Chapter 1
Diana
“Caught ya!” Diana grabbed Fae’s shoulders.
“Ahh!” Fae threw her hands in the air and jumped in her seat.
Diana laughed as her best office friend clutched her heart. “Online holiday shopping at the work?” She slid onto the desk next to the computer and let her feet dangle. “I hope you’re getting me something good.”
Fae grinned like the Grinch who stole all the gifts. “You wish. You’re getting an ‘I Heart NY’ mug just like every year.”
“Yay.” Diana kicked her feet. She already had three mugs in her cupboard—and loved their ongoing gag gifts. She’d purchased a Sears Tower snow globe just that morning for Fae.
They heard footsteps and paused in their chitchat until Benji passed the door. Fae tossed her wildly curly dark hair over her shoulder. What Diana would give to have hair like that. Her auburn trusses were nothing to feel bad about, but the curls—oh, the curls.
“When will you be back from Georgia?” she asked.
“Not until after New Year’s. What about you?” Fae clicked to another site, browsing beard-care products and kits. Her dad had a Sean Connery thing going lately.
“Two days after Christmas. I’m sticking around to help Mom clean the cabin, but then I’m out of there. I can only take so much of my family.” She shuddered dramatically.
“Whaaat? You love your kin.”
“Yeah.” She did. She really did. Their ongoing text thread was a constant source of love and teasing—especially from her older brother. He was so wrapped up in his little family that they hardly saw him anymore, so the texts were extra precious. “But something happens when the extended family comes at Christmas. Remember last year?”
Fae giggled. “Oh my gosh—I totally forgot about the ambush.”
Diana rolled her eyes. “Ambush is putting it mildly.” Her great-aunt had brought two single men to the Christmas Eve celebration, certain that Diana and her cousin would fall desperately in love at first sight. She and Celine had gone out with them—after a huge guilt trip from their mothers—and ended up paying for dinner and taking an Uber home. Apparently, their great-aunt had said the girls were looking for a “good time” while they were in town. Never. Again. “They won’t rest until they see me married off.”
“Why don’t you just take someone home with you?” Her eyes glittered with mischief. “Jared is single.”
“Jared is one step up from dating slime.” Their coworker’s ethics were constantly in question, and he hadn’t been faithful to a girlfriend in three years.
Fae laughed.
Diana warmed to the subject, enjoying a few minutes of holiday cheer before she had to go back to spreadsheets and data. “Besides, if I showed up with a guy on Christmas Eve, my mom would have the wedding planned before Santa’s sleigh landed on the roof.” A series of horrible alternate universes ran through her head.
“So take someone they don’t want you to marry.”
A premonition brushed against Diana’s arm, raising goose bumps. “What did you say?”
“I said take someone they wouldn’t want you to marry.” Fae lifted a shoulder. “Pressure’s off.”
If she arrived on the arm of a Hell’s Angel, a mob boss, or a cult leader, her family would freak out. Totally. Freak. But she was too savvy to put herself in any danger. Still … Her parents were firmly upper-middle class, priding themselves on Ivy League educations, the family crest, and Great-Grandpa’s American dream that trickled down several generations; she could bring home a ditch digger and get the same results.
“You’re brilliant.” She beamed. “A plan this crazy might actually work.”
“That’s why I’m the bestest.” Fae leaned on one arm of the chair.
Diana drummed her fingers on the desk. “The trouble is finding someone.” Their IT company didn’t exactly employ a lot of ditch diggers—and her condo was in an upscale part of town, and her neighbors were all office workers who wore suits and ties. Well, except for Cliff. Her next-door neighbor was an electrician. She’d never really asked him much about what he did, but he was the one she called when her power went out, an outlet tripped, or her cupboard door fell off. He just knew things. Some people might think he was scary—he had a long beard and a few tattoos. But under all that, he was the sweetest guy. And he had great eyes. The kind that spoke to her soul.
“I guess you’d better start looking,” said Fae.
“Gives a new meaning to Christmas shopping,” Diana joked. They shared a laugh.
Fae went back to clicking through the online catalogue. “Too bad they don’t rent boyfriends for the holidays.”
“Or any days.” Diana wiggled her eyebrows, earning another laugh. She could already feel the pressure lightening.
