Page 33 of The Jinglebell War
“No way. Not happening.” She unbuckles her seatbelt, throws open her door, and gets out.
My phone vibrates in my pocket. I pull it out and see it’s my parents calling. Again. I talked to them twice yesterday, and it was the same story Hudson gave me. They won’t pressure me to work for them, they just want to know I’m doing well.
They’ve threatened to visit me here if I don’t visit for Christmas. I shudder at the thought. No one in this town knows I’m related to the Riverton family who owns the ski resort in Sugar Valley, and I don’t ever want them to know. They already judge me for being an outsider. I don’t want them judging me for being arichoutsider.
Going home is the only option, but I’m dreading it. Hudson’s idea of a girlfriend is genius, not just to get Mom and Dad off my back, but because I really like the idea of a buffer.
I’ve spent hours going over my options, considering every woman I know who might be willing to pose as my date. The town is too small and there aren’t very many single women my age who I can trust not to gossip about my family who also haven’t, at one time or another, made it clear they’d like to date me.
I’m not interested in leading anyone on. I don’t need more enemies like Tilly Jenkins.
Blue crosses her arms over her chest and glares at me. Does she want to finish our conversation? Or is she up to something?
She’s beautiful in the failing light, her cheeks red from the cold, her eyes lit by sheer annoyance with me. There’s no way in hell she’d ever fall for me, even in a fake dating scenario.
And of all the people I know, Blue is the least likely to be intimidated by my family.
She’d have no reason to gossip about them, either, since I’m going to give her an excellent reason to want to stay on my good side.
And, as mayor, she has every good reason to never leave Yuletide. She’s the perfect person to convince my parents I’m staying here.
Blue bares her teeth at me, shakes her head, and stomps over to her car.
It’s a crazy idea and there’s a very good chance we’ll annoy each other too much to be a believable couple.
Although, if we annoy the hell out of each other, it’ll only help in my mission to rid Yuletide of Blue.
It’s a win win, really. My parents are happy and I get to continue tormenting Blue while I’m out of town. I wouldn’t want to leave her here alone for a few days and let her get too comfortable without me around reminding her of all the reasons she shouldn’t be mayor.
Blue’s already in her car, glaring at me through the windshield. I jump out of my truck and stand, feet wide, in front of her vehicle before she can drive off.
She rolls down her window and sticks her head out. “Now you want to talk to me? We weren’t finished discussing—”
“I’ll agree to a truce.”
Her jaw drops, and she studies me warily. “Really?”
“I’ll agree to a truce if you do one simple, simple thing for me.”
She sighs and pulls her head back into the car. I expect her to start the engine and run me over, but she opens her door and gets out, meeting me in front of her car. “This better be good.”
“I need you to go home with me in three days, and I need you to pretend you’re my girlfriend.”
Her glare intensifies. “You made me get out of my car to fuck with me?”
“I’m not fucking with you. I swear. My parents are after me to come home, but I need a buffer.”
She rolls her eyes. “You need a buffer from your parents?”
I stare her down. “I’d think you know a thing or two about needing a buffer from a parent.” I have met her mother. She’s pushy, selfish, and arrogant. And Blue clearly can’t stand her.
“Ouch. But fair.” She looks out at the forest to her right and taps her fingers on her thigh. When she looks back at me, I see the decision in her eyes. “Nope. That’s way too big a favor for a guy who attacked me with a chainsaw.”
“I didn’t attack you. I just waved it around in your vicinity.”
She shrugs. “Still no.”
I open my mouth to argue, but she slaps at her snow pants and holds up one finger. She pulls her cell phone from her pocket and puts it to her ear. “Yvonne, how are you?” Her face pales. “I’m not exactly dressed for a… You heard about that?” She looks up at me. “He’s here with me… Both of us? I think he might have… Now? Okay, I’ll tell him.”
