His Secretary's Surprise Fiance

She was already subcontracting out a short run of shirts after her success with crowd funding, but the time had come to think bigger. And this space would be ideal, already containing a few machines she would refit for the kind of textile production she needed. She’d been approved for a small-business loan that would cover the cost of the building and her biggest start-up expenses, but it was still a big step and she wanted her mother’s opinion.

Lately, it felt as though her life was on fast-forward, and while it was exciting to have so many new options open to her, a part of her wished she could just stop for a minute and be sure she was making the best decisions. Dempsey jumbled all her thoughts lately, the passion they shared so much different from her old crush. She wasn’t sure if she trusted herself to move forward in any direction.

“What does Dempsey think about it?” Della asked, examining the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Mississippi in the largest of the offices.

“He hasn’t seen it yet.” She hated to admit as much, but he’d been so dismissive of her dreams before, so ready to leap in and save her from her own mistakes, that she wasn’t ready to share this with him.

Then again, maybe moving ahead with her business simply signaled an end to her time as Dempsey’s fiancée and she wasn’t sure if she was ready for it to be over.

Della’s brows arched. “Too busy to make time for my girl’s work?”

“No. Nothing like that.” She closed her eyes, hating the lies. And would it really matter if she told her mother the truth? Della Thibodeaux didn’t exactly have a history of running to the press with gossip. “He didn’t want me to tell anyone, but the engagement is just for show. I did it to help him.”

Or because he’d put her in a ridiculously awkward position, take your pick.

But she couldn’t regret it after how close they’d grown. The only problem was, now that she’d seen how amazing it was to be with him—even better than she’d ever imagined—she had no idea how she’d ever go back to their old friendship.

“Just for show?” Della folded her arms, leaning into the window frame as she studied her daughter, deep concern in her eyes.

Sunlight spilled in all around her, catching the grays in her dark hair. Her mother was a beautiful woman and so wise, too. Addy couldn’t deny being curious to hear her mother’s opinion on the fake engagement. Would she tell Adelaide she was the most foolish woman ever?

“He announced it in public and made it difficult for me to argue it without humiliating him.”

“Of course you didn’t argue, because you’ve always wanted to make him happy.” She strode closer and put her hands on Adelaide’s shoulders, her heavy silver bracelets settling against Adelaide’s collarbone. “And is it still for show now, after you’ve been living with him for almost two weeks?”

Her cheeks heated, which was silly because she was a grown-up and could live with whomever she wanted.

“I think I’m in love with him,” she admitted, the words torn from her heart, since she knew that level of emotion was not reciprocated.

“Oh, sweetheart.” Her mother opened her arms, gathered her close and squeezed tight. “Of course you do. At least one of you has admitted it.”

Adelaide’s eyes burned. Tears fell as she rested her head on her mother’s shoulder. She didn’t want her mother’s pity for loving a man who didn’t—

Wait. She stopped crying, her mother’s words sinking in.

“What did you say?” Her thoughts caught up with her ears and she pulled back to look into her mom’s hazel eyes, which were lighter than Adelaide’s.

“You heard me.” Della kissed her cheek and stepped back. “You two were meant to be. You just needed the right time to come along. Why do you think he’s thirty-one years old and dating fluff-headed women with more boobs than brains?”

Adelaide choked on a much-needed laugh. “Mom. That’s not fair.”

Even if, in her meaner moments, Adelaide might have been equally unkind in her thoughts. Mostly about Valentina.

“All I mean, daughter dear, is that he has never dated a woman seriously. I think it’s because he’s been waiting for the right woman. He’s been waiting for you, my girl.” She looped her arm around Adelaide’s waist as they headed for the exit and shut off the lights.

Adelaide’s yellow-diamond engagement ring caught the sun’s rays, sending sparkles in every direction.