Sawyer lowered himself then, her heart hammering harder with every inch he neared, until their lips barely touched.
“Hi,” he said. And then he kissed her. She assumed he’d make it short and sweet, considering their audience, but he didn’t. Instead he kissed her long, slow, and alluring.
Sawyer was good at this. Too good. She would accuse him of cheating, but she wasn’t surewhathe was cheating at. The game of convincing half of their company that they were in love, or the potential game he was playing with her heart?
The group was still cheering.
Betzy hadn’t planned to get lured into a moment of passion, but the man was magic and he’d somehow turned her into a pool of swooning delight.
Suddenly Sawyer grinned against her lips, sprung her right back into place, and tapped a tiny kiss to the tip of her nose.
When Betzy wobbled back, Sawyer steadied her by cupping her elbow.
“You’re welcome,” Duke mumbled from behind.
Once the chatter died down, Betzy reached for another candy vine and began twisting it into a heart of her own. It was in that moment she became aware of Grandma’s scrutinizing gaze.
She hoped the stubborn woman wasn’t onto them. Grandma could be persistent, and the last thing Betzy needed was for someone in her own family to sabotage her plan.
It took her a moment to remember the reason for that plan, but soon enough she did—revenge. Yes, for what Daisy had done. That’s why she was doing this.
But then she recalled Lily’s question—Is that because you love her?Betzy pictured the look in Sawyer’s eye when he answered that question with a ferventyes.
It was moments like that that made Betzy wonder if what Grandma implied was true. What if Betzy really was trying to prove something more to herself than anyone else?
She’d written Sawyer off not long ago, swearing she’d never let herself hope for him again. But what if this was her way of opening up to Sawyer one last time?
Just then Duke leaned in once more. “Lucky Sawyer,” he said under his breath. “All the benefits of being the fiancé without the commitment.”
Betzy shot him a look over her shoulder.
“Fake fiancé—withbenefits,” Duke mumbled and grinned.
She was tempted to hush her older brother, but with as loud as the group was, Betzy knew there wasn’t a need. Perhaps what she really wanted to do is silence the words in her own mind. Duke’s comment touched on Grandma’s warning about men and their intentions, something she hadn’t felt applied to Sawyer.
It didn’t, she assured herself. Sawyer and Duke’s personalities were miles apart.
Still, that very concern lingered at the forefront of Betzy’s mind as they finished up in the kitchen. Enough that she was second-guessing their kiss that morning, something she didn’t want to do.
Betzy forced herself to focus on a bit of inner talk. Sawyer wasn’t like most men. He wouldn’t use her that way. Heck, the guy could have any woman he wanted.
By the time they moved on to decorating the tree, she’d managed to push Duke and Grandma’s comments out of her head.
“This is a cute picture of you,” Sawyer said as he lifted a framed ornament for her to see. “I remember this one. What is it, eighth grade?”
Betzy leaned in to scrutinize the photo in the center of the wreath-shaped ornament. Red hair tucked into a high ponytail, way too much blush, and a wide grin on her face. “Yes,” she said. “Eighth grade. I wasreallyinto rouge that year.”
Sawyer only grinned, eyeing the picture once more before lifting it to a branch. “I was really intoyouthat year,” he admitted.
Betzy felt herself blush at his words. It probably looked like she’d slipped back into time where she’d covered her cheeks in pink, but she didn’t mind. Hearing Sawyer say things like that was like candy to her soul.
“Hey, Betzy,” her mom hollered. “Have you got an extra pair of slippers? My feet are freezing.”
“Sure,” Betzy said. “I’ll grab them. Be right back,” she mumbled to Sawyer before heading away from the group.
The sounds of laughter and chatter faded as Betzy made her way back through the kitchen and toward her room. A Christmas melody floated from the speakers, the familiar tune bringing a smile to her lips. She was enjoying herself. Enjoying the time with Sawyer and her family. Even if it wasn’t the real thing, playing the role with her lifelong crush was better than she’d imagined it could be.
The thought was interrupted as she passed Sawyer’s room and heard a chime from his phone, one indicating he’d just received a text.
