The Billionaire's Christmas Baby(40)

“And extremely hot,” Allison said with a smirk.

Hannah refused to take the bait. She was already feeling torn—if Allison detected a glitch in her armor she was done for. “Who, Jackson? I guess if you’re into that sort of look.”

“Uh, if you’re a living, breathing woman you’d be into that look. Don’t even try to deny you’re attracted to him, Hannah. You never did tell me what went on at that cabin.”

Hannah frowned. “I spent all my time trying to convince him to adopt Emily. I told you, we are only doing this for Emily. That’s it.”

“Mm-hmm,” Allison said, her sly smile turning into a wide, I-don’t-believe-one-word-of-this grin.

“I barely even know the man,” Hannah said, grabbing her purse and avoiding eye contact.

“Really? It certainly looked like you two knew each other, I mean the way he gallantly rescued you.”

“He rescued his niece. That’s it.”

“I know you, Hannah. There’s way more going on here,” Allison said, the teasing in her voice gone.

Hannah tucked her hair behind her ear. “I don’t know what to tell you. He’s different from anyone I’ve ever met. And he’s got major issues. But there’s something,” she said, trying to put into words something she really didn’t understand herself. “He makes me feel safe and scared at the same time. That sounds crazy, doesn’t it?”

“No, that kind of sounds like love,” Allison whispered.

Hannah brushed off the notion. She couldn’t love anyone like that and she was wise enough to know that no one would love her like that. Her dreams of happily-ever-after, they were only that—dreams.

Gravel crinkling under the weight of an approaching car allowed Hannah to escape any more questions. Allison’s eyes locked on hers like a deadbolt before running over to the window, pushing aside the curtain. “Well, well, a black Audi stretch limo.”


Hannah swallowed nervously and felt her face getting warm. Had Jackson done that? He hadn’t told her he’d be sending a limo.

“Now I wonder who could have done that? The tall, dark, handsome man who’s about to be your husband?” Allison asked, tapping her manicured finger on her chin, not even trying to contain her grin. “And here comes the driver.” Allison whipped open the front door before the man could ring the bell.

“Ms. Woods?” the straight-faced man asked to neither lady in particular.

“She’s right over there,” Allison said, holding the door open even wider.

“Yes,” Hannah said with a glare at Allison.

“I’m here to take you to the chapel,” he said graciously, extending his arm in the direction of the waiting limo.

Hannah’s eyes darted from the shiny black limo to the man. “Chapel?” They were supposed to meet at City Hall. As if sensing Hannah’s confusion the driver slipped an envelope out of the interior pocket of his pristine black coat.

“Ms. Woods, this is from Mr. Pierce,” he said with a smile, handing her the white envelope. Hannah gave her friend a shake of the head and turned around for privacy. Thick, black bold script stood out on the pristine white card.

Hannah, change of plans. Meet me at the chapel instead. Jackson.

And then, as if he anticipated her reaction, he had scribbled “Please” underneath. Hannah felt her heartbeat begin to race. Marrying at a chapel instead of City Hall was starting to sound much more like a real wedding than merely a formality. Why would he do this? Why wasn’t he keeping this a simple business arrangement like they’d planned? She clutched the note until the corners began to curl. Fear held her prisoner, shackled her feet to the floor, burying her in quicksand filled with dire warnings.

“So, let’s go get this sham of a marriage done, huh, Hannah,” Allie said with a laugh, jolting Hannah back to the moment. She blinked, forcing herself to move. Allison grabbed Emily inside the car seat and dragged Hannah onto the front porch.

“Not funny, Allie.” She silently cursed Jackson as they followed the driver to the waiting limo. Maybe she could try texting him on the way to the chapel, demanding some sort of explanation. And then she realized she didn’t even have his number. Who gets married to someone when you don’t even have their cell phone number?

“Stop panicking and get in the limo,” her friend said laughing, while Hannah stood beside the car. Hannah nodded. She was setting herself up for heartbreak, she realized as she sank into the plush leather seats of the limo.

…

A little over an hour and what felt like five hundred questions later, the limousine purred to a stop outside a white, clapboard chapel. It was nestled in the countryside, surrounded by snowy hills and towering trees, whose branches were heavy with mounds of snow. Even though they were only half an hour north of the city, it felt as though they were miles away. The area wasn’t familiar at all, Hannah thought, looking through the windows. There were three vehicles in the parking lot. The only one she could identify was Jackson’s Range Rover.

“How pretty. This is right out of a Trisha Romance painting,” Allison whispered, her face practically pressed against the window.

They stepped out onto the freshly shoveled and salted pathway that led up to the chapel. Hannah grew more and more apprehensive with every step they took. The driver held open the door of the chapel and Hannah’s breath caught in her throat and she had to set the car seat down. She really didn’t know Jackson Pierce at all.