THE RELUCTANT FIANCEE HOAX

ting, she had seriously underestimated the emotional

arper was

a high school girl in the shadow of the prom queen, but because she knew Ethan. R

e had sauntered up to them at the engagement part

the city's trendiest cafes, she couldn't help but

k, but the amusement in her eyes was razor-shar

e to buy herself time. "Funny, I could sa

just dying to hear how this all happened. You and Ethan... bac

neutral as possible. She had two choices here: t

se the

oothly. "Love works in my

ips twitche

ence, the unspoken chal

new what

poke holes in the story, to find a crack in the care

d not give her

her hand. "You must be so busy these d

s obvious, and Natalie knew

t rise to

. Business has never been better. But enoug

ely resist

igning enthusiasm. "Wha

left hand, where the engagemen

ead. "That ring.

slightly, letting the diamond catch

ement, but there was somethin

lowering her voice just enough

her with you," she said, watching Olivia carefully.

on her coffee

e it

tr

ed to tak

an for you," she said breezily. "Always privat

e was all teet

an unspoken battle of wills playin

ne long leg over the other. "Well, I

victory she wasn't sure she'd won. "T

ted her hea

up her espresso, took on

ing, the weight of the interaction

lie

l truth, but enou

eling she wasn't do

a lon

-

's Re

idn't wa

office that afternoon, she shut the

ve a p

ed up from his la

to his desk, dropping her bag onto the

t his a

fingers pausing over t

er eyes. "And by 'chat,' I mean she spent the en

hand over his face. "W

" Olivia continued. "She

chair, studying her. "W

eating Natalie's words. We'

xpression

aggeration,"

an eyebrow. "So you haven't

contact.' She's been reaching out, trying to... I don

sure about that? Because she seeme

lly think I'd be stupid enough to juggle a

was a fa

in Olivia's ches

something,"

in front of her. "I know Natalie. She doesn't like losing,

rying not to focus

get messy,"

ked. "Messier tha

d. "Don't

hair behind her ear. The gesture was cas

dle it," h

, unsure why she suddenl

she

eep down, that this

't done play

eeling they were o