Premise: Georgie can not bear being single when Maxie is getting married so her and Logan concoct a plan to fake that they are dating.

Last Christmas

Chapter One

December 2009

"So, dearie, when are you going to meet a nice, young man and settle down like your sister?" her great aunt from Texas asked at the engagement party, that was being held at The Metro Court.

Georgie had been fielding questions like this for the last six months and she swore if one more person asked her if she was dating anyone or had a boyfriend or what happened to her husband Dillon and were they having kids soon she would kill someone. She would find the nearest sharp object and commit homicide right there in the middle of whatever party for this damn wedding that Maxie had dragged her to on that day.

No jury in the land would convict.

"I see a friend on the balcony, Auntie! Excuse me, would you?" Georgie darted for the balcony.

Fresh air. Even if it was only 30 degrees outside. And she had no coat on. Oh, well. She would rather freeze to death than deal with one more far flung distant relation asking about her love life.

She was ready to turn in her feminist card and just hook up with whatever person with a penis next crossed her path so she could have one of them on her arm as an accessory during the next month of Hell that she had to get through thanks to her sister who always made poor life choices. Georgie hated that the world was this way!

Tears stung her eyes. Every time someone asked her about who she was dating she was reminded that she hadn't had a good date in over three years. Sure she had a single date with Dr. Matt Hunter that one time but it had been a bust. And she had a one night stand with her soon to be brother-in-law but that was better left forgotten too.

He hadn't been dating Maxie then. It wasn't like Georgie had done anything wrong. In fact, she had been trying to do something right. To be brave. To take a chance. To let herself fall in love.

But Spinelli was just drowning his sorrows between her thighs and in the morning they decided to just stay friends. To be more specific, he started to whine about his unrequited feelings for Maxie and Georgie felt like a fool. She couldn't get out of there fast enough.

That was last Christmas. This Christmas she would be the maid of honor at his wedding to her sister. Fun. Oh, joy. She couldn't drink enough to make the pain numb and the unending questions that all started with some variation of "Where is your boyfriend, dear?" were like a knife to her heart time after time.

Time. After. Time. After. Time. After. Time. She was so fed up! She had heard of a runaway bride before- hell, that was how they were in this mess because Maxie was one of those just a few months back. Georgie felt like becoming a runaway maid of honor right about now.

"Hey, doll, you got to be freezing your toes off out here." Logan walked out of the party. He had his coat in his hands. "Here. Take it. And no lip. I can do nice things sometimes."

"Thanks." She took the coat and put it on. "You saw all that, huh?"

"You making a wild dash for freedom? I was wondering if you planned to scale the building and, if so, can I come with you? This party is ridiculous. Didn't we just do all this six months ago for these two?"

"That is what I'm saying! We did this all already for that non-wedding they had. And I just can't believe Maxie has the nerve to expect us all to dress up, shower her with gifts all over again and attend a second engagement party, a second bridal shower, second bridal luncheon, a second round of fittings for a second set of bridesmaid dresses, second bachelorette party, second rehearsal dinner all leading up to her damn second wedding and second reception! Some of us have a life, you know, and it does not revolve around Maxie and Spinelli's weddings!"

"I hear you, girl. You know you should tell her to take a flying leap. I'm only here cause Coop needed an emotional support pet and they wouldn't let Cody in this joint."

Georgie chuckled and rolled her eyes. "It was so wrong for you to name your dog Cody like that just cause you wanted to mess with your old army buddy."

"That meathead deserved it for putting the moves on Lulu."

"Lulu. God. Please don't even say her name to me. Once you start on the Lulu talk there is not enough alcohol in the world for me to listen to that another time."

"Well, tell me how you really feel. Don't hold back now. Though you never do." He looked toward the party. "We should get back. It's too cold out here."

"I would rather take my chances with frost bite than field one more question about where my boyfriend is and have to say that I don't have one."

"Easy solution, doll. I can't believe a brain like you ain't figured out how to shut them up yet."

She arched an eyebrow. "Murder is still illegal and I'm trying not to go to Hell."

"You're way too nice to commit murder."

