Page 39 of Festive Faking
How was I expected to make him believe otherwise when I was still working on convincing Aspen?
“Sure.” I nodded, trying to portray a confidence I didn’t feel. “Sounds great.”
Jett hitched a thumb over his shoulder. “Truck’s outside.”
Oh, shit. He wanted to do thisnow?
“Meet you out there.” I gestured to the Santa suit. “Just wanna get changed first.”
He grunted in response, and I fled to the tiny storage room I’d used to get dressed in earlier.
Aspen was hot on my heels, crowding into the tight space. This close, I could smell the scent of her shampoo and the syrup on her breath from the pancakes she’d enjoyed during a quiet moment in the chaos.
Tempted beyond belief to kiss her again, to steal some of that sweetness on her tongue for myself, I was halted by the alarm in her eyes.
“You can’t go with him.” Her voice came out breathy as her chest rose and fell rapidly.
“What am I supposed to do, Aspen?” I yanked off my Santa hat and ran a hand through my hair. “I’m a guest in his home. I’m dating his daughter. Can’t exactly afford to be pissing the guy off by being rude and declining his invitation to share a drink.”
Her blue eyes were wild, and I could feel the nervous energy rolling off her in waves. “You don’t understand. He’s going to want to know what your intentions are.”
“Are you sure?” Doubt leaked into my voice. “After only a year of dating?”
She huffed out a laugh. “You really have no idea how it works out here. Courtships are quick, engagements even shorter. A year is unheard of unless you decide to marry your high school sweetheart and have to wait because you’re underage.”
My eyebrows rose. “Did you just say courtship? People still use that word?”
“We’re staring down a crisis, andthat’swhat you’re focused on? My vocabulary choices?”
“You’re right. Sorry.” I got to work stripping out of the costume. “I’ll tell him that, right now, we’re both focused on finishing school and we’ve talked about the future but aren’t ready to take that step yet.”
“Yeah, that’s gonna go over real well,” Aspen muttered.
“Fine, then I’ll tell him that I wouldn’t dare clip your wings, that I want to watch you soar in your career before tying you down. Better?”
Her mouth dropped open, finally rendered speechless enough that she didn’t argue back.
I snatched the winter coat I’d been borrowing from Tripp off a hook along the wall and pulled open the door to the makeshift changing room.
“I’ll see you tonight for our date.”
“It’s not a date,” she shot back.
I peeked over my shoulder to flash her a cheeky grin. “Oh, it’s definitely a date.”
And I planned to make the most of it.
Jett brought two crystal tumblers and the bottle of scotch onto the back deck, where he gestured for me to take a seat.
Dropping onto a chair, I accepted the glass he poured for me, taking a sip and savoring the flavor before the liquor burned a path down my throat.
Yeah, that was the good stuff. My dad might be pretentious in naming me after a high-end spirit, but at least he’d picked one that I discovered I enjoyed when I grew old enough to drink.
The alcohol warmed my blood enough that I decided to break the silence that had stretched between me and Aspen’s father since we’d first hopped into his truck back in town.
“I’m sure you’re wondering what my intentions are with your daughter.” I mentally tipped my cap to the girl in question for slipping me that piece of info to lean on.
Jett took a long pull from his own drink before setting it down on the table resting between us. Looking me straight in the eye, he replied, “Actually, I’m wondering when it became real for you.”
