Luke was due any minute, and Hayley had trouble concentrating on the cookie decorating. She was eager to see him and she dreaded seeing him. If Badger hadn’t bought her a ring, she would have tried to downplay his importance in her life. That option was gone.

She would have liked her dad to be here when Luke arrived, but he’d left to meet with a parishioner. His calming presence would have muted her mom’s enthusiastic raving about the prospective son-in-law.

Maybe it would help if she ran out to meet her brother and got the first word in. When a car pulled into the driveway, she leaped up. “I’ll bet that’s Luke!”

“I’m sure you’re right!” Her mom jumped up, too. “Let’s go meet him.”

So much for that strategy. “Can’t wait to see him!” She ran out the door without her coat, which gave her a few seconds’ lead.

“Hayley! Your jacket!”

Luke climbed out of the car and she ran straight into his arms. “I’m engaged.”

“You’re what?” He held her away from him and his brown eyes narrowed. “Did you say engaged?”

“Yes, and I—”

“She’s engaged!” Her mom raced down the walkway, her jacket unzipped. “Hayley, show him the ring!”

She held up her left hand. “It’s not a diamond.”

“I see that. It’s one hell of a sapphire, though.” He lifted his gaze to hers. “Is your guy that well-off? I could be wrong, but I’m betting that’s a pricey ring.”

“I thought it looked expensive, too,” her mom said. “Which shows how much he loves her. Come here, Luke. Give your mom a hug. I’ve missed you.”

Hayley stood aside.

“Missed you, too, Mom.” Luke embraced her warmly.

She stepped back and smiled at him. “Isn’t it fabulous that your sister’s engaged?”

“Sure is a surprise.” He glanced over at Hayley. “I didn’t even know you were getting serious about someone.”

She cringed at the ribbon of hurt running through his words. “It…happened fast.”

“Must have.” His expression softened. “Aw, never mind, sis. You were just busy being in love. Must be a great guy. Where are you hiding him?”

Her throat tightened. Luke was such a sweetie. So ready to forgive and forget. “He’s not staying here, but—”

“He’ll be here for dinner,” her mom said.

“I’m confused. Why isn’t this guy staying here? No, wait. Before you answer that, tell me his name. I can’t keep calling him this guy if he’s going to become a member of the family.”

Hayley hugged herself to ward off the cold. “His n-name is B-badger.”

“Ba-badger?” Then he took a closer look at her. “Has love made you stupid? What are you thinking, coming out with no coat?”

“I told her to put on her coat.”

Luke closed the car door and pocketed the keys. “Yeah, Mom, but we know Hayley has a mind of her own. Right, sis?” He wrapped a protective arm around her and started for the porch.

“R-right.”

“I’ll make hot chocolate,” her mom said as they headed into the house.

“Sounds great, Mom. And I’d offer to build a fire in the fireplace, except, oh, look, there’s no fireplace. How does a parsonage in Montana not have a fireplace?”

“Your father asked the same thing when we moved here. They said the minister they built it for didn’t want one.”

“Well, that’s just wrong.” Luke grabbed an afghan off the back of the couch and gave it to Hayley. “Wrap up in this.”

“Thanks.” She wound herself in the soft afghan and sat on the couch. Luke joined her there, turning to face her. “Okay, let’s try again. What’s your fiancé’s name?”

“Badger.”

“No, I mean his first name.”

“That’s it. Badger Calhoun.”

“Is he Native American?”

“He’s Southern!” came the answer from the kitchen. “That’s his nickname. His real name is Thaddeus.”

“Thanks, Mom!” Luke grinned at Hayley. “Guess if somebody named me Thaddeus I’d pick something else, too. So why isn’t he staying here? Are Mom and Dad still that strict about—”

“No, we’re not!” their mom called out. “Hayley, tell him it’s not our fault that he’s staying somewhere else.”

