Under one roof… and a mistletoe.

CASSIE

"The Tight what?" I asked, looking over my shoulder in confusion.

My father pushed me out of the way and stepped closer to Liam, eyes shining with delight, "Liam Copeland in the flesh?"

What the hell was going on?

"I've been following your career since your college days and I always knew you'd be something. Your last game against the Texas Bears was a thing of beauty and_" my father trailed off, "Wait a damn minute, what are you doing at my front door?"

Liam turned his brown, unreadable eyes at me, threw his arm over my shoulder and hurled me into his side, "You're going to have to ask my lovely wife."

I narrowed my eyes at him in suspicion, but before I could ask him what he was playing at, my father let out a gasp.

"Cassie? Tell me this is a dream and you're not actually married to the best hockey player of the twenty first century." Dad said, looking like he was going to pass out any moment from now.

Everything suddenly began to make sense. From the fact that my husband was the size of a small truck to the fact that he could afford a first class ticket like it was soda at the gas station. It was just my freaking luck that I had managed to reel a hockey player to my house, and not just any one.

One that my Dad stared at like he had hung the moon.

"Surprise," I forced out a giggle, "I didn't want to say anything earlier."

Dad pressed a hand to his chest, "Can you hear that? That's the sound of my heart racing."

"I can see where you get your dramatics," Liam whispered to me, and I elbowed him in the stomach.

Unfortunately for me, his abdominal muscles were as hard as steel and I only managed to hurt myself, "Do you do sit ups as a hobby or something?"

"Don't keep Liam in the cold, Cassie," my father bit out, then smiled at the brown eyed man, "Can I take your bags, please, come on in."

And then I watched slack jawed as my beloved father grabbed my husband's duffel and ushered him in, leaving me with my hefty luggage in the snow.

"Omg, if it isn't Cassie," my sister's voice taunted from behind me.

I whipped around and saw my sister walking up the driveway arm in arm with my ex. Since the last time I had seen them at my wedding, Gabriel hadn't changed, but Mia now looked every inch the trophy wife, from her perfectly highlighted blonde hair to the cashmere sweater and expensive leather boots.

"I heard rumors about a husband, but I told mum to not_" she trailed off, gaze shifting behind me.

I followed her gaze to where Liam had come to stand behind me, wearing his usual grouchy expression. Without a word to my sister and her husband, he lifted my bags like they weighed less than a feather, turned and walked away.

I fixed a smile on my face for Mia, "The rumors were true after all."

"I don't believe it. You can't be married to t-that man!" Gabriel spat, "He's not your type."

While that was true, I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of being right, "You mean smokin' hot, unwilling to cheat on their fiancee and big..." I paused for effect, "Everywhere."

His face turned a startling shade of red, "How dare_"

"Cassandra, are you going to show me to your room or do I have to guess?" Liam barked.

I gritted my teeth and walked off after him. By the time I got to where he stood with my things, mum was just hurrying out of the kitchen.

"This must be the husband. I'll let you drop your things in your room before I demand to know how all of this happened," mum said, "Oh and by the way, I hope Cassie's childhood bed won't be too small for you two."

I choked on my saliva, "We can't share a bed! What happened to the carriage house?"

My parents exchanged a puzzled glance and then burst into laughter, "There was an infestation and we haven't gotten the worker to come around to fumigate it yet. But don't worry darling," mum winked, "We already know you two aren't virgins."

Oh God.

Minutes later, Liam and I were staring at my tiny bed. I'd have no choice but to sleep on the floor, and hope I didn't die of frost bite in my sleep.

"I'll take the floor."

Liam scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous. As much as I hate Christmas, I don't plan on spending it digging your grave either."

"We aren't in the eighties. These days, you can hire guys to do the digging."

"If your parents are willing to pay for it, then be my guest."

I scowled at him, "I don't see you bringing up any bright solutions. Or have you been hit too many times in the head with a hockey stick to be able to use that pea sized brain of yours."

"despite what you think, hockey isn't played by waving our sticks in the air." He drawled.

"Which reminds me. Why didn't you tell me you were some kind of hockey god?" I accused.

"Believe it or not, my occupation never came up once while you were trying to buy me off with free dog grooming."

"I hate you."

"So you've said."

"Cassie, Liam, lunch's ready!" Mum called up to us, "I'm sure you don't want to eat cold potatoes."

"Tell me there's something more filling at the table than potatoes." He glared at me.

I winked, "Why not use all that hockey money and buy yourself a cow you can snack on for the next few days."

Grumbling, he stalked out of the room and I followed after him silently, wondering why I always felt the need to bicker with him. I was generally a calm person, but something about him brought out the bitch in me.

I needed to apologize to him and start on a clean slate. After all, he was helping me out here.

"Hey, you're under the mistletoe!" Dad suddenly exclaimed, and as soon as I glanced up and discovered that my pretend husband and I were actually under a mistletoe, all the blood drained out of my face.

I forced a laugh out, "Ha ha. Very cute. But Liam isn't a fan of PDA."

"Nonsense!" Mum laughed, "It's just family. This is hardly the public."

My stomach cramped painfully, and i began to sweat, "Mum, just_"

"Kiss kiss kiss," my parents began to chant and a glance at my sister showed that suspicion had clouded her face while my ex looked smug.

I glanced over at Liam and saw that he was looking at Gabriel.

"We don't have to_"

"Cassandra," he turned his head lazily, brown eyes locking onto mine.

"Hm?"

He reached out, grabbed the base of my ponytail in one large hand and pulled me into his body. My eyes went as round as saucers, "W-what are you doing?"

"Shut up."

"Don't tell me to_"

His mouth slanted over mine, robbing me of my next words and my breath.