Preview
FAKE CHRISTMAS GIRLFRIEND
Sadie
"More coffee, or should I switch you to pie?" Claudia, my favorite waitress, arches a sassy eyebrow.
My smile is forced. "Maybe just a couple of those holiday sugar cookies?"
"Sure." She glances toward the booth next to me, giving me the opportunity to stare openly at the most handsome man I've ever seen.
His massive shoulders barely fit into the booth.
His profile is striking, with strong, classic features.
There's something about his long, thick fingers tapping precisely away at the keys that makes my lower belly flutter.
It also gives me an idea. I whip out my camera and step over to the next booth. "This is going to sound strange, but may I please take some photos of your hands while you're typing?"
When he turns toward me, I'm struck by his magnificent mossy green eyes, and how warm they are as he smiles, puzzled. "Sure."
I take a series of photos of his hands, all the way up to his mouthwateringly-thick forearms. "I work for a productivity app," I explain, snapping away. "I have tons of photos of ladies' hands on the keyboard, and plenty of businessmen. You have really masculine hands."
His fingers start to shake and I look up to see that he's laughing silently. "I'm gonna go with…thank you? I think that's the weirdest compliment I've ever heard."
I can feel my cheeks flaming.
"Here you go." Claudia sets three Christmas tree sugar cookies on a plate rimmed with golden bells on my table.
"Seasonal snacks. Solid choice," the man laughs.
"She always needs a constant stream of seasonal photos," Claudia volunteers. "But it seems a bit late for new Christmas stuff at this point, isn't it?"
"My boss didn't like my first attempt at holiday stuff, so I'm trying to get re-inspired and come up with some more material." It's hard to tear my eyes away from this man's gorgeous smile, even though my blush is burning my face by now.
Claudia's eyes twinkle. "You know, Josh here is about to go to the most Christmassy town on the planet for the holidays. Maybe he could tell you about it?" She bounces away, her dark, glossy ponytail swishing behind her.
"Please." He gestures for me to sit in his booth, then extends his hand. "Josh Cutler."
"Sadie Sheppard." His hand is warm and strong. Sexy, somehow. "So, most Christmassy town on the planet, hey?"
"Yeah. I go back to visit my family a couple of times a year, but Christmas is a huge deal there."
I nod toward his laptop. "So you're trying to get ahead of work before you leave?"
"I wish. I'm actually trying to figure out how I can visit my parents without spending too much time with my cousins."
"Oh. I'm sorry. Are they"...I mouth the word…"assholes?"
Josh's big laugh rings out around us, making me smile.
"My two cousins used to be relatively good guys, but oh man, their wives.
" His eyes roll so theatrically that I can't help but smirk.
"Amy is pretty quiet, but the other one, Tara…
" His jaw tightens. "You know the saying, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all? "
"Yeah."
He mimes zipping his lips shut, locking them, and flinging away the key.
"Oh. Wow. That bad?"
His head tips back and forth, bringing my attention to his slight scruff of beard. I find myself wondering if it's scratchy or soft. "She's very judgy."
"That's awful." I pull my eyes from his to stare down at the table, instantly snapping into problem-solving mode. "Well, do you have high school friends there? Maybe you could hang out with them?"
Josh's nose crinkles adorably as he smiles. "Most of my high school friends have wives or girlfriends." He pushes his laptop to the side. "Do you have any big Christmas plans?"
My lips tilt into the bland smile I always wear during the twice-monthly video calls for work. "No plans."
His face completely falls. "No winter festivities at all?" It's touching that he looks genuinely sad for me.
"Nope."
"I'm sorry, Sadie. I mean, I know that lots of people have low-key holidays that aren't anywhere near the over-the-top vibe of Holly Valley, but—" He stops as my eyes snap wide open. "What is it?"
My bottom lip quivers. "You're going to Holly Valley? "
"Yeah. You've heard of it?"
My eyelids fall closed. I can't tell him that my last happy holiday season was in Holly Valley.
"Hey." Josh's deep voice is soft as he taps my hand gently. "I didn't mean to upset you, Sadie. I'm sorry."
Swallowing hard, I force a smile. "It's fine. It's just that I lived there when I was tiny. Then I had to…move here."
It feels like Josh can see into my soul as he studies me. Then his lips fall open and his eyes light up. "I've got it."
"Got what?"
He holds up his hands. "Okay, this is going to sound nuts, but hear me out. Come with me to Holly Valley. You'll get the most magical Christmas photos ever. Wholesome small town charm – the snow, the lights, the decorations."
Go on a trip with a total stranger? My mind is short circuiting.
"I'll drive you around town so you can take photos, keeping us away from my cousins-in-law as much as possible."
"Oh. Um…"
"No um . I'll pay for the flight, food, everything. We'll tell my family that we've been dating for a few months and are keeping things casual for now which is why I never mentioned you before."
My mind has clearly frozen and turned to slush. How could I possibly spend several days with a guy this gorgeous?
Josh turns to stop Claudia just as she's walking by with the coffee pot. "Do you think that Sadie should pretend to be my girlfriend and come home with me for a fabulous old-fashioned Christmas?"
"Absolutely." There's something almost devilish in her eyes. "For the record, Sadie, I trust him."
He reaches out again to give my hand a friendly tap. "I promise that you'll have fun. It’s a winter wonderland."
Claudia moves the cookie plate from my table and places it right in front of me. "Go on. Give in to the holiday magic.”
Why not? This will be amazing for my job. Plus, spending time in close quarters with the most gorgeous man I've ever seen, who already seems to understand me a bit? I'd be a fool not to.
The second I begin to nod, I'm rewarded with a dazzling grin that lights up Josh's entire face.
"Okay, I'm in. When do we leave?"
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