Luke rolled his eyes. “Do you want to forget about the hot chocolate so you can be a part of this conversation?”

“No, I want to make it for you kids. You always loved it.”

“Thanks, Mom.” Luke exchanged a smile with Hayley and leaned closer. “Ain’t it great to be ten years old again?”

She laughed. “Sure is.”

“Okay, so we’ve established that Badger is Southern and hates his given name. Where is he, now?”

“Out at Wild Creek Ranch. He was in the Air Force with Ryker McGavin and he’s partly here to visit him.”

“Don’t know anything about the ranch, never heard of Ryker McGavin. That’s what I get for only coming for Christmas.” He gazed at her. “Forgive me, but this seems like a very complicated courtship. How did you two get to know each other?”

She gave him the story she and Badger had cooked up, but she could tell from the skeptical gleam in his eyes he wasn’t buying it.

He leaned toward her again and kept his voice down. “Are you pregnant?”

“No!” Then she clapped her hand over her mouth. Talk about over-reacting.

“I had to ask, because this quick engagement has a one-night-stand-gone-wrong vibe.”

“I’m not pregnant.” She was tempted to explain the plan. But right then, her mom came in carrying a tray loaded with whipped-cream-topped mugs of hot chocolate and a plate of freshly baked Christmas cookies.

“Now this is what Christmas is all about.” Luke stood and helped distribute the goodies.

With her mom in attendance, Hayley had no choice but to keep the fantasy going. By the time five o’clock rolled around, Luke knew what Hayley could reveal about Badger, which wasn’t much. She’d thrown out a comment about lawyer talk today in hopes he’d confirm that his dad was a lawyer. He hadn’t. She’d leave it up to her mom to tell what she’d learned on the internet.

Interestingly, her mom chose not to do that, even though she had time before Badger was due at the house. Her dad came home and gave his typical measured evaluation of Badger but he didn’t mention the info from the internet, either.

Hayley admired their restraint. Maybe they were becoming protective of him now that he’d come up with a ring. As he’d said, the ring announced that he meant business, especially because there was nothing puny about it. Luke’s quick evaluation of the sapphire indicated he’d picked up some expertise on gemstones, maybe from rubbing elbows with wealthy restaurant owners.

Badger arrived on the dot of five with a bottle of red wine and a holiday floral arrangement. Her heart squeezed. He’d agreed to this charade and he was going all in.

Luke was cordial, because Luke was always cordial. But he was clearly sizing up this man who’d evidently won his sister’s hand. In a subtle way, he seemed to be daring Badger to prove himself worthy.

“So, Badger,” Luke said halfway through the meal. “Since you’re from Atlanta, what do you think about the zombie apocalypse?”

Her dad nearly killed himself laughing. “I asked him the same thing!”

“Yeah, well, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and all that.” Luke gazed across the table at Badger. “My dad beat me to it, so I guess you don’t have to answer.”

“I’m happy to answer.” Badger smiled at him. “I’ve spent ten years fightin’ all manner of insurgents. If the zombie apocalypse happens, I’m as prepared as anyone and maybe better’n most.”

Her mother clapped wildly. “Bravo, Badger!”

Luke raised his glass in Badger’s direction. “Then I want you on my side.” He held Badger’s gaze and something passed between them.

Hayley couldn’t say for sure, but it might be mutual respect. And surprise, surprise, she wanted that, even if Badger was her fake fiancé. But he’d also become her friend, and she’d like for her trusty friend and her beloved brother to get along, at least for the duration of the holidays.

* * *

Badger had squared off against clever guys like Luke before, but never in this context. He’d met them in his pre-law classes and in flight training. His technique was to disarm them with his Southern accent. Some people believed a Southern accent automatically branded a person a hillbilly.

Luke wasn’t one of those people. But then Luke had him linked up with Hayley and wouldn’t believe his sister would choose someone who couldn’t hold his own. They moved from the topic of zombies to fighter jets, which put Badger squarely in his wheelhouse. But Luke had been crazy about jets as a kid and had kept up with the subject as an adult.

