Faking It with My Bossy Ex (Sweet Christmas Kisses)

11. Amy

Chapter 11

Amy

Megan’s overjoyed face doesn’t stop haunting me for the next hour. If she’s heard “rumors,” that means everyone in town knows that Dylan and I are sharing a room at Cozy Haven.

Every chance I've had, I've been calling different places, trying to find different arrangements, but Dylan must have known something I didn't because there's not a room available anywhere in town.

Looks like I'm his fake girlfriend for the rest of the week, unless a miracle happens. Dylan steps out to drop off a few boxes we’re done with. My phone dings with the familiar little tone and I immediately pull it out.

It’s from Leo.

“Your EX is your BOSS???” The subject reads. I giggle as I open the email.

Wow, looks like you got more than you bargained for. So, what’s your game plan? Do you need a flight back to New York ahead of time? I heard the weather’s bad, but maybe I could pull some strings and get you a discount on a private helicopter.

The world needs your paintings, and you might not survive something like this. Let me know ASAP.

Leo

Laughing out loud, I compose myself and write out my response.

He’s my boss voluntarily for this next week, which I hope is very, very short. I think I’ll make it, but in case I get desperate, keep the jet on the back burner. He’s not all bad, though certainly infuriating. I’m determined to see this through, and he’s not going to scare me away. Enough about me, how’s work?

A

I press send just as Dylan comes back into the room.

“Something funny?” Dylan asks, his voice snapping me back to reality. I shove my phone into my pocket before he can catch a glimpse.

“Nothing.” No need to let him know about Leo. If Dylan knew, he’d either never let me hear the end of it or find a way to make it worse.

“We should get back to the inn before dark. Unless you like the dark. In that case, take as long as you’d like.” He teases, a glint in his eye that makes me roll mine. He’d probably love it if I tripped and had to rely on him again.

“Okay. I’m almost done here.” I’m not going to dignify his insinuation with a response. I finish up, then hurry to put my coat and snowshoes on. I’m not about to risk a repeat of Dylan’s performance earlier. His antics nearly killed me from embarrassment.

The street is bustling. People are coming and going from the different shops and cafes. This is a very busy town during the holidays. We veer off Main Street and make our way to the trail back toward the Cozy Haven Inn.

The snow gets deeper and deeper, My boots crunch through the surface until—

“Watch out. Wouldn’t want to lose you out here.” Dylan calls. I pitch forward, but then there's Dylan's hand, wrapping around my waist. Solid. My heart does this ridiculous little flip. Ridiculous.

“What would you do without me?” His hand lingers on my waist before he pulls back.

“Honestly? I don’t know.”

His free hand brushes a snowflake from my cheek, warming my skin. My heart trembles. I wish he’d have left it there a second longer. Flecks of blue dance in the green , catching the soft glow of the evening light. The world narrows to just us.

My lips part, and my mind struggles to catch up and come up with a good comeback. “What I meant was at the fundraiser. I mean, organizing the fundraiser since you need my help … never mind.”

He lets me go with a devilish smile. He knows exactly what he’s doing to fluster me.

“What did Megan mean when she said that you swore off men after what happened in Europe?” he asks, as if it’s no big deal.

My heart skips a beat. Of course, he heard that. Selective listening is one of his skills. Probably got a degree in it at one point.

“It was nothing.” Nothing I want to tell him about, anyway. What happened in Europe should stay in Europe. Half of why Teddy could get my attention in the first place was because I was so destroyed over losing Dylan.

He swooped in, said all the right things, and had me swooning over him to distract myself. Then, when I started to care, he walked away, shattering what was left of my broken heart.

“It was obviously something if you told your friend about it,” Dylan persists. He steps in closer as the path gets narrow, and I look for any space I can leverage to put some distance between us. Getting trapped right where Dylan wants me is not on my to-do list tonight.

“I’m not telling you.” I haven’t even told Leo about what happened in Europe. The only reason Megan knew was because she was in the room when I told Laura over the phone and didn’t realize she was on speakerphone. It was completely accidental.

Believe it or not, I don't enjoy broadcasting personal embarrassments across continents.

What right does he have to know, anyway?

“I could trade you for it.” He moves his eyebrows up and down.

“No thanks. You can’t tell me what to do out here.” I smile sweetly at him. All day, he’s been ordering me around, telling me just how to do things and where to put things. It’s my turn to call the shots when we’re talking about my life.

It’s satisfying to see him try to hold back, even though I can tell he’s itching to know more.

“Fine. I’m sure I’ll find out, eventually.” He shrugs. Will he? Goodness, I hope he doesn’t. I manage to steer clear of the topic all the way back to Cozy Haven. When we step out of the trees, a pile of people are in the open field out in front of the Cozy Haven cabins.

Mrs. Parker is there too, and her face lights up when she spots us. She waves at us crazily, encouraging us to hurry over.

“There you two are! Just in time for the first part of our couple’s competition.” Everyone in the group turns to look our way at her words.

“Great. Are we really going to compete in this thing?” Maybe we could tell her that one of us feels sick. We could order chicken soup to really sell it. I’d go for a bowl of hot soup right now, a bubble bath, and an adventure novel in front of the fireplace.

“Of course we’re competing. Got to keep up the image now.” Dylan wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me close. My breath escapes me, leaving me with a gasp on my lips. His height is so noticeable when he’s hugging me. My head comes just up to his perfectly sculpted chest.

