THE RELUCTANT FIANCEE HOAX

nt in private was difficult, doing it in public

was handling it wi

very touch, every look, every moment where t

onight was the

rofile charity gala-an event brimming with the city's elite, journalists,

ing Na

bad feeling

-

d for

re ne

she stood in front of the mirror, adjusting

nervous,"

fflinks. "You are. You do this thing wi

ned. "I

u d

is important. Your mother is already suspicious, and Natalie will be ther

at the base of her throat with a touch so lig

ing," he murmured. "

for you to say. You're

thing unreadable. "Maybe it's be

eath c

respond, he was alr

y, fi

tter in her chest, and took his

-

, Cameras, and T

grand ballroom, Olivia felt the

Voices murmured

shing smiles, shaking hands, seamlessly introdu

, smiling when necessary, laug

course, Nat

making her dark eyes seem even sharper. And the mom

, stepping closer. "You

aist tightened ever so sli

m, amusement dancing in her eyes. "O

tly, deciding to t

e could second-guess herself, ran

e just loud enough for Natalie to hear.

uickly, his lips twitching in

atalie tilted her head. "Tha

rink. "I have no idea wh

ked. "Oh, I

away, leaving Olivia with the sinking fe

-

hat Change

pulled into one conversation after another,

hought she might get a br

ivia! A qu

just as a ca

uestion Olivia

at's been the most romantic mom

fr

ver, didn't

led with something unreadable. "Eve

me to react before E

issed

a quick, p

. Deliberat

via...

he forgot they

, she forgot

ed again, and reality

ocked on hers, something dang

mured. "Compl

ed. "You two are

smile, but her h

no idea where

ething real h