Page 27 of Holly, Jolly, and Oh So Naughty

“Sort of.” James grins. “I rented it, actually. I don’t want to own one of these ever again. Trying to be a new, normal me.”

“Oh?” My brows lift as we walk toward the ballroom. “Normal people have tuxes.”

“Sure, but suits are as common as joggers where I’m from. I’d rather wear joggers.”

It makes sense. As we enter the ballroom, we fall silent. Music fills the air as the band throws their whole heart into blasting out Christmas tunes. There are already a couple of people on the dance floor while the majority of guests mill around the corkboard showcasing all items up for auction.

“Does the lovely couple want a picture?” The photographer from the booth steps in our path, bringing us to a halt.

“A picture?” I hadn’t considered that part. I glance up at James, and he meets my eyes with a smile.

“It would be fitting, right?”

He’s right. Nothing like a picture of the date to seal the deal. “Sure. Why not?”

We step in front of the glittering backdrop. James’s arm slides around my waist, sending my heart into a flurry of uneven beats. I turn into him, placing one hand on his chest and smiling widely into the bright lights.

“Say cheese!” The photographer cheers, and then the cameras all flash quickly, just as James presses his soft lips against my cheek.

10

JAMES

Lily captures my attention all night long.

I try my best not to stare, but I find myself utterly attuned to everything she does. After the picture, we walk the event and say hi to so many people that I lose track of who is who. Lily seems to know everyone in town, which isn’t all that surprising given her work and how kind she is. People congratulate us on being a lovely couple, and Margret’s eyes nearly pop right out of her head when she sees us standing together, arm in arm.

It’s fair to say Margret fully buys our fake dating now that she’s seen it with her own eyes.

After a full loop of the hall, it’s time for dinner. Lily often leaves to check on the cakes that she’s in charge of, and I enjoy it because I get to watch her without coming across as creepy. I track her across the hall and watch as she smiles warmly at everyone she meets. It sends a flutter through my heart, and I yearn for her to smile at me like that.

When she looks at me, her smile holds just a touch of wariness that I don’t blame her for, but I wish I could make it better. So far, we’ve avoided talking about the past in any real depth, and I don’t know how much longer we can do that.

Eventually, we’ll have to talk about how we left things, but it’s been so easy to just lean into this pretend dating and act like nothing else is real.

I tell myself I can do it as long as she needs me to, but then she looks at me and it’s like she’s reaching right inside my chest and gripping my heart with both hands. Every fiber of my being is focused on every detail of her, and it’s going to drive me insane.

Willingly.

She returns to the table with a smile, and we eat, making small talk with the other guests at our table. I make sure to hold Lily’s hand often enough that everyone else can see. We need everyone to buy the lie so Margret doesn’t get suspicious, at least until I can fully squash down all interference from my mother.

After a light dinner of soup and chicken with broccoli, it’s on to the dancefloor and more willing torture.

“You have to make it believable,” Lily says as she drapes her arms around my shoulders and presses her body up against mine. “Margret is watching you like a hawk.”

“I know,” I reply, despite never taking my eyes off Lily to confirm. “I’m just trying to be respectful.”

“What a gentleman.” Lily snorts. “You’re still a terrible dancer.”

“Some things never change.” I wrap my arms around her waist, and we sway together alongside the music. More energetic couples dance past us, locked in vibrant dances that follow themore upbeat tick of the music, but my lack of skill keeps us low and slow.

“It’s almost comforting, isn’t it?” Lily says, resting her cheek against my shoulder.

“What is?” From here, I can lightly press my face into her hair and breathe in the subtle, soft, floral scent of her perfume lingering amid the warm notes of flour and sugar.

“Knowing that some of the simple things don’t change. You couldn’t dance back then and you can’t dance now.”

“And yet, it was enough to please you back then.”

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