That conversation resulted in Badger inviting Luke to go for a ride in the Beechcraft when he took Hayley up. He was rewarded by Hayley’s happy smile. Turned out he and her brother had more in common than he would have guessed. Gradually, the element of competition disappeared and they relaxed into a conversation between two guys interested in many of the same things.

Making friends with Luke wasn’t logical. When the relationship ended after the holidays, Badger might be able to hold onto his friendship with Virginia and Warren. But Luke, not so much. The guy was fiercely loyal to his sister. If the breakup caused her any distress, Luke would blame him, not her.

Toward the end of the meal, Luke asked one of the questions Badger had been dreading. “Have you two decided where you want to live?”

Badger had no interest in picking up that hot potato so he turned to Hayley. “You want to take that one, darlin’?”

“Sure.” She smiled at her brother. “We haven’t worked that out yet. So much depends on what Badger decides to do. But that boat has sailed for me. My job’s in Denver. I don’t plan to give it up.”

Badger responded to his cue. “I would never ask you to.” He turned to Luke. “I’m the loose cannon in this operation and I freely admit it. Your dad has already said he’d prefer to have his future son-in-law gainfully employed.”

Luke gave him a speculative glance. “Unless it doesn’t matter.”

“Meaning?”

“You invested in your Air Force buddy’s plane. You bought my sister what looks like a very high-priced engagement ring. I don’t think you did that by saving up your military pay.”

Virginia started fluttering like a distressed momma bird. “Luke, that’s none of our business.”

Luke glanced at his father. “Do you think it’s our business, Dad?”

Warren nodded. “Now that you mention it, yes, I do.” He looked across the table at Badger. “Where’s all this money coming from, son? I understand that’s normally a rude question to ask, but under the circumstances, I feel it’s justified.”

Badger took a deep breath. They were right. “Before I was born, my parents established a trust fund in my name. I got control of it when I turned twenty-five. I educated myself about investments and I’ve been fortunate.”

Silence descended. Under the table, Hayley nudged her knee against his. “Badger didn’t want you to know about this, Dad. He told me earlier today he liked that you were treating him like a regular guy.”

She was coming to his aid, putting his actions in a favorable light. Behaving like a true friend. In that moment, he lost a piece of his heart.

Warren gazed at Badger. “I would have treated you the same even if I’d known. I don’t care if you have several million sitting in that trust fund, and from what you’ve said you just might. But you still need a plan, a goal, something you’re striving for.”

“Yes, sir. I couldn’t agree more.”

“But make sure you think long and hard about what you want that to be,” Luke said. “I thought I had the perfect plan. I didn’t.”

“What are you talking about?” If Virginia had been agitated before, that was nothing compared to her anxiety, now. “What do you mean? You have a great job with a great future.”

“I’ve been telling myself the same thing for years. I’ve finally admitted it’s not for me.”

“Oh, Luke.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. But I’ll be fine. It just occurs to me that Badger has the financial security to take his time and make the right choice. That’s a luxury.”

Badger nodded. “I’m aware of that.”

“Choose wisely.”

“That’s good advice.” Now if only he knew what the wise choice was.

The rest of the evening’s conversation centered on Luke’s decision to leave his job. Grateful to be out of the spotlight, Badger was in a mellow mood when he said his goodbyes.

Hayley put on her coat and walked as far as the porch steps with him. “I think it’s colder tonight.”

“Could be.” He drew her into his arms. “But it’s mighty warm on this porch.”

“That it is.” She nestled against him. “You handled that well.”

“Thanks. Are we still on for breakfast in the mornin’?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world.” And she pulled his head down for a kiss that left no doubt.

He didn’t know how this crazy plan of theirs would turn out in the end, but he had a breakfast date with Hayley, and that would make him very eager to get up in the morning.