Page 57 of The Mistletoe Makeover

Jace’s eyes flick away, and he drops his arms, the moment evaporating between us like a magic spell.

“Was that enough B-roll?” he asks Cammy, stepping away from me.

She gives Jace a thumbs up.

The warm pressure where his fingers splayed across my back is still pulsing.

Jace takes off his baseball cap and drags his hands through his hair.

“Was that okay?” I ask, suddenly wondering if I’m the only one who felt something between us.

He holds my gaze for a second. “Perfect.”

This was all for the camera, right?

Jace isn’t looking for a girlfriend after what happened with Ava.

And I’m not looking for a Christmas fling... even if it is with Jace Knight.

FOURTEEN

Jace

For the next few days, I can’t forget that dance, even though I’ve tried.

I should’ve known not to dance with Mia after how I felt at the motel. But when I wrapped my arms around her, it seemed like the most natural thing in the world.

Which is why I can’t stop watching the video. Or replaying it in my mind.

When Cammy brings it up while taking some photos at my house, I immediately tense up. “Did you hear? Your video is going freaking crazy.”

“Yeah, I heard.” I pluck a few guitar strings, loosening my fingers for my three-hour music practice session later today.

“I think this might be the start of turning things around for you,” she says, taking another picture.

“As long as they like the song, I don’t care about anything else.” That’s really the only reason I still use social media. To build buzz and get traction on the charts.

“They like the song.” Cammy takes a few shots of me with my guitar. “But they also love her.”

I glance up in surprise. “Mia?”

Cammy pauses behind the camera. “She was the perfect choice, Jace. She’s not the Hollywood type, like Ava was. Nobody knows her, and that makes her more relatable because she’s the girl next door.”

“I want to keep it that way,” I mutter.For Mia’s sake.She doesn’t need the paparazzi all over her because of this video.

“Good luck with that,” Cammy says, chuckling, then glancing over her camera. “Your chemistry on screen was off the charts. I think everyone wants tobeher.”

Even now, I can’t forget the feeling of my hands skating across her back, her body pressed close to mine, the warm vanilla scent driving me insane.

I’m obsessed with her scent the way my cats are obsessed with catnip.

“The attraction between you two... I almost believed it,” she says, watching me closely.

“Maybe I’m getting better at acting,” I lie, trying not to react. She’s fishing for some hint that there’s more going on.

“Or maybe it wasn’t acting?” Cammy suggests, lifting an eyebrow.

I shake my head. “I couldn’t put her through that. Not after Ava.”

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