Lake Copeland’s best friend Miriam is perpetually single. When she laments the idea of returning to her hometown solo for the holidays to meet her mom’s new husband, Lake has the perfect solution: he’ll tag along as her boyfriend. Fake boyfriend, that is. Some of his favorite holiday romances have fake boyfriends that lead to true love—and complications. But since he’s gay, there'll be no complications. Right?
Unfortunately Lake’s foolproof plan didn’t account for Miriam’s new stepbrother Spencer, who sets Lake’s heart aglow….
“Wow, is everyone finally meeting? That’s great.” Trevor closed a door behind him that Lake vaguely assumed would lead to the big garage at the end of the house. He strode to Lake and stuck out a hand. “You must be Lake—Jill was so glad when Miri said she was coming.”
Trevor’s vibe wasn’t threatening or jealous, but he definitely wasn’t quite glad and not quite concealing it. He was what Lake considered “small town handsome.” Hazel-eyed, brown hair, not as tall as Lake. Nothing derisive meant, just a certain wholesome, rangy quality that would spread into Howard’s figure from youthful sharpness.
Lake nodded as they shook hands and he kept his hold firm, not too firm, and brief.
Trevor nodded in kind, studied him another minute, and then turned to Miriam. “Good to finally have you home, Miri,” he said in a very different tone.
READ MORE“Hi, Trev.” She grabbed onto Lake’s arm with both hands and leaned in, clearly avoiding a hug or a handshake. “I didn’t realize Mom had invited you for donuts after the Christmas tree lighting. Is that a going… thing?”
“Invite me?” Trevor laughed. “I live here.”
Miriam squeezed Lake’s arm tightly enough her nails hurt, and he was in a thick sweater with a thermal underneath. She threw an incredulous look her mom’s way.
“Sweetheart, I swear I told you. Trevor does more than help out around the place these days—he’s full time.”
“Practically runs the farm,” Howard added for good measure. “We decided it made no sense for him to drive all the way out every morning early, what with the old stone barn basically move-in ready.”
“If ‘basically’ means needing to strip the centuries of muck and build an apartment in it from scratch, then yes.” Trevor grinned—crooked and charming. Genuine humor lifted the guarded quality in his eyes.
Lake could see what he was sure Miriam was fighting not to see in Trev. He glanced at Spencer and tried not to act weird when their eyes met because Spencer was looking right at him.
Awkward silence descended.
Lake drained his cocoa, gave another treat to the dogs, and grabbed two donuts. “I’m super appreciative of the warm welcome you’ve given us, and tonight has been lovely, but would it be terribly rude if I admitted I’m beat? Pushing to arrive in time to see the tree was definitely worth it, but I have to say, after a long week at work and a very long drive, I’m ready to call it a night. I think it all caught up to me just now.”
“Oh, of course it’s not rude! We shouldn’t have kept you up so late.” Jill fluttered into solicitous action, somehow managing to break up the knot of all of them standing too closely together, separating and then ushering the two of them down the hall. “Honey, I thought you and Lake would appreciate being in the guest suite. Have a little space to yourselves and your own bathroom.” She kissed Miriam on the cheek. “We’ll all catch up more tomorrow.”
“Sleep tight,” Howard called from the kitchen door with a wave.
Lake waved in return and acknowledged being disappointed Spencer wasn’t leaning into the hall as well.
They trooped back upstairs, got their bags, and Miriam led them down a hall that would have them walking over the kitchen and then into a spacious bedroom. It was an add-on, with the ceiling slanted at the eaves so Lake would have to stoop, but the bathroom was full height and the bed was centered under a window so he wouldn’t break anything getting into and out of it.
“I thought you’d have to be in your room and me on the couch or something.”
“Mom’s small town but she’s not a prude.”
Lake surveyed the bed that was more than big enough for his proportions with plenty of room for Miriam left over with decided relief. “I’ll take it.”
Miriam dropped her stuff, walked to the bed, and fell face-first onto it. She exhaled a long, muffled, “Ughhhhhh.”
“Yeah, I think tonight went pretty well too.” Lake set his bag on a chest of drawers and found all he wanted was to sink down onto the bed too. They lay quietly for a good while. “I won’t ask who Trevor is. Yet.”
“Thanks. I won’t ask how it is we just got here but you already look ready to devour Spencer.”
“Cool.”
“So. Hate it yet?”
Lake covered his face with his arm. “Maybe. Maybe just a little.”
COLLAPSE