Read Under the Millionaire's Mistletoe for Free Online

know you’re actually interested in Samuel Hale, I’m resting easier.”
    Here it comes, she thought. “Clarissa, there’s nothing going on between—”
    â€œNo, no, I don’t want to invade your privacy,” she said with a careful shake of her head. “I just wanted you to know that I understand completely. It was so wise of you to move from Garret to Sam. After all, it’s his company. Garret’s just the younger brother.”
    Anna felt a headache coming on and wished for more wine to drown it. “I’m not after either of them. Sam…”
    â€œOh, we all saw the kiss,” Clarissa assured her, lettingher gaze sweep around the small living room of Anna’s bungalow cottage. She stared at the brightly lit tree for a moment and smiled before adding, “Your father is pleased, too. Though he does want to talk with Sam.”
    â€œNo,” Anna said quickly, imagining her father asking Sam’s “intentions.” “No talking. Clarissa you have to tell Dad that I’m not dating Sam.”
    â€œWhy ever would I do that?” Clarissa smiled conspiratorially. “He only wants to know that you’re happy, dear.”
    â€œClarissa…”
    â€œOops,” she said, with a quick check of her watch. “I really have to run. I’m meeting your father for an early dinner before we go to the community theater. They’re doing A Christmas Carol. ”
    â€œClarissa,” Anna tried again, but her stepmother was already halfway out the door. “It’s not what you think. Honestly, there’s nothing between Sam and I.”
    She laughed. “Darling, I saw that kiss. Along with half the town, I might add. Whether you want to admit it or not, there’s definitely something between you!” She leaned in, brushed a kiss on Anna’s cheek and said, “Your tree’s lovely, by the way!”
    Then she was gone and Anna was left alone with her disturbing thoughts and an empty wineglass.

Five
    S he wasn’t going to be painting in that wonderful room she had seen the day before.
    Anna drove around to the back of Sam’s house, following the long, wide driveway around the house to a sprawling lawn and what looked like a five-car garage. Trees lined one side of the property and the lawn sloped down toward the cliff and the ocean below. A white rail fence meandered along the cliff’s edge and boasted a few late blooming chrysanthemums at its base.
    Storm clouds hovered on the horizon, looking as though they were gathering strength to make a rush toward shore. A cold wind rattled through the boughs of the pines and snatched a few orange leaves from a huge maple tree. Winter in coastal northern California didn’t mean snow after all. It meant fall-colored trees long into January.
    It really was lovely, but why she was back here, shedidn’t have a clue. The housekeeper had directed her to the back of the house and now, she wasn’t sure what to do next. Anna got out of her car and looked around, pushing the wind-twisted tangle of her hair out of her eyes.
    She walked back to the trunk of her small SUV and lifted the hatch, displaying all of her tools. Yardsticks, paints, transfer papers, charcoal sticks and painter’s tape. Her brushes were standing straight up in empty coffee cans and she used a plastic caddy to hold a selection of pencils along with painters’ rags and tightly closed jars of clean water.
    Movement at the corner of her eye caught her attention and Anna turned to look. She hated the fact that her heartbeat jumped in her chest at first sight of Sam Hale striding from the garage toward her. Faded blue jeans hugged his legs, and he wore a dark green sweater and black boots.
    She hadn’t expected to have to deal with Sam while working here. Didn’t he have things to do? Cars to build? Universes to run?
    â€œWhat are you doing here?”
    â€œI live here,