On top of that, if he refused to go along with it, the next week would be incredibly awkward. He couldn’t leave now—not before her parents approved of him purchasing the farm.
“By the way, while we’re confessing secrets…” Holly hunched her shoulders. “I paid Mason a dollar to hit you tonight with his slime.”
Nick snorted. “I should have known.” He spun Holly aroundand swiped at the back of the coat between the shoulder blades. “That stuff should be outlawed.”
“He was supposed to do it two more times.” Holly grinned as she turned back to face him. “I deserve a refund.”
“Right.” Nick furrowed his brows and crossed his arms. “Because that’s clearly what’s most important here.”
Her smile faded. “Oh. I’m sorry about your jacket—”
“Kidding.” He reached over and gently tugged her hair free of the collar. “If you’re going to be my fake girlfriend, you’ve got to keep up with my sense of humor.”
Her smile blossomed tenfold, and Nick tried not to panic at how naturally the wordgirlfriendrolled off his lips. Tried not to notice how cute she looked in his oversized coat. Tried to focus on the pure relief saturating her sweet freckled face instead. He owed her. If she wanted to prank her brother, how could he resist?
Especially when it meant everything could keep going the way it was—but better. He’d get to stay and prove himself. Holly wouldn’t be mad at him anymore.
And he didn’t have to worry about winter inflatables watching him sleep.
“So we’re doing this?” Hope lifted Holly’s voice as she held out her hand.
He knew better, and yet…Nick met her palm with a firm grip. “Only if our new operation has a better name—and no snow globes.”
Six Days Before Christmas
Me:
New plan.
Piper:
It’s about time. I hated to tell you this before, but Operation: Naughty List was never going to work.
It actually worked a little too well, I think. But that’s another story.
Another one? You should be an author at this point.
Funny. As I was saying, Operation: Naughty List is now Operation: Jack & Sally.
New phone who dis?
You can’t pretend that now!
Well if there was ever a “nightmare before Christmas,” this is it.
Me:
Trust me, this is the logical next step. Ryan got off scot-free. We’re just going to mess with him a little. Let him think his little matchmaking scheme worked, and then some.
Piper:
There is nothing logical about revenge wars at Christmas. Besides, shouldn’t you be looking for a job?
No one is going to hire over the holidays. I won’t even have a chance to send my resume anywhere until after New Year.
And that’s the reason you’re putting it off? Not because it’s more fun to focus on pretending to be in a relationship with a hot, flannel-wearing, Christmas-hating “Jack”?
Hold up. I said I experienced a moment of attraction. I never said Nick was hot.
