Mister Fake Fiance

Feeling better about having figured that out, I start searching for a suitable candidate for the job. Can’t ask Erin to find me one, after all—this is going to be a surprise.

Chapter Thirty

Erin

After a good night’s sleep, I decide to simply ignore Shelly. The engagement is for three months, and she’s here in the city. David doesn’t take anything Shelly says seriously, and I doubt she’s the type to just call David’s mom and blurt out, “Hey, did you know Erin’s crazy?”

That would be weird. And since Shelly’s been around David and his family for so long, she has to know that would backfire on her with Mrs. Darling. Based on my interactions, I seriously doubt that David’s mom would say, “My gosh, Shelly, thanks for calling me out of the blue to tell me that!”

I reacted badly yesterday. And I feel silly now. If I hadn’t done that, David wouldn’t have left the celebration early, so I should apologize.

When I get ready for work and go downstairs, David’s already on his coffee and checking some stuff on his phone.

“Good morning,” I say with a small smile.

“Morning,” he says, looking up from his phone. “You feeling better?”

“Much. Thank you. And I want to apologize for what happened yesterday.”

He frowns. “Why? If you don’t feel good, you don’t feel good. You can’t control that.”

His concern is making me feel even worse. “I shouldn’t have made you worry like that.”

“If I can’t worry about my fiancée, who can I worry about?”

My breath catches in my throat for a moment as warmth flows through me like sweet honey. He makes it so easy to forget this isn’t real.

This is what you’ve wanted. Don’t let Shelly’s threat ruin the happiness you can derive from the arrangement.

“I also hired a fashion consultant for you,” David adds.

“A…what? But why?” Have I been dressing inappropriately without realizing it? I look down. What I’m wearing is pretty standard business casual. Isn’t it?

“With the party coming up and all, I figured you might want something more than just pencil skirts.”

Shoot. I haven’t been thinking about that. I like pencil skirts because they’re so versatile, but maybe I need something fancier for Alexandra’s party. “You don’t have to hire anybody. I can figure it out,” I say.

“Consider it a reward for yesterday.”

I wish he’d stop talking about that like it was something amazing. I just did what any good assistant would’ve done.

He adds, “She can be your sounding board. Help you expand your wardrobe.”

“Are you sure?” I ask, praying he doesn’t expect me to buy everything this consultant is going to suggest. I don’t have the money to do that. That is to say, I don’t want to cut into my emergency fund to buy clothes.

“Quite.” He smiles. “And don’t worry. She’s going to buy everything you need and charge it to me.”

“No!” I say, horrified.

His eyebrows climb up in his forehead.

“I mean, what if she picks out really expensive stuff?”

“Erin, that’s the whole point. It’s a bonus. What kind of bonus would it be if I asked you to spend your own money?” He grins. “I should’ve realized you were worried about what to wear at the birthday party. But it shouldn’t be something that causes you stress or sleepless nights.”

I give him a weak smile. So that’s how he interpreted yesterday’s events. That isn’t even close to what I was really worried about, but I can’t tell him the truth. If I do, he’ll confront Shelly. And then she’ll tell him what she dug up about my past.

So I continue to smile, vowing never to react to Shelly’s threats ever again.