We’re having a staring contest and he’s going to lose. If there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s standing my ground. I once stood in a professor’s office for forty-five minutes until he gave me the same grade as a male student who put no effort in our group project and only got an A because he needed to maintain his GPA for the basketball team.

“You’re difficult.”

“Thank you.”

The sounds of soft trotting fills the air. I watch the horse drawn sleigh glide over a blanket of man-made snow. I’m covered in goosebumps.

Which may have everything to do with the fact that it’s freezing and I don’t have a jacket.

“I can’t believe this is my life right now,” Asher says.

“A romantic sleigh ride with me? Your hot as hell fake girlfriend? You must have been a really good boy this year.”

“Do you think if I throw myself in front of the horse, it will trample me?”

“I feel like that would be a very painful death.”

“I feel like this is going to be a very painful twenty minutes.”

He’s not wrong. The seats in the sleigh are painful, but I’m pretty much numb from head to toe, so I’m not bothered.

I’m in a sleigh. Under a blanket. With flurries dancing around me. Pine trees are covered in snow. The moon is glowing. The stars are shining. I’m living and breathing a Hallmark Channel movie.

“Can you stop shivering? You’re giving me a headache.”

I deadpan.

He rolls his eyes. And in the most shocking event of the night, Asher shrugs off his jacket and throws it around my shoulders.

“That was almost sweet,” I laugh.

“A thank you would suffice.”

“Thank you so much, Asher. What would I do without such a generous and thoughtful man by my side?”

“Smartass.”

I grin and slide closer to him for the sole purpose of jacking all his body heat.

“I know what you’re doing.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He glares at me, but I smile in return, which makes him shake his head and look away. I’m wearing him down. He’s going to be able to tolerate me soon.

“Tell me about your favorite Christmas.”

“Why?”

“Because I feel like I don’t know you.”

“You know my credit card number very well.”

“I do.” I smile. “And I think you’re going to love the heated throw blanket you’ll be receiving this week.”