Page 65 of Holly and Nick Hate Christmas
I brushed powdered sugar off my hands. “You’ve obviously never been in a real relationship.”
“Touché.” He toasted me with his coffee mug. “Should that be our first get-to-know-you question, then? How many failed relationships we’ve had?”
My donut shape-shifted into a rock in my stomach. “Um, what about favorite colors instead?” It was hard enough saving face in front of Nick with our current circumstances. No way did I want him to know how pitifully few relationships I’d had.
“Blue.” He shrugged. “Or green.”
“I like those colors too. And purple, but I obviously clash with it.” I held up a lock of my hair. “Also, pink is nice.”
“You asked me my favorite color and don’t have your own?” Nick shook his head with a disapprovingtskas he set his mug down. “Favorite food?”
“Pizza.”
“Wrong.” He grimaced. “Tacos.”
“Wrong as in I don’t know my own favorite? Or wrong as in the only correct answer is tacos?” I frowned.
“Both.”
I tossed a donut at him and it ricocheted off his chest, leaving a trail of powder against the dark blue flannel.
“That wasn’t very loving,dear.” Nick grinned as he brushed at the mark. But his fingers were coated in the same powder, so it only made it worse.
I grabbed a dish towel from the hook over the sink. “And that was such a guy thing to do,honey.” I scrubbed at the offending spot before realizing how easily—and naturally—I’d invaded his personal space.
And how firm his chest felt under his shirt.
And how shaky my knees had suddenly become.
I stepped back and handed over the towel. “Maybe you should just wear it as a bib.”
“Or maybe my girlfriend shouldn’t start food fights.” Nick wiped his shirt.
Girlfriend.Soweird. Good thing we were getting practice now, before Ryan came downstairs and the show started. I needed to get used to it. Because it was easy to notice that Nick was attractive and appreciate bantering with him when I wasn’t trying to choke him out with Christmas.
It was an entirely different thing to develop an actual crush on my fake boyfriend. I better be on guard, just in case.
Because, good grief, the man smelled good.
I cleared my throat. “Favorite app on your phone?”
“Candy Crush. Don’t judge me.” He hung the dish towel back over the sink. “Favorite childhood board game?”
That was easy. “Monopoly.”
Nick grinned. “Let me guess—you cheated.”
I bristled. “Kat deserved it, always scooping up Park Place.”
“You have grudge issues, don’t you?” He crossed his arms over his chest, now sans sugar.
“Only when someone betrays me.” I lifted my chin. “Isn’t that normal?”
“I’ll be real honest. I haven’t seen a lot of normal yet on this trip.” Nick chuckled. “But I haven’t been bored, that’s for sure.”
I offered a mock salute. “If you get bored, just let me know. I’ll find a fake reindeer somewhere to hide in the shower.”
“Great. New fear unlocked.” Nick winced. “I’ll be checking behind the curtain every night.”
