Page 32 of The Holiday Exchange

“That’s rude,” Mom scoffs, and God, I love her for always wanting to protect me.

She glances toward Dad, likely trying to process what I’m telling them.

Dad voices it out loud for both of them. “I think we’re confused how Dawson figures into this.”

“Dawson and I had been friendly even before I was dating Nathan. He and his brother are so different, so it didn’t surprise me that Dawson tried to console me after he witnessed our breakup at Sip and Savor.” I shift uncomfortably as Mom and Dad keep trading bewildered glances. “I suggested he take his brother’s place on this trip—as a joke, mostly—but he said yes. So we decided to spend the holiday together as friends.”

“Friends?” Mom’s face is registering a variety of emotions. “So you’ve only been pretending to be boyfriends?”

She glances at Dad, who says, “But you seem like more.”

“We were only pretending at first. And then it became real. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you the truth sooner.”

“Are you saying you developed feelings for the wrong guy?” Dad asks.

“Actually, it seems more like the right guy,” Mom replies, then shoots me a disapproving look. “Honey, we would’ve supported you no matter what.”

“I know. God, it was a dumb idea. Please don’t blame Dawson.”

“We wouldn’t dream of it.” Mom lowers her voice as if he’ll overhear. “Besides, it sounds like maybe he needed some family around him.”

“I thought the same thing.” I shake off how he sounded recounting his conversation with his parents. “Plus, he really loves it here.”

“Well, he’s welcome anytime,” Dad says in that decisive tone that tells me it’s settled, at least where he’s concerned.

“Although I think he needs to fess up to his brother,” Mom adds.

“He did. He asked his permission.”

Mom’s smile is dreamy. “I knew he was special.”

I nod, my stomach constricting. “It’s why I’m scared that this is too good to be true.”

“Maybe there’s a reason we thought you two seemed cozy from the start.” Mom winks. “Can you really fake that?”

I dip my head as my face heats, hoping she’s right.

14

DAWSON

I let out a low,sated moan, waking up with Briar in my arms. I still can’t believe everything that happened last night, everything that happened on this whole trip, if I’m being honest.

He releases a soft, breathy sound, gives his familiar mumble and then the most relaxing sigh, pushing his ass back against my groin before turning around to face me. Briar’s eyes flutter, like he’s still trying to wake up. It takes a moment before he’s able to zero in on me, and ridiculously, I hold my breath, waiting, like even though he’s got a content smile on his face, I’m afraid he’ll tell me last night was too much, too fast.

“You okay? After what we did?” I cup his cheek, brush my fingers against his skin.

“I am…perfect.”

The tightness in my chest loosens. “Good. Listen, I wanted to tell you something.” I hadn’t decided I needed to say it until this moment, but the situation between us is already strange enough, and I want to go into this relationship with everything out in the open.

He tenses against me. “What is it?”

Shit. I should have led into that better. “Nothing is wrong. I’m good…happy. I just think you should know that I’ve liked you for a really long time, Briar. Your visits have been the highlight of my day since before you started dating Nathan. In fact, the day you came in with him for the first time, I had been planning to ask you on a date. I probably should have told you that before I agreed to go away with you…and before we did what we did last night. I don’t want you to think I came here expecting something like this to happen. I didn’t. I just came to help you out, and then?—”

“Shhh.” His finger presses against my lips. “You are the sweetest man I’ve ever known. You don’t have to explain yourself. I trust you, and I’m honored you’ve liked me this long. I don’t know how I got so lucky. I wish I’d seen it earlier…that I hadn’t rushed into things with Nathan, because going into the Sip and Savor and chatting with you was the highlight of my days too.”

I can’t stop the smile taking over my face. “Yeah?”