Page 79 of Fake Engaged to the Enemy

“I hate to see you cry,” I whisper.

“Don’t worry, these are happy tears.” Catherine laughs. “Does this mean that you’ll give me my ring back?”

“I don’t know. You haven’t given me an official answer.”

She rolls her eyes. “And neither have you. About the job.”

“Huh. So if I say no to the job…?”

“Then I’ll still say yes. But if I say no to your proposal?” she teases.

“I’ll still say yes to the job.”

“That’s settled then. You have a new employee and a fiancé,” Catherine says matter-of-factly. “And I can get my ring back.”

I laugh. “Oh, yes. And you can wear it however you like. But I’m going to buy you a proper engagement ring. With lab-grown gems and a titanium band,” I add, remembering what she said she wanted when I first proposed this fake engagement.

Catherine strokes my cheeks. “Yeah. I’d like that.”

We settle into each other’s embrace, sharing warmth as the last dredges of the storm pass us by.

I can’t believe that we’re here, now. There was so much that came before, such a chasm that it felt like it would be impossible to bridge.

And yet here we are.

“How are we going to explain the new ring to your parents?” Catherine asks.

I shrug. “We’ll think of something.”

A voice comes from the doorway. “I thought I smelled smoke.”

We turn to see Lynn padding toward us. She’s dressed in a nightgown, robe, and fuzzy slippers.

Lynn wags a finger at me. “Now, I don’t mind impromptu sleepovers, but don’t you think this is getting excessive?”

“They’ll be stopping soon, Grandma,” Catherine says.

“Ahhh!” Lynn claps her hands. “I knew it!”

“You knew I’m moving?” Catherine asks innocently.

I give her a dirty look. It’s not fair to tease.

Lynn shrugs. “The new house isn’t far. I’ll still see you all the time.”

“Oh?” I ask.

“Of course. Although I expect you’ll want to get some work done in it before you move.” Lynn takes a seat on the sofa. “Will that be before or after the wedding?”

Catherine and I share a glance.

“You should have known better than to try to trick your grandmother,” I tease.

“You’re right.” Catherine shakes her head. “We’ll have to decide what to do with the house before I move in. It is going to need a lot of work.”

Lynn nods. “You’d best decide what to do sooner rather than later. Otherwise, Edwina will have the whole thing decorated before you can say ‘I do’.”

Chapter twenty-two

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