Page 68 of The Holiday Fakers
“We can’t help it being a bit staged, honey,” Erica says. “It’s not like we’ve got hidden cameras in your bedroom to record your snuggle time.”
Piper’s mug hits the table with a bang.
Erica laughs. “Oh my goodness, you don’t think I’d actuallydothat, do you?”
The image of rose petals on the bed and Piper lifting the bottle of lube flashes through my mind.
“Oh, wait till I tell everyone at the crochet and romance book club,” Erica continues, still giggling. “They’ll think it’s hysterical!”
“Mom! Please!”
Before my brain can control my body, I loop an arm around Piper’s shoulder, hugging her into me. I want it to be in a friendly way, but then I ruin it by dropping a kiss on the top of her head.
Abort! Abort!
Just as I’m preparing to let her go, Piper’s free arm reaches around my chest.
My heart moves up a gear.
“Ahh, that’s so cute,” Erica coos, and lifts her phone to take a picture.
“Mom,” Piper grumbles into my chest, but she stays where she is.
This is all wrong, but having her nestled in my arms feels like a kind of perfect that’s utterly new to me. I no longer want to finish the buttery pastry or even touch my latte. I just want to nuzzle the top of Piper’s head and drink in her scent.
Marv and Erica fall into an easy conversation planning every minute of my time here in Hideaway. Piper doesn’t seem to want to move, so I break off a bit of pastry and offer it to her.
She smiles, her lips brushing my fingers as she takes it from me.
Holy shit.
Trying to keep my hand steady, I break off another piece and feed it to her.
This time, the tip of her tongue darts out to lick a flake from my finger, and I suck in a breath.
Mia brings her camera up. “This is gold. Hashtag relationship goals.”
Piper gives a little hum as if in agreement and my mouth runs dry.
It’s for show. It’s what we agreed to do. Piper’s okay with this. We’re in public.
I keep the internal monologue of justification going until the plate is empty.
“Kiss her head again,” Mia instructs. “The shot wasn’t in focus the first time.”
Determined to show willing, I drop another kiss into Piper’s hair, this time allowing myself to make it last a little longer.Just in case Mia needs time to frame the shotI tell myself.
As my lips make contact, Piper hums her approval again, and the sound vibrates through my body, cracking the walls around my heart.
“Come on, kids, let’s get going so we find a good spot for the fun run,” Erica says as Marv throws some bills down on the table.
Piper pulls away and sits up, fussing with her coat like she doesn’t want to meet my gaze. Is she embarrassed? Is she regretting what just happened?
I tug on my coat, and we make our way out of Love at First Sip, onto the street. People are already on the sidewalk heading for the start line, wearing Santa hats and drinking from paper cups.
“It’s Glögg Appreciation Day today,” Erica says over her shoulder as she leads the way. “Keeps us warm when we’re outside.”
Snow covers the rooftops and piles up along the edges of the buildings where it’s been cleared from the sidewalks. Christmaslights hang across the street and the scent of spices and wine fills the air.
