Page 54 of How To Fake A Fiancé

When we walk in, I notice Jonathan, Jake, and Nathan sipping their beers and chatting outside while Mia is busy cooking something that smells of brown sugar and cinnamon.

“Mia, that smells so good.”

Because she wanted to finish cooking at a certain time, Mia left for Kiera’s place in the early morning. Who knew she and Kiera could make so much food in just a few hours?

She turns to me with a smile. “Really? Thanks. I got this recipe off the internet, so I hope it tastes as good as it smells.”

“Care for some wine, ladies?” Kiera asks.

“Please. White would be great.” I sigh in relief.

I look over the other dishes splayed throughout the kitchen. Each one is either wrapped in foil or in one of those disposable buffet containers.

“Geez, the amount of food here is enough to feed an entire army.”

“We figured since there’s going to be seven of us, we’d need to make at least two batches of everything,” Kiera explains.

“Good call. No doubt we’ll have leftovers.”

“Right?” Kiera laughs.

“Leftovers are the best part of Thanksgiving,”

I turn around to see Jake opening the sliding glass door connected to the backyard. He wears light-colored denim jeans and a gray Nirvana T-shirt.

“Because everything tastes better the next day.”

I look to Mia as she watches the sweet potatoes cook. “What can I do to help?”

She tears her gaze away from the food. “We still need to set the table.”

“On it.” I smile as Mia takes her gaze back to the oven. She watches it with such intensity. “I don’t think it’ll grow legs any time soon.”

I hear Kiera giggle and Jake chuckle.

“I know. I just want to make sure it doesn’t get overcooked. There’s a method to my madness, and I’ve noticed this oven cooks a little fast.

“Yeah, you watch that oven, baby doll,” Jake teases.

She sends him a stare so deadly that I’m amazed it doesn’t faze him as he walks away with a smirk to the patio. Clearly, not much has changed with these two since the last time I saw them together.

I hand Mia my stuffing dish and watch her place it in the warming drawer under the oven. I set the brownies beside some lemon bars and carrot cake.

Soon after that, Jonathan and Jake walk back in with the turkey in a large dish. This turkey is huge.

Both men set the turkey on the stove as Nathan closes the sliding door behind him.

“Let’s rest the turkey for a good twenty minutes, and we should be ready to serve,” Jonathan tells us before sniffing the air. “Smells good in here.”

Spotting the desserts on the far side of the kitchen, he reaches out a hand toward the cake.

Kiera quickly walks up beside him, playfully swatting his hand away. “Nice try, but no.”

He pretends to look disappointed. “But, sweetheart, it’s calling my name.”

“Cute. Real cute. You know what’s really calling your name? The shower. We’ll be eating soon, and Ian should be here any minute.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Jonathan wraps his arms around her petite waist. Their faces are close together. “Will you join me?”

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