Page 47 of Meet Me on Mistletoe Lane

No one in their right mind could fake date someone this hot and not get burned in the process.

“Hi.” I tugged on one of my sleeves. “Any difficulty finding the place?”

“Nah.” He laughed and rubbed his beanie. “But I swear your neighbors have sensors on their homes, because lots of doors opened as I drove by.”

“Neighborhood watch program,” I said, closing the door behind me and locking it. “Sheriff Kingston is probably running your plates as we speak.”

The color left James’s face. “For real?”

I grinned.

He put a hand over his heart and exhaled. “Thank God. I’ve got some unpaid speeding tickets back home.”

“You should probably pay those,” I said, walking past him toward his red Jeep.

“I know, I know.” He turned around and quickly hurried in front of me to open my door.

Wow.

And here I thought Sam was the only one with any chivalry.

After we both closed our doors, he faced me. “So where to?”

“You hungry?” I asked him.

He made a face. “Always.”

“Let’s go to the diner then. It’ll be busy with the lunchtime rush, so a good place for people to see us, and it’ll be loud enough that we can talk about our plan without everyone listening in.” I buckled my seat belt.

“Speaking of the plan,” he said as he put an arm behind my headrest and backed out of my driveway. “I’ve been thinking we need like an official name for it.”

“I like that idea,” I said, turning on the radio and adjusting it to the local holiday music station. “What about…Operation Holly Jolly?”

He pinched his lips together and hummed along to “Sleigh Ride” before replying. “Operation Mistletoe Magic?” His eyes twinkled with mischief.

I hit his arm. “This is supposed to be about getting your dad into the spirit. Not kissing.”

Dear Lord, did I just say that? But more importantly, did fake dating lead to fake kissing?

And if so, how did you fake kiss someone?

What if I liked it?

What if he liked it?

“Got it. Sorry.” He chuckled and turned onto Mistletoe Lane, slowing down to find a spot near the diner. “I promise I won’t bring up kissing unless it’s absolutely necessary. Deal?”

“Deal.” I pointed to a spot a couple spaces down. “How about Making Spirits Bright?”

He shook his head and cut the engine. “Ho Ho Humbug?”

“That’s it!” I laughed, and he joined in before he realized I was watching him.

“What?” he asked, wiping his face. “Did I cut myself shaving again?”

“No, no.” I unbuckled and opened my door. “You and your dad have the same laugh. Did you know that?”

He nodded. “That’s why it was so nice to hear it again after what you made up about your aunt—”