Mistletoe Between Friends Read Free

parents have made you feel inferior, but let me tell you what I see. I see a beautiful woman with an amazing smile and the greatest laugh, who always makes me feel better. You have a way of making everyone around you feel special, and I am going to be the envy of every man at that conference because I’ll have the most beautiful woman in the world on my arm.”
    â€œThank you,” she finally whispered.
    â€œGet some sleep,” he said softly. “I’ll call you on Sunday and let you know our itinerary.”
    â€œCam?”
    â€œYeah?”
    â€œThank you for asking me to be your pretend girlfriend,” she said, her tone relaxed. “I promise that I’ll be the best pretend girlfriend you’ve ever had. You may never want to let me go.”
    â€œGood night, Lil,” he said in a near whisper. “Sweet dreams.”
    â€œNight, Cam.” Going to sleep with Cam’s voice the last thing she heard would make those dreams very sweet indeed…

Chapter 2
    Lily couldn’t fall asleep.
    Fake dating Cameron was the closest she’d ever get to seriously dating him. Something was better than nothing, she supposed, but still. The thought of them being a couple—even if only for show—had her wondering what it could be like if Cameron really gave them a chance.
    Growing up, Lily had seen Cam as her pal, her buddy. But one fateful night when she was seventeen and feeling rebellious, he’d become her hero. After a particularly harsh fight with her parents over her poor grades in school, Lily had climbed out her window and gone to a college party that she and her friends had been forbidden to attend. Once there, she’d had too much to drink and found herself being hit on by a guy that she really didn’t want anything to do with.
    With no way to get home other than walking—and scared that the boy from the party would follow her—she’d called Cam. Sneaking out of his own home and taking his father’s car, he’d come to her rescue. Lily had made it home safely thanks to him, and her parents had never realized she’d left. Cameron, however, was not so lucky. When he’d arrived home, his father had been up waiting and wanted to know why Cam had snuck out. He’d refused to share Lily’s part in the story and ended up being grounded for a month.
    When Lily had asked why he hadn’t just told his father it was her fault, Cam had simply shrugged. “What’s the point in both of us getting in trouble?” he had said, and in that instant, Lily saw him as her white knight. It wasn’t the first time Cam had helped her, but it was the first time he’d had to pay a price for doing so.
    Unimpressed with her walk on the wild side, Lily had changed her habits and begun spending even more time with Cam. He was the perfect guy, but he was so engrossed with his studies and planning his future that Lily kept her newfound feelings to herself.
    â€œI am so in trouble,” she said as she punched her pillow to try and get some sleep. “How am I supposed to play the part of the girlfriend when I just want it to be real?”
    * * *
    Monday morning came way too soon for Lily. She’d given herself multiple pep talks and reminded herself how important it was to do the right thing for Cam.
    It just sucked that the right thing for Cam was going to be torture for her.
    Ever on time, Cameron arrived to pick Lily up at exactly 7:00 a.m. Knowing he was a stickler about time, she’d made sure that she was ready and waiting for him. But she could tell by the look on his face when she opened the door that he was surprised she was ready.
    â€œWhat?” she asked.
    Cam looked her up and down and then at the suitcase beside her. “You’re ready,” he said with just a hint of disbelief.
    A shy smile crept across Lily’s face. “You told me you’d be here at seven, so I was ready for seven. Actually,