Page 48 of A Chef's Kiss for Christmas

“Yes. It’s a hectic time of year in the marketing world. You must be busy at the moment, too?”

She nodded. “I did a wreath-making workshop at a private party last night and spent this morning delivering orders. And this afternoon assembling more wreaths.”

Frannie reappeared and handed Anna a glass of wine. “I’ll bet you’re making time for your new relationship, though?”

Anna gulped her wine. She should probably get the conversation over and done with, but she was aware of Jake being around somewhere.

“Warren’s so lovely,” Kylie crooned. “And it’s great that you were friends first. When you have that foundation for a relationship, it makes it solid really fast. Don’t you think? You definitely seem very togetheralready. You’d never know it was a new relationship. There’s no awkwardness between you.”

“There isn’t,” Anna mused, then grimaced. She heard the creak of the stairs and decided Jake was probably out of earshot. “I actually wanted to tell you something… it’s a bit uncomfortable…”

“We’re sorry again about jumping to conclusions about him and the waitress,” Kylie said. “He won’t hold it against us, will he?”

“No. It’s not an issue.”

“And things are good between the two of you?” Frannie asked.

“Yes.” She grimaced again, then shook her head. “Well, not really.”

“What’s the problem?” Kylie asked, sitting upright.

Anna put a hand over her face. “Before I tell you this, you need to know that I’m truly sorry. I did something stupid, and I’ve been feeling terrible about it.”

“You’re freaking me out now.” Frannie pressed a hand to her heart. “What did you do?”

“I lied about Warren,” she said in a rush. “He’s not actually my boyfriend. I just asked him to pretend for the party.”

Kylie gave a manic shake of the head. “Are you joking?”

“No. It was really stupid.”

Frannie wrinkled her nose. “Why would you do that?”

“Because I assumed Hayden would bring someone.” Anna released a pent-up breath. “I’m so sick of everyone looking at me like I’m pathetic because I never moved on from him. And I get it, because itispathetic. But I got stressed about the party, and I made a deal with Warren. I went along to a dinner with his parents that he was panicking about, and in return he came to the party.”

“That was all pretend?” Kylie asked, wide-eyed.

“Yes. I hate that I lied to you.”

“You and Warren aren’t actually together?” Frannie asked, her words filled with disbelief.

Anna shook her head. “Please don’t hate me.”

They were silent for one horrible moment.

“Of course, we don’t hate you,” Kylie said.

Frannie stuck her bottom lip out. “I hate you thought you needed to pretend in front of us.”

The door opened and Jake burst in. “I’m sorry, but I can’t keep out of this conversation any longer.”

“Jake!” Frannie hissed. “Were you listening the whole time?”

“No one was whispering, and in case none of you have noticed, we don’t exactly live in a mansion. There isn’t a room in the house where I wouldn’t be able to hear you. But never mind that. Why are you focusing on Warren not actually being her boyfriend instead of asking the important questions?” He plonked himself on the arm of the couch, body angled towards Anna. “You’re not over Hayden?” he said loudly.

“Iamover him,” she said uncertainly. “Kind of. I just never really moved on, did I?”

“Didn’t you?” Jake asked, features scrunching.