Page 23 of Hostile for the Holidays

I set the plastic bin down on the coffee table, then head back to the attic for another bin of tree decorations.

“Where did you run? Around the neighborhood?” I ask as I’m walking into the living room, but this time I find Daniel standingin front of me bare-chested and wiping at his neck with his t-shirt. He drops the shirt on the couch and moves toward me.

“I can help you with that.”

Before I can respond, he takes the bin out of my hands. It doesn’t weigh more than twenty pounds, I had been carrying it easily, yet somehow his biceps manage to flex like he’s in the middle of a strenuous set of curls.

He lowers the bin to the ground and I swear he’s sticking his butt up more than necessary. Like he wants me to check out his ass. It’s a male version of the ‘bend and snap.’

My lips press together, holding in a laugh.

I’ve never seen peacocking before, but I think Daniel’s display of muscles and masculine energy is supposed to woo me. It doesn’t work. Not because Daniel isn’t attractive, because he is. The best way I can explain it is he’s like Joey fromFriends. Sweet, attractive, and funny, but there’s not much substance there, at least not between the two of us. He’d make some woman very happy, but that woman isn’t me.

He glances between me and the bins filling the living room. “This is a lot of decorations. Do you need help?”

“No, I can manage on my own.”

I don’t want to decorate the tree by myself, but I’ll do that before I decorate it with Daniel. Then, I remember Jasper ran home to change and he’ll be back to help.

“You sure?” he asks, giving me a megawatt smile as he stretches his arms upward, making his abdominals contract. “I’ve got a long wingspan. Good for reaching high things.”

“Thanks, Daniel, but I’ve got it from here.”

I pull out a strand of lights and using the ladder Jasper got out for me, I start at the top of the tree.

In my haste to appear busy so that I can ignore Daniel, I don’t check that the ladder is locked into place. When I lean to reach around the tree, it pops open the rest of the way and I launchforward. My arms extend in anticipation of protecting my face from hitting the floor, but at the last second, Daniel catches me around the waist.

A rush of relief hits me that I didn’t hit the ground, but at that very moment, Jasper walks in the front door.

“I’m back. Do you—” Jasper stops short, taking in the sight of Daniel and me.

I don’t know exactly what the visual is, but from what I know, Daniel has his arms wrapped around my waist, and he’s shirtless. It might not be interpreted well. Even by a fake boyfriend’s standards.

“What the fuck is going on?” Jasper growls.

I don’t know if it’s the deep growl that emits from Jasper’s chest or the fierce look of protectiveness in his eyes, but my body reacts with an intensity I’ve never known.

My heart hammers against my ribs and my breathing quickens. What is going on?

Daniel, for his part, doesn’t panic enough to drop me, but makes sure I’m steady on my feet before he lets me go.

“I was helping Stella.”

Jasper narrows his eyes at Daniel. “Without a shirt on?”

“He went for a run and was all sweaty,” I offer, but Jasper doesn’t relent. He doubles down with the jealous boyfriend act, his jaw clenching as his molars grind together.

For not getting the hint I wasn’t interested in him earlier, Daniel is clearly picking up on the situation now.

“I’ll let you two finish up here.” Daniel grabs his shirt from the couch and moves toward the stairs. “I’m going to go take a shower.”

“Hey, Daniel?” Jasper calls over his shoulder.

“Yeah?” Daniel responds from halfway up the stairs.

“Do me a favor, and don’t think about my girlfriend while you’re in there.”

My eyes bulge in disbelief. No, he did not say that.

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