Page 82 of Marrying Off My Husband

“Sure, that’s fine,” she said with a nod.

“I’ll pick you up around six?”

“Okay. How should I dress?”

Ideas flitted through my mind as I tried to figure out a nice date for us, but every idea I came up with I thought Eve may hate. “"How about we have our next date at the old lighthouse? It's closed for tours in the evening. Just the sea, the stars, and us."

“Low-key, I like it. We’ll do that.” Eve grinned at me, and for a second, I thought I detected a hint of genuine warmth.

It made my heart skip a beat before I squashed it as Louise walked into the room.

“Everything all set?” she asked.

“Yep,” I said. “You’re going on a date with Justin Hartwell on Thursday.”

“And you two?” Louise asked as I fished my phone out of my pocket to show her our pick.

“Thursday,” Eve said. “At the lighthouse.”

Louise shot me a nod of approval. “Sounds perfect. And he looks much better than the first.”

I creased my brow, glancing back at the man’s photo as I struggled to understand why both Eve and Louise picked a guy I’d say was a weak seven over a few that I thought would be rated higher.

“Now, time for you to go. It’s our night, Spence,” Louise said, dismissing me away with a flick of her wrist.

I wandered from the room after saying good night to them both. As I headed upstairs, I found myself planning the meal I’d order and how I’d like everything to be set up. I hoped she’d enjoy my selections.

I wanted things to be perfect. I envisioned the candlelight dancing in the sea breeze between us, how Eve’s dark eyes would reflect its warm light. Maybe we would take that walk along the beach.

For a moment, I opened my heart up to the possibility until I recalled our first date, and then the moment between us in Louise’s hospital room.

“Fake dating,” Eve said. The words echoed in my mind, rattling around as they taunted me.

“Fake dating,” I repeated to myself. “It’s not real, Spencer. Stop thinking it could be. You’re going to end up alone.”

The words broke my own heart into a million pieces.

CHAPTER 20

LOUISE

Ismiled down at my phone, re-reading the message from Theo before a voice interrupted my thoughts, startling me. His sweet admission about how much he missed me warmed me all over.

I jumped, nearly dropping my phone in the process as heat washed over me.

“Spencer, darlin’, you can’t go around scaring me like that.” I pressed my hand against my chest.

He furrowed his brow as he stared at me. “Scaring you? How did I scare you? Oh, unless you’re hiding something from me.”

The way he grinned at me made warmth rise up in my cheeks.

The smile slid off his features, and he wrinkled his nose. “Lou, I was just kidding. I mean…what could you be hiding? Unless you’re stepping out on me.”

He chuckled at his own joke as I clicked my tongue.

“Very funny, Spence,” I said, using the humor to sidestep my reaction. “Speaking of stepping out, how goes the planning for your big night?”

That question seemed to make him uncomfortable. He shifted his weight as he swallowed hard and shoved his hands into his pockets. “Fine. I’m…it’s…it’ll be good, I think.”

---