“What are you doing?” I hiss as we get closer to the group.

“Playing the part,” he whispers, a smirk tugging at his lips. He’s definitely enjoying this too much, and I’m absolutely certain the warmth of his arm isn’t making my pulse flutter.

I should stop thinking about what it would feel like to rest my head on his chest or how he used to kiss my cheek to say goodbye.

It’s so physically hard to not allow myself to give in to what my body wants. It feels so natural, so right …

But I've been here before, haven't I? Wanting something, believing in someone. Dad's empty promises. Teddy's fake smiles. And Dylan … The memory still stings, sharp and cold. I was so sure he'd never abandon me. Foolish. So foolish.

“You could try to look a little less repulsed by me,” Dylan whispers in my ear. Does he sound hurt by my reaction?

“I’m not repulsed. I just hate lying to everyone.” I manage to mumble my response as we reach Mrs. Parker. She has a cardboard box with our name scribbled across the top.

“Inside each box are mystery items I’ve picked out myself. It’s your responsibility to make these items into a unique decoration for one of the trees out here. Everything you need is either in the box or in the pile of materials there by the lobby. You have half an hour before the end of the competition.”

“What’s the prize?” A young woman toward the back asks.

“The top three couples will each get a free couple’s spa day at Megan’s Spa and Boutique in town.” Mrs. Parker beams as if it is the golden ticket, and my stomach sinks. We need to lose this competition, because there is no way I’m going to Megan’s Spa and Boutique of all places and having a spa day with Dylan.

“Couple’s massage, anyone?” he asks me before scooping up our box.

“No, thank you.” I follow him to a smaller tree near the lobby of the inn. “Let’s hope we got something ugly to decorate with.”

“You never struck me as a quitter, Ames. This is an artistic task. It’s perfect for you.”

“I don't want to win a spa day with you.” I cross my arms as he opens the box and starts taking out plastic balls, a string of lights, tinsel, and some random ornaments.

“Come on, it’ll be fun.” He pulls out a pocketknife. He always carried one back in the day, not a habit I still expected of him. The way it flicks open so effortlessly suits him, just like that winter trench coat with the collar turned up around his jaw. The dark boots and that coat pull it all together, making him look rugged and annoyingly put-together.

His hands are steady as he starts making holes in the plastic balls. “Let’s pop one of these lights into these.”

I swallow, trying not to watch his hands too closely. He looks up and catches me staring, and a tiny smirk curves at the edge of his mouth.

My cheeks heat up, and I quickly look away, pretending to inspect the tinsel, like it’s the most interesting thing in the world.

He finds a little cat ornament in the box. He reaches up and hangs it on one of the upper branches. It’s only been there for a moment when it falls to the ground. Two tries later, and he grumbles in frustration.

“I think this ornament has a grudge against me,” he complains, his eyebrows scrunching together as he tries again.

“Maybe it doesn’t like your charming personality.” I roll my eyes and move the string of lights, trying to make them look crooked. It’s looking so much better than I would have liked.

“You seem to like my personality, all right.” He grins.

“I put up with you because the community center and a good night’s sleep depend on it.”

Someone nearby finishes their tree. The young woman lets out a little victory cry and she hugs the man beside her. He pushes the hair out of her face and kisses her, taking his time before spinning around.

The second couple finishes and performs a similar ritual, and they're kissing too . Every couple is hugging and kissing when they finish. Some are short and some are long.

My stomach does a little flip, and I quickly look away. Victory kisses? Oh no. Does that mean …

I meet Dylan’s gaze to find him watching me with a smug look on his face.

“Hurry up, Ames. Almost done here.” He hands me another ornament and I freeze for a moment.

“What are we going to do?” I ask.

“About what?”

“The victory kisses,” I hiss.

“Stop acting like it’s the end of the world.” He chuckles. “It’s not that big of a deal.”

“For you maybe, but we can’t …” Kissing Dylan is too dangerous for my hopelessly traitorous heart. Even if it is to keep up appearances. I know better than to fall for him again .

Dylan pulls out a star from the box and reaches up to the top of the tree.

“All done,” he turns toward me. I’m about to take a step back when he wraps his arm around my waist and pulls me close.

“Dylan …”

The familiar scent of pine and leather swirls around me. His jaw clenches, and I can't look away from the shadow crossing his face. My heart thuds in my chest, each beat louder than the last.

My lungs forget how to work, stolen by his nearness. Butterflies erupt in my stomach.

I shouldn't want this, but oh, how I do.

His focused gaze drops to my mouth, heavy with intent. For a fleeting moment, uncertainty flickers in those eyes. Dylan, unsure? Impossible. I must be imagining things.

My eyes drop to his lips. So close. His breath tickles my chin. Then he presses a kiss on my forehead. It’s as light as a feather, sending tingles down my spine in all the right ways. I draw in a sharp breath, then pull back, my hands shaking slightly.

“Expecting something else?” His eyes twinkle. Even though I’ve stepped back, his arms are still around my waist. My heart is stuck in my throat.

“No.” I manage. Mrs. Parker is calling everyone into a circle and saying something, but I don’t hear any of it because my head is spinning so fast from what just happened, from the feelings flooding my body right now.

I shouldn't wish he'd finished what he started.