Page 6 of Christmas Wish

"You seem to like clichés. It doesn't get more cliché than having a guy who's actually not your boyfriend come to your house during the holidays to fool your parents. Besides, what's the worst that could happen?"

In movies like that, the two main characters always fell for each other. That didn't sound bad at all. Besides, I already liked him. "Are you sure that you don't need to get back?"

"I'm sure. Come on, this will be fun."

Maybe for me. But why was he doing this? I opened up the front door. My whole family was standing in the small foyer.

"Um." This was so surreal. "Everyone, this is my boyfriend, Tucker." It sounded weird coming out of my mouth. My family was going to know I was lying. Obviously Tucker Mills wouldn't be dating me.

Tucker squeezed me hand.

Izzy turned to me. "Why didn't you tell me you were dating Tucker Mills?"

"Why didn't you tell me that you were engaged?" I said.

Tucker coughed. "We come baring gifts." He looked down into the bags. "Alcohol and Cheez-Its. Aw, baby, I didn't realize

you got Cheez-Its. Thank you." He leaned down and kissed my cheek. "She knows how much I like those."

Baby? God that sounded nice. His lips felt so soft against my cheek. I could feel my cheeks flushing. "Let's go put those away, you," I said, and pulled him toward the kitchen. You? That was the most endearing nickname I could come up with? No wonder I was single.

"I actually do really love Cheez-Its," he said and placed the bags down on the counter.

"Me too. We should probably open some wine if we're going to pull this off." I opened up the cabinet and pulled out glasses for everyone.

"It'll be easy. We're both attracted to each other. Really this is just going to be fun. But I would like you to try this." He lifted up the bottle from his winery.

He's attracted to me? I swallowed hard.

"I thought you said you were getting flour so you could make cookies?" He stared down at several plates filled with cookies that were already on the counter as he poured the wine.

"I was..."

"Oh, it was the funniest things, Julia," my mom said as she entered the kitchen. "As soon as you left I found flour in the back of the cupboard. All the cookies are already done."

I looked up at Tucker. He was smiling at me. If I had waited another minute, I never would have gone to the store. I never would have run into him.

He raised his eyebrow at me.

I quickly looked away. "It worked out okay."

"Mhm," Tucker said and placed his hand on the small of my back. "She had to meet up with me anyway."

"Well, you both missed out on cookie making, but now it's time for Julia's favorite part of Christmas Eve."

"Oh, Mom, I'm sure Tucker doesn't want to do that."

"Don't be silly." She smiled and grabbed the slips of paper she had already cut up. "It'll be fun."

I lifted up one of the glasses and took a sip. "Oh my God, this is really good, Tucker."

He laughed and put his arm around me. "Baby, you're always so supportive. Every time Julia drinks wine from my winery she acts like it's the first time she's tried it." He squeezed my shoulder.

"You own a winery?" my mom asked.

"Yeah, up near Kennett Square."

"Very fancy. And you brought some for us to try? Oh, how thoughtful." She grabbed the tray of glasses and wandered out of the kitchen.

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