Hostile for the Holidays

18. Stella

EIGHTEEN

STELLA

The Jensens’ Christmas Eve party is a tradition in Cedar Hollow. I went a few times when my parents forced me to but once they realized how treacherous it was to have me and Jasper in the same room, they stopped making it a requirement. I’d heard from friends over the years about how fun and festive the party was but could never bring myself to show up on Jasper’s turf.

But tonight, I’m attending the party as Jasper’s date as my part in our fake dating arrangement. He’s held up his end of the bargain, so now I’m here to keep his mom from meddling in his personal life by playing matchmaker.

While I’m normally a cozy sweater and jeans girl, I also love to dress up. I’m especially excited to wear the pine green velvet dress with black bows gathering the front at my neck and cleavage. It’s sophisticated, yet sexy, and I’m dying to see Jasper’s face when he sees me in it. I love the way his eyes light up and the skin around his eyes crinkles because his smile fills up his face.

The moment the thought is out of my head, I stutter step in my black heeled booties.

Let me try that again.

What I mean is, I want Jasper to see me in this dress and fall all over himself because it’ll be payback for all the times he thought he bested me when we were growing up.

Yeah, that feels better. I think.

I shake the thought loose, and pull on my coat to make the short walk across the street.

Jasper asked if he could pick me up, but after helping his mom wrap some gifts, I was in a rush to shower and change so I told him I’d meet him there. Besides, his friend and business partner, Liam, is here now and I wanted to give them some time to hang out.

If I thought the Jensens’ house was magical a few nights ago, the party preparation has turned it into a full-on Christmas wonderland.

Twinkling lights are wrapped around the banisters and over the windows. Pine garlands and wreaths add to the décor but also give a forest-fresh scent. A few high-top tables in the foyer are draped in white linen with pine branches, candles, and ornament centerpieces.

It’s a Wonderful Life is playing on the framed television over the fireplace, while a mix of holiday classics makes up the soundtrack for the evening. The food table is a work of art. Mini meatballs, puff pastry bites, and cheeseboards are laid out on a table for snacking with rosemary and cranberries for garnish giving the table a festive vibe.

I’m tempted to take pictures just so I can remember every detail because right now it feels impossible to take it all in.

There’s a crowd of people at the bar in the foyer that’s serving a variety of spirits like mulled wine, spiked eggnog, and peppermint cocktails, so I hang my coat on the designated rack in the hallway and walk into the living room.

I spot Juniper putting the finishing touches on the hot cocoa bar and dessert table so I walk over to help her.

“You look stunning,” I say, taking in her black sequin skirt and black silk blouse before embracing her.

She stands back to admire my dress. “Thanks, you do, too.”

“Do you have a date tonight?” I ask, glancing around.

She shakes her head. “No, I’m keeping my options open.”

“Anyone you want to get caught under the mistletoe with?” I tease.

She scans the room, and I swear her eyes linger on Liam, Jasper’s business partner, who’s talking in a small group across the room, but then she quickly directs her eyes away.

“Potentially.”

I decide not to pry because that’s all anyone has been doing with Jasper’s and my relationship, and I don’t want to be that person.

“Jasper told me about your romance bookstore. That’s very exciting. Congratulations!”

“Thank you. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but hopefully I’ll be open by next summer.”

“Well, I can’t wait to see it the next time I’m in town. Oh, and my best friend is a romance author.”

“What’s her name?” she asks.

“Pippa Monroe.”

Juniper’s jaw drops. “Are you serious? She’s like my favorite author.”

My smile widens at that. “She’ll have to come visit your store then.”

“Oh my god, I would die.”

“Don’t do that, then you won’t get any signed books.”

“Right.” She laughs. “Tell her I’d love to have her visit anytime.”

“I’ll make sure she knows.”

I scan the room of guests, suddenly wondering who the woman that Jasper’s mom had intended to set him up with is. I know she won’t do it now that she thinks we’re together, but I can’t help but be curious who Julie Jensen thought would be a good match for her son.

I turn to Juniper. “Hey, do you know who your mom was going to set Jasper up with?”

Juniper blinks in confusion. “Huh?”

“Before she found out we were dating, of course.”

I don’t really think this other woman is competition, but I also wonder what will happen when Jasper and I are no longer fake dating?

“I guess she lives in New York, too, and since Jasper is moving there, she had thought they would hit it off. That’s before she knew we’re together of course. It’s a thing your mom has done at this party. Tried to set Jasper up with a date.”

Juniper presses her lips together. “My mom wouldn’t do that.”

I’m surprised by her statement. “Why not?”

