Page 28 of Real Tree / Fake Boyfriend

Despite what Brad had said, the saw wasn’t dull, but Brad must have been more worried about getting dirty than he had about getting the tree cut down. Julien could feel the dampness from the ground soak into the nice sweater and jeans Tyler had gotten him. He didn’t care.

“About halfway there, keep a hold on it.” Julien tapped Tyler’s ankle so he would hear him while he readjusted.

With a few more strokes of the saw and a loud grunt of satisfaction, the tree came free from its roots, and thanks to the Ashfords, it didn’t crash down on top of him.

He hurried out from under it while Hailey planted the flag on it with their number.

“Oh no, you’re all wet and muddy.” Tyler’s cheeks were pink from the cold, his bright blue eyes wide as they searched Julien’s face.

Julien shook off some of the needles from his pants and shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.” Unless Tyler planned toreturn the clothes he’d bought, in which case Julien almost felt terrible.Almost.

Tyler reached up and ran his hand across Julien’s shoulders and back. Needles rang out as they fell from Julien’s clothes. Tyler’s hands moved over Julien’s chest to brush the fabric, but now Tyler’s movements were slow and deliberate. He sucked in his bottom lip before he cast his gaze upward and caught Julien’s eye.

Jules resisted the impulse to lean forward and suck the lip into his mouth instead. Julien’s eyes flicked down to appreciate the slick, pink skin that fell from between Tyler’s teeth.

A second later, Tyler dropped his hands and stepped back.

“Come on. We’ll shop while they load the truck and then head home.” Ty’s gloves were now covered in needles, and he pulled them off and tucked them into his pockets. His hands stayed there, depriving Julien of the chance to lace their fingers together again.

Julien nodded as dread settled in his gut. There was nothing he hated more than shopping.

Chapter 12

Tyler

The Christmas Market thrummed with activity. The festive music blared from speakers at each little booth and shop, and the lines wound up the side of buildings. Shops selling whatever you could think of lined the carefully cobbled paths.

The rest of the family had gone to watch the kids take their picture on Santa’s lap, and Tyler and Julien were left to wander alone. Tyler felt much more relaxed when it was just the two of them. It had only been two days, and Julien had been doing a great job selling the boyfriend thing, but when his family was around, Tyler was waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Right now, though, Tyler was glad to enjoy some peace away from his family where he and Julien could be themselves.

“Brad is kind of an asshole, isn’t he?” Julien said when they stopped near a display of handmade gnomes. All of his boyfriend-like charms had disappeared when his family left. Tyler didn’t mind it, though. It was nice to turn it all off for a minute, even if he liked how his hand fit into Julien’s and how Julien casually touched him. He could get used to Julien’s facade, but it was good to be reminded of who the guy really was.

Tyler laughed. He was used to Brad and his sister bickering, which Tyler hardly noticed anymore. “Is he? He has a way about him, I guess.”

Julien raised his thick eyebrows and put back one of the gnomes as they continued to walk.

Some pine needles clung to the back of Julien’s hair, but Tyler tried to resist the urge to pull them off. His fingertips itched with the need to tidy up, and before he could stop himself, Tyler reached up and pulled a needle from one of Julien’s soft curls.

Julien paused and leaned in. Dark eyes focused on Tyler’s face briefly. Tyler gaped, lost momentarily in the intensegaze.

He either wants to murder me or kiss me. Please, want to kiss me.

When Julien spoke, his voice was gruff. “Don’t tell me that’s the kind of guy you’re into.”

“What? God, no.” Tyler cringed. He dropped the hand that brushed against Julien’s arm. “Brad’snotmy type.”

“Are you sure? He’s clean-cut, seems like a perfectionist, and doesn’t mind dressing up like a doll. Does your sister make her whole family match every day?”

She wishes, Tyler thought to himself. He imagined Cece would love the order of a perfectly coordinated family all year.

“No, they’re doing pictures with Santa, so theymustmatch. It’s tradition.” Honestly, it was as if Julien didn’t understand the meaning of the word.

They walked closer to one another now, and Julien’s knuckles rubbed against the back of Tyler’s hand. It almost felt intentional, and Tyler shivered when it happened again.

“What is your type, then?” Julien asked him with an eyebrow raised in a sexy way. Jules hooked his index finger withTyler’s, and for such a brief moment, Tyler thought he had hallucinated it.

Tyler overcame the insane impulse to say it was greasy mechanics with scowling expressions that smelled like smoke and leather. That kind of man had climbed to the top of his list of perfect guys.

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