With Sofia asleep, it felt like we were alone in his house, and it was quiet. The wind gusted outside, and the occasional flake struck the window.
"Pretending to be your girlfriend is a big ask."
His lips twitched. "You didn't seem to think so a few hours ago."
"I've had a chance to think about it, and if I'm going to add another thing to my to-do list, then you should cross one thing off."
He raised a brow. "And I can do that by playing Santa?"
"Someone has to do it, and you said yourself that Frank wants you to." I sipped the hot chocolate, then licked my lips.
Maddox leaned back on the cushions, letting his knees fall wide. "He has it in his head that I'm the face of the fire department."
I swallowed hard at the picture he made of masculine confidence. "As fire chief, you will be."
He straightened, his elbows resting on his knees. "You go on three dates with me around town. We hold hands, kiss, and pretend we like each other."
I winced internally at that part of the plan. It wouldn't be hard for me to act like I liked him. It was the truth. "And?—"
"And I'll play Santa in the parade."
I grinned, excited to see him in a Santa suit. "The kids are going to love it, and you have to throw those mini candy canes."
He nodded. "We have buckets of those this time of year."
Then my excitement waned. "What about Sofia? Do we tell her what's going on?"
"I'll say that we're friends. I don't think we have to explain it unless she asks more questions. By the time she realizes something might be going on, our arrangement will be over. We'll move on from each other. We'll say we weren't compatible."
"Believable." I drank more hot chocolate, hoping to soothe my dry throat.
He frowned at me. "Why is that believable?"
I flushed. "You know, because we're so different. I'm extroverted, and you're introverted. I love people. You want to avoid people."
He held up his hands as if to warn me off. "I get that."
I let out the breath I'd been holding. I wasn't sure if I was trying to convince him or me. "It makes sense that we'd butt heads."
He studied me. "That's an interesting way of putting it."
I looked away from him. Being in his space like this was intimate. "You know what I mean."
"What are our three dates?"
"You want me to organize things?" I asked lightly despite the tightness of my throat. For once, it would be nice if a man could plan something. Take one thing off my list.
"I'm thinking it could be holiday stuff."
"I'm working the parade." And I hadn't even thought about Thanksgiving. "Then there's the tree-lighting ceremony."
"What else do you have planned in the town for the holiday season? Surely, there's something we can do together so we'd be seen around town."
"You can be by my side at the tree-lighting ceremony. It's work but could be construed as a date. I'll be too busy at the parade to pay any attention to anyone else."
"We can do the usual, go to dinner, grab coffee."
"I'm thinking of creating a holiday light trail which will keep me busy. But I can always fit in a quick lunch or coffee." Dinner was probably a bad idea. And being alone with him in his house was even worse.