Her mouth pulls into a huge grin. “She knows Jasper wouldn’t be interested.”

“Because he works so much and has no time for a relationship?” That’s the reason he told me he was single and hasn’t been dating.

“Sure. That, too.”

Jasper’s arms wrap around my front, one large hand settling on my stomach causing a swarm of butterflies to take flight.

“There’s my girl.”

“Hmm.” I let myself indulge in his embrace for a moment before I cut it short and turn to find him looking ridiculously handsome in slacks and a wool blazer, with a white button-down underneath. He’s wearing his glasses which I’ve decided are my weakness. His hair is perfectly styled in that messy wave I like and his jawline is clean shaven, making every angle perfectly cut.

He’s beautiful. He’s charming. And, he’s in trouble.

“You look absolutely stunning.” He pulls me in a for sweet kiss. “Does this dress wrinkle?” he asks huskily against my ear.

But I can’t be distracted by a sexy, nerdy tech guy that fills out his slacks just right.

“A word, Jasper.” I give him my best admonishing tone before reaching for his hand and pulling him from the group. I march him straight upstairs to his room where I know we’ll have privacy to talk. But we’ll do nothing else, because I’m upset with him.

When we’re in the quiet of his room, Jasper turns that magnetic smile of his on me.

“You’re so beautiful.” He reaches for a strand of my hair, but I gently capture his wrist and guide his arm down.

“No one can even hear us right now.”

He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. I’m being honest.”

I give him a stern look and cross my arms over my chest. “Didn’t you tell me your mom usually sets you up at this party? That was the reason you needed me to be your fake girlfriend.”

“Okay.”

“That’s not an answer. I just talked to Juniper. She says your mom never sets you up. That your mom knows you wouldn’t be interested so it’s pointless. So why did you tell me that?”

He sighs. “Juniper’s right. But my mom did set me up once and it could have happened again.”

“That’s your basis for needing a fake girlfriend?” I scoff.

“No. I knew you needed my help but you wouldn’t accept it if you knew it was one-sided.”

“You’re darn right.” I nod, my frustration with Jasper growing. “So, you lied and didn’t need me at all?”

I’m surprised by the hurt in my voice. It’s not even his lie that I’m having issue with, it’s that this entire time, he’s been helping my cause knowing there was no need for reciprocation. It tips the scales in his favor.

“That’s not completely accurate. I stretched the truth, and I did need you.” He pins me against the door. “I still need you.”

“What for?” I search his face, my breath growing heavy and ragged.

“Because you make the holidays feel like something worth celebrating. Spending time with you this past week has been the most fun I’ve had in forever.”

His admission is surprising and it makes me feel like less of a charity case. But I’m not sure how to act now that Daniel’s distracted with Cady and Jasper doesn’t even need a fake girlfriend.

“We should get back to the party,” I tell him.

Jasper steps back to give me space, but instead of following me out the door, he’s across the room grabbing something off his desk.

“Stella, wait. I want to give you your Christmas gift.”

I stare at the black square velvet box he’s presenting me. It has the largest red bow on it. It’s completely disproportioned to the box, but I also kind of love it for that reason.

“I didn’t know we were exchanging gifts.” My voice is soft.

“We never said either way. I saw these and thought of you.”

I feel his eyes on me as I untie the ribbon, then carefully open the box. Sitting in the box are the most exquisite pair of bow-shaped diamond earrings. They’re large enough to be a statement, but small enough to wear every day. They’re perfect.

“Jasper,” I gasp.

“Do you like them?”

I look up to see him watching me intently.

“I love them.”

He presses a kiss to my lips. “Good. I know they’ll look great on you.”

I’m confused. And empty-handed. I didn’t get Jasper a Christmas gift. With all the chaos of our fake relationship and Sadie’s wedding preparation, I hadn’t thought about it. That only makes me feel worse, because Jasper thought about me.

“I didn’t get you a gift.”

“This is all I want for Christmas, Stell.” He slides a hand over my ass and pulls me closer. “You, here with me. Is that okay?”

“Yeah.” I nod, simply because I’m under some kind of spell.

There’s something about the way he cups my ass. He did it earlier when I came over to help his mom wrap presents. It’s possessive, yet sweet. The perfect combination of firm fingertips pressing into the flesh of my ass, and his palm gently holding me to him.

He leans down to give me the sweetest, yet most passionate kiss. I kiss him back with everything I have, hoping that fills the void of not having a Christmas gift for him.

I might take this chance to maul him, but I want to spend time with our families and friends, so I exchange my current earrings for the diamond bows Jasper gave me and we head back downstairs.

