Page 81 of The Fiance Dilemma

The one man I had once beensureI’d marry materialized in the distance.

My brain threw a memory at me. Blue dress shirt tucked in jeans, suit jacket hanging off wide shoulders. All of it paired with brown loafers. Turning around and walking away. Slipping through the door.

He’d been dressed a lot like he was right now, standing at the edge of the garden, talking to Andrew. I remembered looking at a loose thread on the shoulder of his jacket that day, as he told me that he couldn’t do it.

That he couldn’t marry me.

He’d been so polite about it, so nice. Even smiled encouragingly, as if sayingdon’t worry, honey. You’ll get over me.Ever the Southern gentleman, Duncan. Born and raised in Charleston. I always wondered what brought him to North Carolina during that time we were engaged. What would have tied him here. Couldn’t have been me.

“Josie, sweetheart.”

Those two words, uttered with a cadence I was starting to crave, pulled me back to the present.

“I’m over him,” I heard myself say. Warmth rose to my cheeks. Or perhaps it had been already there. Matthew tipped my chin in the direction of his face. Brown eyes met mine. A handsome face. I’d been about to kiss him, and it had nothing to do with where we were, or who we pretended to be. “I’m not just saying this to reassure anyone. I’m over him. And I wanted you to know that.”

“I believe you,” he said. And I knew he did. “Is he over you, though?”

I scoffed. But it wasn’t with outrage or disbelief. “He left me.”

Something registered on Matthew’s face, quick and subtle. Understanding? Surprise? No. It was none of those things.

“Ah, hello?” Bobbi said from our side. “I’m still here. And you’re still ignoring me. I shouldn’t be ignored right now.”

Matthew set his jaw. He seemed to make a decision. “We know you’re still there, Shark.” He stepped away from me, leaving me all… unbalanced and cold. I wish we could go back in time. Have that blindfold back on. Push for that kiss when I could. “You’re making yourself impossible to ignore.” My hand was clasped. Fingers interlaced. “What’s the real problem? Can’t be just him.”

“You assume right,” Bobbi answered. She moved closer to me, hands reaching out in the direction of my head. Matthew didn’t let go of my hand.“Hehasn’t come alone,” she explained, gently but nimbly rearranging my hair. “There’s an entourage of sorts.” Her fingers fumbled with the handkerchief loosely dangling off my neck. She turned it, tightened it slightly. Made what I supposed was a knot. Her head leaned back, dark eyes assessing. “It’ll do.” She met my gaze. “And you will too. Whatever you do, don’t let him break you.”

Her words caught me so off guard that I stumbled for something to say. “What—”

“Does it mean?” Bobbi finished for me. “It means you two approach him while he poaches your father for God knows what. You say hi. Let Blondie scowl at him like he wants to do bodily harm butwon’t.Just like he is looking at him now, but a little less teeth, maybe. Meanwhile, I deal with the cameras he showed up with. They all slipped past security somehow.”

“You had security for this? Here?”

She rolled her eyes. “Do you know who your father is?” A sigh. “Hired locally, though. Too friendly and trusting. They are now fired and— You’re distracting me, Josephine. Security is not my job. You are.” Her expression hardened. “So you go there, and I handle the press. I’m extremely unhappy about this. I’m not wearing the right shoes to make anyone cry today but—”

“He won’t let you,” I said. Matthew let out a concerned grunt from my side, the hold of his hand tightening. Bobbi’s brows arched. “No. You don’t understand. I’m not saying he’ll do anything, but he’ll turn it around. Duncan is— Let the press stay. It’ll be worse if you kick them out. He’ll manage to make himself look like the victim here.”

Bobbi huffed, but I could see understanding starting to seep in. “I’m not about to throw a hapless client into this.”

“I’m not hapless,” I countered. “I… know him, all right? He’s here for a reason. And the press, too. He’ll spin it against us if he doesn’t get away with it. I can handle this.” I swallowed. “I have Matthew. Let the press stay.”

Bobbi looked like that was the last thing she wanted to do. “Okay, let’s go. But I’ll contain them. I say when and where a flash goes off.”

Matthew tugged at my arm, moving us forward. He arranged his body around mine, the curve of my shoulder locking into place against his side, his right arm snaking around my back, his left hand grasping my wrist and bringing my palm to his stomach. It was scary how safe I felt. How confident I grew with every step I took in his embrace. Howrighthe felt against me.

“I’m over him,” I repeated, just for him. It seemed important that he knew.

His answer was immediate. “I know you are.”

“It hurt me when he broke the engagement. But it didn’t break my heart as much as it hurt my pride. He made me feel like I wasn’t worth it. Worth the trouble.”

There was a miss in Matthew’s step, as if a part of him had wanted to stop, but the rest was determined to move forward. “Give me a safe word.”

I glanced up, finding his profile. “Did Bobbi also tell you we should have one?” He gave a nod, bending his lips in a smile. But it was a weird one. Odd. A little scary, too. It wasn’t like Matthew, and I wanted to change that. Make it more like himself. Handsome. Nice. Happy.“Bootylicious.And if you don’t relax, I’ll break into song. Start rapping. Popping. Locking. I know how to.”

Some of the tension around his mouth eased. His gaze flickered down, meeting mine with a brow arched. I summoned a smile of my own, and I was as surprised as I was relieved to see how easy it was.

His throat bobbed. “If we weren’t currently making our waytoward your father and your ex, and they hadn’t already seen us, I’d turn us around right now.” His eyes returned forward. Mine didn’t. “I should have taken you to that fucking gazebo when I had my chance.”

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