Page 20 of Married to the Frenemy

“Is everything okay?” Jude asks.

I rush toward the window over the sink and peek through the blinds, finding Haley’s car parked on the street in front of my mother’s house. My mind reels about why she might be here, especially on Christmas Eve.

“I’ll be right back.” Setting my glass on the counter, I hurry out of the house before Jude can ask any more questions.

Or the rest of my nosy family.

As I step off the porch and jog down the walkway, Haley climbs out of her car, tugging her coat close to her body. Based on the copious amount of makeup plastered on her face and the fact that the only things visible beneath her thigh-length pea coat are her nylon-clad legs and black heels, I assume she came straight from work.

“I’ll do it,” she blurts out before I have a chance to utter a single syllable.

“Do what?” I ask cautiously, trying not to get my hopes up.

“What we discussed last week.” She holds her head high. “I’ll marry you.”

“You will?” My eyes widen in surprise.

“Considering I just quit my job at the casino after a guy…well, it?—”

“After a guy, what?” I grind out, my jaw clenching.

“It doesn’t matter. But since I’m now minus a job, I figure maybe that’s the universe pushing me toward you. Well, not you in that sense. But us. This.” She gestures between our bodies. “Accepting your proposal and all that. As long as you don’t mind that I’m down to just my dog walking job.”

“I hated you working in that casino anyway.”

“The money was good,” she argues, as if that makes enduring hours of wandering hands and rude comments worth it.

“I can talk to Grady. Get you a job in the tasting room.”

“You’re already doing enough for me.”

“I don’t mind.”

“And I appreciate it.”

She gives me a soft smile, and I’d be lying if that small gesture doesn’t cause a crack in the wall I built around my heart. At least when it comes to Haley McBride.

“Just like losing my job is the universe pushing me to help you, maybe it’s also the universe telling me to finally follow my dreams. Without having to work at the casino, I’ll have more time to experiment with cakes and build up my social media presence. Even without a physical bakery, I can still make cakes.”

“Yes, you can.” I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans, locking my gaze on hers to stop myself from checking out her legs.

“Well, I just wanted to let you know. I guess I could have texted you, but I wanted to see you first. Make sure…” She shakes her head.

“Make sure you don’t mind spending the better part of the next year with me?” I blow out a nervous laugh.

She pulls her coat tighter. “Something like that.” Her gaze drifts up to mine.

I step toward her, drawn into her eyes just like I have been most of my life, even when I knew it was a lost cause. Knew her parents would never approve of me. My heart never seemed to get the message. It still doesn’t.

“You should get back to your family,” she says, tearing her gaze from me and increasing the distance between us.

“Would you like to join us? Mom made enough food to feed all of Sycamore Falls. As usual. She’d love to see you.”

“I need to get home to Maggie. Santa’s coming tonight.”

“Right. Of course. Well, thanks for doing this for me.”

“I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for Maggie. And me.”

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