Page 62 of The Mistletoe Bluff
With a roll of my eyes, I scooted down the couch, settling next to Oliver so that our hips were touching. His arm settled around my shoulders, pulling me closer.
“Better?” I snapped.
“Immensely,” Elsie crooned before disappearing again.
I sighed. Did I enjoy sitting close to Oliver and having his arm around me? Yes, I did. But did my best friend have to look so gleeful about it?
No, she did not.
My body relaxed as his heat seeped into me, calming my nerves about tonight. Why I was nervous for a Christmas dinner with my best friend and cousin, I couldn’t tell you, though I imagined it had something to do with the man currently running his fingers up and down my arm.
The doorbell rang and both of us flinched, jumping apart. He gave me a sheepish smile before pulling me back into him. Elsie hurried across the room, giving us a secretive grin, and my mouth fell open when she opened the door.
“Surprise!” Emma cried from the doorway, carrying a tote full of gifts in one hand and a duffle bag in the other.
“Emma?” I sprang to my feet and darted over to the door, throwing my arms around my cousin. “What are you doing here?” I pulled back to look at her. Her brown hair was pulled back in a french braid, her hazel eyes that matched Jameson’s full of life.
“I’m here for Friendsmas, of course.”
“I thought you were staying in the city for Christmas,” I said, squeezing her again.
“I missed you all too much,” she admitted, her eyes shimmering. “It’s lonely in a big city without you guys. You can thank Elsie for orchestrating this.”
We took turns hugging Emma before Jameson appeared a moment later and pushed me out of the way so he could pull his sister in for a tight hug.
Those two had been through so much over the years with their dad dying when they were young, and their mom fighting breast cancer. The struggle could have easily torn them apart, but they were closer than ever, even with Emma off at college.
“I’m so glad you came,” he said, planting a kiss on the top of Emma’s head.
She sniffled, smiling at her brother before shuffling her way inside.
Once Emma had set down her things and hung up her coat, she turned and found Oliver sitting on the couch. Her eyes went wide before giving me alook.
I scrambled for an explanation. “Oh, uh. This is Oliver.”
The man in question stood to shake Emma’s hand. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“You too. And you are…”
Oliver said, “Maya’s boyfriend,” at the same time I blurted, “Just a friend!”
Emma arched a brow, looking between us. “Well, which is it?”
I mentally kicked myself. Emma and I were usually super close, telling each other everything, but her college finals had taken over her life over the past couple of weeks. We barely had a chance to say hi to each other, let alone share what’s going on in our lives. Otherwise, she would have already heard all about Oliver, this fake dating scheme, and the photography contest. I wished that Elsie had told me she was coming tonight. I would’ve made more of an effort to give Emma a heads-up.
Elsie laughed, throwing an arm around Emma’s shoulders, and guiding her to the table. “Oh, we have a lot to catch you up on.”
Jameson snorted. “I’ll say.”
Elsie clapped then. “Dinner is ready, everybody take a seat!”
Oliver and I made our way over to the table, sitting in the two seats by the wall as Elsie and Jameson brought out a giant platter of ham, followed by cheesy potatoes, rolls, a green bean casserole, and brown sugar smothered yams.
“Smells so good,” Emma commented, putting her napkin on her lap.
Jameson handed Elsie a bottle of wine and she made quick work of filling our glasses.
Oliver’s knee knocked mine under the table, but instead of pulling away, he left it there, his heat flooding my leg.
