Page 40 of Fake Engaged to the Enemy

Not sure why he was so excited about the idea of me getting flowers delivered to the job site. I put it from my mind as I load them up into the truck.

Catherine is at the museum, sitting at the front desk, and hard at work.

When the bell chimes, she glances up. Then does a double-take.

“George?” she jumps to her feet. “What the heck is that?”

Ginny poked her head out from a room in the back.

I put the bouquet onto her desk. “Oh, I was just thinking about my talented, beautiful fiancé and wanted to let you see something that was beautiful, too. Alas, these flowers don’t compare to your beauty. Next time, I’ll just bring a mirror.”

Ginny smiles and goes back to her work.

Catherine, on the other hand, blushes deeply. Her eyes sparkle as she giggles.

“That was a good line,” she says. “You certainly are romantic today. What did I do to earn such an arrangement?”

I glance behind her, making sure Ginny isn’t listening in.

“Actually, I have to admit that I dropped the ball,” I say, not wanting to disappoint her but still needing to be honest. “I didn’t buy the flowers.”

Catherine’s shoulders slump.

“Although I should have,” I say, making a mental note to actually send her flowers at least once over the next few days.

I describe how the flowers arrived at my work. She agrees with me that it’s most likely Lynn.

“I don’t think we’re causing enough of a stir for her,” I admit.

“Either that, or she wants to distract me from the drama in my own life,” Catherine grunts.

“Hey.” I move closer. “I know that things are rough right now, but we’ll get through it, okay? Nothing like this lasts forever. Andnow that I’m closing the deal on the beach house, maybe you can move into it for a bit if you need space.”

Catherine shakes her head. “It’s not that at all. Or maybe it is. I don’t know. But thank you,” she adds quickly. “That is sweet.”

I wish I’d come up with the whole flowers thing on my own. It’s not fair that she was the one that bore the brunt of this disappointment.

Maybe there’s something I can do to make it up for her.

My parents are still in the city. They have a couple days left at the hotel.

Which means, I won’t have to deal with them showing up at my place unannounced.

I grin as the idea forms in my head.

“You know what? I’m going to treat you to dinner tonight,” I tell her. “My place. Candlelight and soft music.”

She gives me a doubtful look.

I lean in a little closer. “Listen. Do you want a safe place to talk about how things have gone upside down? I can be that safe place.”

“I don’t know, George. With Katherina in town now, I think Grandma is going to need me more,” Catherine hedges.

I put a hand over hers. “Cat. What’s the real reason?”

Catherine grimaces. “I don’t want Katherina to think I’m avoiding her. I mean, I am. But I don’t want her to realize how much I don’t want her around. It’s not her fault.”

I let my thumb trace over the smooth skin of her knuckles. “No, it’s not. But maybe that’s why you need some space to talk through your feelings? So you have a better idea of how to handle them at home?”

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