Fake Marriage Box Set

“Great!” Katherine said, sounding delighted. “We can make it a girls' outing. I know this great brunch place that we could go to. I'm sure she'll love it. Unless you want to come with us?”

“I'm not sure I trust you and Lexi alone together yet,” I said.

Katherine giggled. “I'd make sure to save all the embarrassing stories for when you were there,” she said. “Otherwise, I wouldn't get to see you blush and try to talk your way out of them.”

“Like that would happen.”

“Come on; you know the kinds of stories I could dredge up about you.”

“Lies, all of them,” I said, but I smiled.

“Remember that one time when you were ten, and I dared you to—”

“All right, all right,” I interrupted, knowing what she was about to say and not wanting to hear another word of it. I shuddered. “You can take Lexi and Emma out to lunch when you're back in town.”

“Cool,” Katherine said.

“So, how is Paris anyway?” I asked.

I settled back in my chair as she began to gush about how wonderful the city was, from the architecture to the food, and how much she loved the kids she nannied for. But I couldn't tear my mind away from my thoughts about Lexi and Emma.

Yes, I was definitely happy. I couldn't remember how long it had been since I'd been able to say that.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Lexi

Emma pouted as I tucked her into bed. “I want to wait up until Daddy gets home,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.

I felt a pang in my heart, seeing her like that. Andrew had a work dinner that he had to attend that evening, so he would be getting home even later than normal. It wasn't as though he was usually part of the routine of putting Emma down to bed, but every once in a while, she pitched a fit and wouldn't close her eyes until either he'd finally come home and poked his head in the door, or I'd read her a couple extra stories.

I did my best to distract her. “Look at the new story that Janice got for you,” I said, holding up the book.

The woman had actually bought the book a few days ago, but I'd been saving it for a night just like this one.

Emma looked interested, but she wasn't about to forget that her daddy wasn't there to tuck her in. I could see from the way her lower lip wobbled that she was still upset.

“Maybe, by the time I finish this story, Daddy will be home to tell you goodnight,” I said, even though I knew I shouldn't.

If Andrew wasn't home by the time we finished the story, she was going to be even more upset. But I'd had a long day with not one, but two, job interviews, in two different parts of the city, and I was exhausted. I'd just have to hope that he would, in fact, make it home.

The story was cute, about a princess and her friendly dragons, and the pictures were funny enough to keep Emma interested and entertained. I sent up a silent thanks to Janice, reminding myself that I would need to thank her in person the next time I saw her.

But at the end of the story, Emma was clearly thinking of her daddy again.

I sighed and gave her a hug. “How are you doing, bug?” I asked her.

I felt bad that I hadn't really asked her that since we'd moved in with Andrew. As much as Misty kept reminding me that Emma probably wasn't going to remember all of this uncertainty when she grew up, I knew that the transition must have affected her. And given that Andrew and I still hadn't sat her down to discuss what was going on, she must be really confused.

I just didn't know what to say to her. Things seemed to be getting more serious with Andrew, but given his history, I wouldn't put it past him to panic and run away from any sort of commitment when presented with it.

“I want Daddy,” Emma said.

“I know you do,” I said softly. “You really like Daddy, huh?”

“Daddy's the bestest,” Emma said. “He's funny.”

“He is,” I agreed. “You like living here, don't you?”