Page 19 of Hostile for the Holidays

But I’m determined to not miss out on this tradition, even if I have to do it myself, so I trudge on down the sidewalk, taking a right onto Pinecone Way and onward toward the Frosty Fir Tree Farm.

SIX

JASPER

I’m drivingto the post office to mail packages for my mom when Liam, my best friend from college and current business partner, calls.

“You make it home okay?” he asks.

“Yeah, flight was easy.”

“Still don’t know why you didn’t take the company jet. I mean flying commercial during the holidays? And not even first class. That’s disturbing.”

“You know why.”

“Yeah, and it’s fucking sad to watch my best friend desperately in love with a woman who doesn’t see how great he is.”

Liam knows how I feel about Stella. He used to give me shit in college for not trying with women. The fact is, I did try to get over Stella. I thought college would be a fresh start, a way to move on and meet someone new. But there wasn’t another woman like Stella.

Yes, she’s gorgeous, nonetheless it’s not only the fact she’s stunning and lights up a room, but there’s an energy about her that pulls me in while simultaneously driving me crazy. Even as kids, she pushed me to be bolder, sharper, and it’s partly becauseof that drive to compete and push myself that helped me achieve success in my field and start my own company.

All these years later, there still hasn’t been anyone who challenges me and meets me head on like she does.

In fact, with the success of my company, it’s been even harder to date. A good number of women are enamored with the idea of dating a wealthy man. Whereas my success hasn’t changed Stella’s opinion about me, and while I want to make amends with her and stop this decades long fight, I appreciate that about her.

In my college years, if I was dating someone before the holidays, I would break things off with them before going home. Liam thought it was because I was cheap and didn’t want to buy them a Christmas present, but it was because I didn’t want to be dating anyone when I went home. Stella was the force that drew me back home every year, clinging to the hope that things between us would be different.

Spoiler: it never mattered. Stella was determined to keep me at a distance, so I did the only thing I knew and continued to fight with her.

But things are going to be different this year.

“Stella and I are dating,” I announce, smugness oozing from my tone.

“Are you bloody serious? Is she an amnesiac? Did she hit her head and forget that she hates you? Worse yet, did you hit her on the head? Was that part of your plan?” Liam sighs, his British accent making it even more dramatic. “No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to be an accomplice in this scheme. God damn it, Jas, the company is on track to have the best fiscal year yet and now you’re going to ruin it all with a lawsuit and felony charges.”

“Cool your jets, L. I didn’t hit anyone over the head. Stella and I are fake dating.”

There’s a long pause before another sigh from Liam. “Okay, I know you’ve been working long hours, mate, but maybe it is time to follow that mental health program we brought on for all the employees. Burn out is a real thing.”

I ignore his insinuation that I’ve lost my mind.

“Stella needed a fake boyfriend for the holidays. A past hookup she wanted to avoid is staying with her family, so she asked me to run interference.”

“Now I’m worried about that felony charge again. Tell me the other guy is still in one piece.”

Daniel’s harmless, but that hasn’t prevented me from feeling a surge of jealousy when I’ve thought of him and Stella together. The fact that she has no interest in him, and is going to great lengths, by fake dating me, to hold him at a distance is keeping him safe.

“He’s still in one piece.”

“This whole set up is making me nervous. Do I need to come out there and check on you?”

I chuckle. “Is that your way of saying you miss me?”

“It’s my way of saying I need you not to lose your head over this woman. There’s no reason anyone should lose their head over a woman.”

That’s Liam. His charming smile and accent make him popular with the ladies in LA, but he’s in no rush to settle down.

“If you want small mountain town charm, you know where to find me.”

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