The evening is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.

Liam is a good time. Telling jokes—I love his British humor—and whipping up the perfect dirty martini, which I only need one of so I won’t faceplant into the Christmas tree.

Jasper and I end the night slow dancing in the living room to Frank Sinatra’s “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ,” then I help his family with some clean up, before he walks me home.

It’s snowing big fluffy flakes, so I stick my tongue out and capture one.

I turn to find Jasper staring at me.

At my front door, he pulls me in close and kisses me as the snow falls around us. Everything about tonight feels like a scene out of a Hallmark holiday movie, except for the part where we slipped into the bathroom together so he could finger me while I gave him a skilled hand job.

“Merry Christmas, Stella.” He kisses me softly.

“Merry Christmas, Jasper.” I kiss him back. He tastes like citrus and whiskey and gingerbread. I’m tempted to invite him up but not ready to analyze what that means for our fake relationship status, so I say goodnight.

In my bedroom, I get ready for bed, but I leave the curtains open so I can enjoy the view of Jasper’s house, then crawl into bed and fall asleep.

Christmas day with my family is magical. There’s nothing that can be done for the wedding today. No vendors to call or meet with, no shops open to run errands at, so we lounge in the matching pajamas that I got for us—except Daniel, since I didn’t know he was going to be here—open gifts, then stuff ourselves with a home-cooked meal that we all helped prepare.

We clean up the kitchen, play a few rounds of Spades at my dad’s request, then gather up snacks to watch a movie.

It’s a wonderful Christmas, exactly what I wanted, but something is missing.

Not something. Someone.

I miss Jasper.

There. I said it.

“Is Jasper coming over?” Sadie asks like she can read my mind.

“No, he’s got plans with his family. And Liam.” I don’t know why I don’t tell Sadie the truth. The truth is, I don’t know what his plans are. She knows we’re not really together, so I’m not sure why she would expect him to show up today.

“Are you sure about that?” she asks, pointing out the window where Jasper is crossing the street to our house right now.

The doorbell rings and I race for it. Throwing the door open, I leap into his arms, which doesn’t bode well for the wine bottle he’s carrying, but Jasper performed juggling in the sixth-grade talent show, and he manages to catch me and not drop the wine.

I maul him in front of my family. It’s what I would do if we were really together and until after Sadie and Tom’s wedding, the show must go on.

Out of breath from our make-out session, he pulls back with a huge grin on his face. “Merry Christmas, Sparky.”

“Merry Christmas, Snowflake.”

“Are you guys going to watch the movie?” Sadie yells as we pass the living room on the way to the kitchen.

“Yeah, but you can start it without us.”

I lead Jasper into the kitchen under the pretense of getting snacks and drinks for the movie, but I’m really luring him there to continue our make-out on the kitchen counter.

“What are we watching?” he asks.

“ Elf .”

“Classic.”

“Want to know something weird?” I ask.

“Always.”

“I missed you today.”

The corner of his mouth crooks up in a satisfied smile.

“Don’t be smug about it.”

“This isn’t smug. This is happy.” He presses a kiss to my lips. It’s innocent and sweet, and I want more.

I realize it in that moment, I’m happy, too. Happy that he’s here. Happy that he’s made being home for Christmas as magical as I hoped it would be.

“Will you come somewhere with me tomorrow?” he asks.

Anywhere.

“Where?”

“A quiet mountain cabin. Just you and me.”

“Is there a bed?” I ask. He already had me at ‘just you and me’ but I need to do my due diligence.

“Yes.”

“Are we naked?”

“If we want to be.”

I vigorously nod my head. “We want to be.”

“This feels like another gift, when I haven’t even given you anything yet.”

I’m tempted to make him come upstairs with me right now, but with everyone in the house watching a movie, it’s too risky.

“Trust me, Stell. You’re going to be giving and receiving plenty this weekend, so make sure you get adequate rest and hydrate.”

I smile at that because for the first time, Jasper and I are on the same page.

We join my family in the living room, snuggling together on the couch. Jasper sits behind me, and I’m in his lap with my head tucked under his chin while we share a bowl of buttery popcorn. When Jasper can’t reach the bowl, I pinch a few pieces of popcorn in my fingers and reach it over my shoulder to his mouth. He eats the popcorn, then teasingly licks my fingers.

I glance around to see if anyone is observing how adorable we are, but everyone’s eyes are on the movie. They’re missing a good show.

Look at this performance. We’re naturals.

And it does feel natural with Jasper.

That inkling from last night rears its head again. If no one is watching, what’s the point in pretending? And are we even pretending anymore?