Holiday for HIre(13)
No, he couldn’t have. She’d probably misunderstood him. That’s all .
She wandered around then, admiring the decorations for a few moments. They really did look better than she’d ever remembered and they weren’t even halfway done .
But something felt off. Something was missing. Something that she hadn’t found in any of the boxes that they’d been through that day .
Which was silly, because she’d found absolutely everything. Her eyes searched the ornaments, trying to determine what was off .
Or was she the one missing something ?
It was Ian .
The house felt oddly emptier without him in it. Cold. Too large. Had it always been this quiet? How long had Jane been rattling around inside, not knowing ?
5
S nowflakes danced and swirled outside her windows as Jane considered whether or not to call. She could have a fire and some cocoa, read a book while the flames crackled .
She could. But she wouldn’t. Her little project was consuming her. She’d met with Ian several times over the last week, and he was shaping up nicely. So nicely, that she’d had a thought—her annual dinner party was a perfect time to test Ian, to see how he held up for the Ladies. The whole point of the event was to reveal her décor. And it was fair, after all—Ian had helped with every bit of the decoration this year .
Looking around, Jane had to admit it turned out better than usual, too. It wasn’t even any of her newer pieces, it was just that Ian had an eye. He’d been right when he’d encouraged her to move her collection of wreaths from the staircase to the hallway where they could be better seen. It had made all the difference .
In fact, the more she looked, the more she liked. If only Christmas could stay all year, she thought for the thousandth time. Not just Christmas, but this Christmas. This Christmas of Ian .
O Tannenbaum came on the radio, and she hummed along. Should she call, or not call? She sang the question along to the tune .
It was just that they needed to spend even more time together if they were going to fake a relationship. And, more importantly, if she were to ensure that the lessons in better living she’d been giving him were going to stick .
Not because she missed his company. She didn’t need company, never had .
The walls, bare of photographs, stared accusingly back at her. But photos of her exes, Fluffers, her lunch crowd, and her deceased family would only serve to make her look sad. And think of how much longer it would take to pull them down before putting up her Christmas flare? The wreaths were definitely a far more festive option .
“O, Holy night…should I call Iiiiiiiaaaan,” Jane sang along to the next song. She flipped open her iPad and began to look through dress ideas to find one specifically to show up the bride on Christmas Eve .
Was that bright red silk with the white fur wrap too tacky? It was so Christmas, though, and both pieces were completely reusable. In fact, the red dress would be just the thing for her décor party .
She considered that the all-white satin that would make her look positively like a Christmas angel. All white might be too obvious that she was showing up Andy, though, so perhaps not. It stayed on her Pinterest board, though, because it, too, would work for the dinner party .
She let her mind wander to the delicious thought of what Ian might look like in a suit. A proper suit, Italian-made and tailored, with a wool-cashmere blend. Not the all-purpose suit he already owned that was likely purchased from JC Penney .
His suit !
She’d completely forgotten that she intended to buy him a new one. She’d have to work on that even sooner now that he’d need it for her dinner as well as for the wedding. Not that he knew about the dinner yet .
There was only one thing to do, and it was a brilliant slaying of all the birds with a single stone, or phone call, as the case may be .
“Yes, hello, Ian?” she said when his familiar rumble answered the phone. She tamped down the thrill in her tummy at the sound, knowing it was only about her plans coming together. “Are you free to meet me in an hour at Astor & Black on Summer? Wonderful, I’ll see you shortly .”
Now, forget her dress for the wedding—what was Jane going to wear to meet with him now ?
The answer presented itself immediately when she opened her closet. The Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress in gold and green hugged her curves perfectly while also maintaining the sort of professionalism that befit a paid relationship like the one she had with Ian. (Was there such a thing that befit a relationship like theirs?) Plus, the colors were perfectly seasonal while not being overtly Christmas-y. No one ever appreciated the amount of thought she put into these things, but it was gratifying just to feel good .
Forty-five minutes later, she was gently stroking just the type of fabric she’d been daydreaming about putting Ian in as she waited for him .
Five minutes after that, her breath was leaving her as he strode into the store and struck her all over again with just how handsome he was. Yes, she mused, she had really lucked out when she’d found him. He was twice as good-looking as the men who typically graced the social pages, if half as cultured .
He saw her and grinned, and her stomach dropped. Yes, she’d definitely lucked out .
A stray snowflake melted on his eyelash, and she shook herself. They had work to do, and it didn’t involve her getting googly-eyed over the fact that her fake date was very good-looking .