Cinderella's New York Christmas. Scarlet Wilson
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His stomach gave a twist. Please don’t let this be something it isn’t.
His brain was all over the place right now, as were his emotions. In the space of a few months he’d found his parents, lost his parents, met a brother and sister he’d never known and been blackmailed into taking an interest in the family business. He didn’t have room for anything else right now.
‘I’m not looking for romance.’ Anissa spoke quickly.
‘Neither am I.’ The answer came out automatically, with a sense of relief.
‘And I never usually do anything like this,’ she added. ‘So please don’t think this is normal for me. Last night was just...’ This time it was her that couldn’t find the words to complete the sentence.
‘A one-off,’ he finished for her.
She nodded in agreement. ‘A one-off.’
They were still close. Close enough that he could smell the fruity shampoo from her hair that she’d pulled into a ponytail high on her head.
It would be so easy to lean forward and kiss her. To capture those lips in his again and pull her back down onto the unmade bed.
The truth was Anissa hadn’t been wrong. Last night had unexpectedly been the best night of his life. But in reality he hardly knew her. And his timing was terrible.
She stood back against the door to let him pass. The early morning light was filtering through the windows of the small staff chalet. It was small, neat and functional, with only a few hints of the woman who actually stayed here. A framed photo of her standing in her skis, the two brandy glasses from last night, the ski boots still lying on the living-room floor. He was struck with how much it didn’t really look like a home. The similarities between this place and his own penthouse apartment in New York sent a wash of recognition over him. How long had she said she’d been here? A year?
He picked up his coat and fastened it. Anissa moved in front of him and held out her hand towards him. ‘It was nice to meet you, Leo Baxter.’
Her body was rigid, and she was being formal, but he could still sense the hint of humour in her eyes.
He slipped his warm hand into hers. ‘It was nice to meet you too, Anissa Lang.’ Her handshake was firm and he found himself in no hurry to let go. Her pale blue eyes were fixed on his.
His heart twisted at the first flicker of a connection he’d felt in, oh, so long. He tilted his head a little to the side. He wasn’t sentimental. Never had been. Never would be—especially after recent events. But there was something about this girl beyond the obvious beauty and the passion she’d sparked in him last night. He gave a wry smile. ‘Bad timing, but in another world, another place I would have very much liked to know you better.’ He pulled her towards him and dropped a kiss on her cheek.
And before she had a chance to reply he turned on his heel and left quickly, walking out into the fresh snow and the rapidly wakening resort.
He had so much to think about. So much to consider.
And he didn’t have a single clue what he really wanted to do.
Anissa held up the rota again. ‘Oh, come on, someone swap with me. Please.’
Lucy leaned over Anissa’s shoulder and looked at the list of occupiers in the most luxurious chalets in the whole resort. ‘What’s wrong with Leo Baxter, then? Bad breath? Wandering hands? Suggestive comments?’
Heat rushed into Anissa’s cheeks.
Chloe laughed as she straightened her uniform next to them. ‘Oh, no, none of that.’ Then she glanced sideways at Anissa and shrugged. ‘Or maybe two out of the three.’ She laughed. ‘But, hey, who doesn’t want to go to the chalet of the gorgeous billionaire Anissa snagged a few nights ago?’
Lucy’s eyes widened. ‘That was the guy?’ She laughed too and shook her head. ‘Oh, no way. I’m not swapping.’ She pointed at Anissa. ‘You’ve gotta go clean the hottie’s chalet.’ She swept up her equipment. ‘And who knows what might happen—again!’ she added with a wicked wink.
Anissa’s stomach turned over as her colleagues left. Darn it. She’d managed to get out of cleaning Leo’s chalet the last few days as she’d been working with other girls. But she’d made the mistake of telling Chloe all about her mystery encounter and great night before she’d realised Leo was actually staying in one of the chalets she was supposed to service.
She checked her watch. She had another chalet to clean too. Maybe she could time things just right and manage to avoid Leo. He was here for...business, wasn’t he? Chances were he would be out at some point during the day.
She gathered her equipment and headed out towards the chalets. There was a large red SUV outside the one that a family was staying in, and nothing outside Leo’s.
She licked her dry lips and headed towards his, turning the key carefully in the lock as her stomach did somersaults. ‘Housekeeping,’ she called. ‘Anyone home?’
Her voice echoed around her. She stayed frozen for a few seconds, wondering if there’d be any delayed response, but after a minute she breathed a sigh of relief and closed the door behind her, looking around carefully.
Chalet was a bit of a misnomer. It might suit the place in which she lived, but it didn’t suit these massive luxury houses halfway up the slopes. She grabbed some of her cleaning equipment. The people who stayed here were millionaires at a minimum. They expected impeccable service. And as the chalet had seventeen rooms, this wasn’t somewhere you could whip round with a brush and duster in half an hour.
Her heart started to race in her chest. She really needed to use this window of opportunity wisely. She had to get in, and out, as soon as possible. Her brain tried to think logically. There was no way Leo was using all these rooms. Chances were she would have the main room, a bedroom, bathroom and kitchen to clean. She could do that before he got back. At least she hoped she could.
She automatically plugged in a fresh scented atomiser. It was changed every day—probably just to let the guests know that the chalet had been serviced. She grabbed her mop and bucket and dashed up the stairs to do a quick check around. None of the rooms on the top floor looked as if they’d been touched—everything was still pristine.
She ran down to the next floor. Leo was using the master suite. No surprise there. But it felt a little strange, walking into a room and seeing his belongings scattered around. The white bed was rumpled and unmade. She walked over and touched it, then pulled her hand back. It was weird. She was used to making strangers’ beds, picking up their clothes and folding them, restocking their bathrooms and kitchens. But this wasn’t a stranger. This was Leo. The guy who’d made her forget a year of feeling unloved and unwanted. A guy who’d actually made her feel attractive and sexy again.
She could smell him in this room. That woody aftershave he’d been wearing when he’d been with her, the way his stubble had scraped along her jaw...
She took a breath and sat down for a second on the bed. She’d been here a year and she’d never behaved like this. What on earth was wrong with her? What had changed the other night?
Even this, sitting on one of guest’s beds, was something she would never do. She glanced around, almost expecting there to be hidden cameras taping this terrible misdemeanour. She ran her hand over the bed sheet. Leo had slept here last night. Had he thought about her? Had she even crossed his mind?
What if someone else had shared the bed with him? She jumped back up, annoyed that her thoughts had even gone there. It was enough to bring her back to her senses.
She started stripping off the sheets, remaking the bed with clean sheets in record time. She wiped around the room with a damp duster, picking up a discarded shirt and pair of trousers and hanging them up. The bathroom was messier. He’d managed to get toothpaste and shaving foam all over the sink. And all four towels were lying on the bathroom floor, indicating they should be replaced.
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