Page 14 of Fake Out Forever

“But I did judge you.” Her voice gets soft. “Three years ago, I unfairly judged you. And I was very wrong. You’re the complete opposite of Andre. And for what it’s worth, I think you’re a good man, Cade Wylie.”

Leaving her words dangling in the air, she rushes into the kitchen, and like a lovesick fool, I dance into the garage, whistling another Christmas tune.

She likes me.

Maya Prescott likes me.

And I think she just stole my heart.

8

MAYA

We’ve spent the entire day together decorating the house, sipping on eggnog, and singing to Christmas carols. I’ve never been happier.

There’s comfort in being close to Cade, like wrapping yourself up in your favorite cozy sweater. I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed, this at ease. He doesn’t expect anything from me and takes me just the way I am.

I look outside, grateful to see that it’s still snowing. Christmas is two days away, and I want to spend it with Cade.

“Do you want to decorate the trees now? Or are you feeling brave?” Cade wiggles his brows.

“Brave?” I finish winding a string of lights through the evergreen garland on the fireplace mantle. “What are you proposing, Mr. Wylie?”

“Let’s go outside and build a snowman.”

“A snowman?” I pick up a wooden angel and tuck it into the garland. “But there’s a storm out there.”

“Which is why we have to be brave.” He pointed to the full-length glass window at the end of the room. “We’ll put it right there so we can see it from inside.”

“I don’t know…”

“It’ll be fun.”

“But I don’t have boots or a coat.”

“You can wear one of mine. I’ve got plenty of extras. Come on, duchess, let’s do it.”

I glance down at his feet, suddenly aware of how big they are. If his feet are big…

I glimpse at his hands…

Oh my, they’re big too!

“You go grab a carrot for his nose and something for his mouth and eyes. I’ll go get you a nice warm coat, some gloves and a pair of boots. This’ll be fun.” His hazel eyes crinkled in the corners. “But no snowball throwing.”

“No snowball throwing.” I crossed my fingers behind my back.

The snow is coming down fast and furious. The wind is howling. My cheeks sting. My teeth chatter like castanets. I’m freezing right down to the bone. My breath flows out in tiny misty clouds. I’m clomping around the snow in size fourteen Timberlands while wearing a coat that could fit three people inside of it.

And I’m having the time of my life.

I finish rolling the last ball of snow and hand it over to Cade. “We were supposed to build a snowman, not a family.”

“We’re almost done.” He ties a scarf around the smallest snowman. “Give him some of those fancy eyes.” He laughs.

“Oreos are perfect.” I scowl.

“The birds will love them.”

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