Page 55 of Hostile for the Holidays

“Hi.” I pull her in close, one hand affectionately cupping her ass, before brushing my lips against hers. She melts against me and it’s the most satisfying feeling. Where we were playing at being a couple before, and failing, after the day at Toys for Tiny Hearts something has shifted between us and I’m soaking in every moment.

“So this is the famous Stella.” A wolfish grin slides onto Liam’s face as he extends his hand to her. “Liam Hargrove.”

“Liam’s my friend and business partner at Jensen Innovations,” I fill in for Stella.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she says, taking his hand. “And why am I famous?”

“You’re the woman that has finally taken this bachelor off the market.”

Stella’s mouth twitches. “Well Jasper has been begging me to go out with him, and he finally wore me down.”

Liam chuckles. “That sounds right. I’ve always known him to go after what he wants.”

“It’s the sweetest thing that they’re dating now. They used to be rivals in school and downright mean to each other, but if you ask me, all that fighting was foreplay.”

“Mom,” I groan. I can typically brush off my mom’s antics, but right now, this isn’t the conversation I want to be having in front of Stella. “Please don’t say foreplay.”

“I used to tell Jasper, it was only a matter of time before Stella returned his feelings.”

For her part, Stella doesn’t let on. She wraps her arms around my waist and adoringly looks into my eyes.

“It was only a matter of time before we found each other, right, Snowflake?”

I wrap my arms around her and kiss the top of her head. “That’s right, Sparky.”

EIGHTEEN

STELLA

The Jensens’Christmas Eve party is a tradition in Cedar Hollow. I went a few times when my parents forced me to but once they realized how treacherous it was to have me and Jasper in the same room, they stopped making it a requirement. I’d heard from friends over the years about how fun and festive the party was but could never bring myself to show up on Jasper’s turf.

But tonight, I’m attending the party as Jasper’s date as my part in our fake dating arrangement. He’s held up his end of the bargain, so now I’m here to keep his mom from meddling in his personal life by playing matchmaker.

While I’m normally a cozy sweater and jeans girl, I also love to dress up. I’m especially excited to wear the pine green velvet dress with black bows gathering the front at my neck and cleavage. It’s sophisticated, yet sexy, and I’m dying to see Jasper’s face when he sees me in it. I love the way his eyes light up and the skin around his eyes crinkles because his smile fills up his face.

The moment the thought is out of my head, I stutter step in my black heeled booties.

Let me try that again.

What I mean is, I want Jasper to see me in this dress and fall all over himself because it’ll be payback for all the times he thought he bested me when we were growing up.

Yeah, that feels better. I think.

I shake the thought loose, and pull on my coat to make the short walk across the street.

Jasper asked if he could pick me up, but after helping his mom wrap some gifts, I was in a rush to shower and change so I told him I’d meet him there. Besides, his friend and business partner, Liam, is here now and I wanted to give them some time to hang out.

If I thought the Jensens’ house was magical a few nights ago, the party preparation has turned it into a full-on Christmas wonderland.

Twinkling lights are wrapped around the banisters and over the windows. Pine garlands and wreaths add to the décor but also give a forest-fresh scent. A few high-top tables in the foyer are draped in white linen with pine branches, candles, and ornament centerpieces.

It’s a Wonderful Lifeis playing on the framed television over the fireplace, while a mix of holiday classics makes up the soundtrack for the evening. The food table is a work of art. Mini meatballs, puff pastry bites, and cheeseboards are laid out on a table for snacking with rosemary and cranberries for garnish giving the table a festive vibe.

I’m tempted to take pictures just so I can remember every detail because right now it feels impossible to take it all in.

There’s a crowd of people at the bar in the foyer that’s serving a variety of spirits like mulled wine, spiked eggnog, and peppermint cocktails, so I hang my coat on the designated rack in the hallway and walk into the living room.

I spot Juniper putting the finishing touches on the hot cocoa bar and dessert table so I walk over to help her.

---