“Of course I am. How am I going to walk in there with a straight face?” The ring's diamond glistened, beautiful in the fire's light. “This was a horrible idea. Maybe it'd be better to give up and let your dad have his way.”
“No. I'm not giving him my store, and neither are you.”
His tone was firm and sure. Wish I knew where his bravery came from, because I sure could use some of my own right now.
“But they'll think it's all a big joke. How are we supposed to fake being in love when we don't really even know each other?”
“I know more about you than you'd probably think. We've been competitors for five years.”
“So what, are you saying you've been spying on me?”
“If by spying, you mean staring at that sweet ass of yours every day, then yeah.” He followed it with a wink and that ever-so-charming grin of his.
“Damn it, Asher, can't you take this seriously for at least one – ”
“Dinner's served, kids!” Grandma peeked out at us. “And there's plenty for everyone, so don't worry. Have as much as you like.”
In the kitchen, mom tended the stove and refused to look at us. Cole helped by putting dishes of food on the table.
“So, Asher,” he said, eyeing him up and down like he was some kind of threat. “Didn't expect you of all people to show up here tonight.”
I flinched when he slung his arm around my waist. The entire room seemed to grow totally silent as everyone exchanged puzzled looks.
“Of course I wouldn't miss it. Tonight's a very special night, after all.”
Fire burned in Cole's eyes. He wasn't the fighting sort, but it was obvious he wanted nothing more than to throw a punch Asher's way.
“Oh!” Grandma perked up as she spooned green beans onto her plate. “Are you two... going steady now?”
“They most certainly are not,” mom snapped. “My poor daughter has been all alone ever since that horrible man left her after college. If she had been dating again, surely we would have all heard about it by now.”
“Maybe I didn't tell you for a reason, mom.”
Asher subtly nudged me as mom began to flip out. Then, beneath the table, he reached for my hand.
What was he doing? Holding hands wasn't something you did with a one-night stand. That was what you did when you cared about someone.
“You're saying you've been with him all this time?” Cole looked disgusted. “Funny, that. I believe you were moaning about a lack of good men in this town just the other day.”
I glared back at him while Asher quietly snickered. Okay, maybe I should have let Cole in on our scheme.
“Actually, it's a bit complicated.” Asher smiled at grandma as she set a mug of cocoa before him. “We've had something of an on-and-off-again situation for the past few years. Life got in the way of us being together – but then we realized how much we loved each other.”
Grandma twittered with delight. “Such an adorable story. This time of year really is magical, Pam, just like you always say.”
Nobody had any words. Dad cleared his throat and took his place at the table. He looked Asher over uneasily as he spooned creamed corn onto a plate.
“Uh, w-well, it's good to have you here, then.” He handed the bowl of corn to him. “You know, I really am a fan of Slicker Image. You have the most amazing sales.”
Mom fumed. She'd chastised dad about buying electronic gadgets from there a million times already.
“Glad to hear it, Mr. Masters. Next week's thirty percent off RC planes, just so you know.”
“Is that so?” Dad's eyes twinkled. “Oh, and call me Chuck. We don't do that mister and missus stuff in this household.”
Dinner went relatively peacefully, although Cole spent the meal pouting and mom glaring at both Asher and grandma. Luckily, he was good with people and their attitude didn't change his one bit.
He gave compliments, told jokes, and kept the family enthralled with one good story after another. After some time and another glass of heavily spiked eggnog, even mom seemed to mellow out.
Okay. Maybe we could do this after all.
When mom and grandma got up to tend the dirty dishes, he put his hand on my thigh.
“Seems to be going well so far,” he whispered.
“That's because you haven't dropped the real bomb yet.” He twined his fingers between mine; I couldn't help but shiver. “You know, you sure are taking your performance seriously.”
“What can I say? This job comes with benefits, and I'm all too happy to take advantage.”
“So you're taking advantage of me, then.”
“How can I do that when you're enjoying it too?”
That, I could not deny. It'd been too long since I had such attention, and never from a man so sexy as Asher. He chose me and it was flattering, but...
He was a chronically single sort and this, all nothing but an act. Soon as we walked down the aisle, it would be over.
I wasn't sure if I could stand it.
After cleaning up, when everyone was relaxing in the living room, grandma came in clapping her hands.
“All right, everyone! You know what time it is.”
Cole groaned. “Aw, not tonight, grandma. It's cold outside.”
“That's what coats and mittens are for. Going caroling is a family tradition, and I'll be darned if you don't take part in it.”
Asher looked at me, baffled, as everyone got dressed while they sang along to “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
“They're going caroling? I thought that was something people did in the fifties.”
“And we're going with them. You're trying to get in their good graces.”
So we
