldn’t help but be drawn to. Or at least I was. I found myself glancing in his direction several times throughout dinner,