"Hmpf. I am so sick of this patriarchal

society that acts like women must belong to some man in order to have value! But, at this point, I wish I did have a boyfriend because it's downright embarrassing to have to keep saying I am perpetually single while Maxie is on her second wedding just this year!"

"Lie. You got to lie to them. Just say you do have a boyfriend. If you can't beat em, join em, you know?"

"You want me to just pretend like my boyfriend is away at grad school or something? Maxie would never buy that and it would be more embarrassing than just saying I'm single."

"Huh, yeah, you're probably right."

'Thanks for trying to help though-."

"You could say I'm your boyfriend."

Her mouth dropped a little. "You? No one would buy that!" She started to chuckle and then stopped short. "You're serious?"

"I think they would buy it. Especially if we muss up our hair a little, wrinkle our clothes, go back in there all handsy and they will fall for it hook, line and sinker."

"Why would you do that for me?"

"I'm bored. Maxie's parties suck."

"I couldn't put you through that."

"Have it your way but it's me or having to keep telling all your distant relations for the next month that you are still single. Hopefully, they don't know any nice young men looking for a wifey."

"They do and I'm not going on one more blind date. The last one was a nightmare."

"So use me. I don't mind."

"It would be so humiliating if they ever figured out we were just fake dating."

He leaned closer. "I'll keep your secret. Cross my heart and hope to die."

"What do you get out of all of this?"

"Well...I have to admit...I noticed you talking to that old biddy-."

"My great Aunt and she's a sweet old lady."

"Mmm-hmmm, and I could tell by the deer in the headlights look that you were getting grilled on your love life. Old folks love to do that. It made me think that we could solve each other's problems. You could tell your great Aunt that I'm your man, and I could tell Lulu you are my new girl."

"Lulu! Good God, Logan, can you go one day without saying that woman's name?"

"I am so done with her this time, I swear! But she won't take the hint. The only thing that might work is if she thinks I fell for someone new."

"So that is why you really came out here? And here I was thinking you were finally being a gentleman."

"Oh, Georgie girl, don't be that way. This deal works for both of us. If you walk off in a huff, you'd just be shooting yourself in the foot and heading right back in there, without a boyfriend, to field a whole new round of questions about when you and Dillon are getting back together. You can't say that is better than pretending you came out here and fell for me?"

She shook her head wearily. "I hate to say it but you're right. Anything is better than saying over and over that I'm single and attending all these parties alone."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, I didn't say I wanted to go to all of Maxie and Spinelli's goofy wedding events. The last bachelor party stunk to high heaven! I can't imagine a bridal luncheon is a ball of fun either. Just tell them about me. I don't gotta actually be on your arm."

"If you want to convince your crazy ex-girlfriend to back the hell off you will actually have to sell this." She stepped closer to him and ran her finger down his muscular chest. "Do you think you could do that? I'm not in unless you agree to do this right. Spare me going to all these parties alone and make sure no one, and I mean no one, not even Coop, knows this is just a scheme to get through the holidays for both of us. Come January 1st, whether Lulu is over you or not, I'm out."

"You drive a hard bargain, doll."

"You'll probably end up back in Lulu's bed anyway. You always do. So think hard before you commit, cause if you embarrass me worse, Logan, not only will I never forgive you but I will make sure you live to regret messing with me. I'm not Lulu. I'm not Maxie. And I don't want to be jerked around. So what's it gonna be?"

A shaky breath ghosted over his lips before he a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Count me in. Sounds like fun. I've been bored lately."

He reached over and started to take the pins out of her hair. It fell around her shoulders. He mussed it up. He ran his thumb over her bottom lip until her lipstick was smeared.

She pulled his white button down shirt out of his pants. She ran her hands all over his back and wrinkled the shirt. She mussed up his hair.

Her heart was now beating wildly. "Looks pretty good. We totally look like we hooked up out here."

Even though it was freezing cold, they were both shivering and could see their breaths, he still didn't follow her when she headed back inside. He snagged her wrist, spun her back around and pulled her close to his body.

Logan said "Remember we really got to sell this or there's no point." He leaned closer to her. "Say uncle or else I'm gonna kiss you."

She cupped the back of his neck and pulled him into a heated kiss. She wasn't the type of girl to cry Uncle.