Faking All the Way

When the narrator encounters her ex at the airport with his new fiancée, she impulsively claims to be dating Asher Vaughn, a hockey player she just spotted in the news. When Asher himself appears moments later, she kisses him to commit to the lie. Surprisingly, he agrees to participate in the deception in exchange for lodging while he handles matters with his estranged father. The arrangement seems straightforward: Asher stays in the guest house, they maintain the pretense publicly, and they part ways after the holidays. However, Asher proves convincing in his role, defending her dreams, kissing her under the mistletoe, and showing genuine affection. When they become snowed in together with limited sleeping arrangements, their agreed-upon boundaries dissolve. As the holidays progress, the narrator finds herself uncertain whether she fears the fake relationship ending or whether she wants it to become real. Faking All the Way is a contemporary romance featuring a hockey player and a plus-sized heroine, with elements of small-town setting, forced proximity, and holiday themes. It is a complete standalone with a happy ending.