Page 79 of The Wrong Fiancée

"What are you thinking, baby?" Dean prompted.

"Just that…," I paused, unsure if I should tell him, and then decided, as my middle name suggested, to take a leap, "I feel like I'm home with you and your family."

He squeezed hard, and even though he didn't say anything, I could feel his emotions in how his breath became choppy and how he held on to me.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

DEAN

Imet Felicity at Island Brew Coffeehouse, a quiet spot tucked along Maunalua Bay, with views of the water so clear you could see straight down to the coral.

The coffee joint had a minimal vibe. Modern but casual—open-air, with tables overlooking the bay, and the steady sound of the water lapping at the shore. It was the opposite of the places we used to frequent in New York: no leather couches, plush drapes, or chandelier lighting. And that suited me just fine. I needed the fresh air, and Felicity needed a dose of reality.

I'd told Elika I was meeting her cousin. She'd behaved like it didn't matter, but I knew it did. Elika still didn't believe we werereal. How she thought I could look at any woman other than her baffled me.ButI'd fucked up, and I needed to do whatever it took to make her trust me andus,and know in her gut, with certainty, that I wasn't going anywhere.

Felicity was already seated when I arrived, wearing her usual designer ensemble, perfectly put together, trying too hard to seem like this was just another friendly coffee date. I almost laughed at the effort. Her hair was done in soft waves, her makeup flawless as always, but there was something tight in her expression. She was on edge, and I knew why.

Damian went on a rampage after he found out that Felicityhad been responsible for Elika being arrested. He'd never met Elika, but she was already family as far as he was concerned. Dad had told anyone who'd listen how fabulous my girl was and hoped that I had the good sense to win her trust since I already had her heart.

I took my time, ordered, and then grabbed my cold brew from the counter, and joined her at the table, the ocean breeze tugging lightly at my shirt.

"Fee," I nodded to her as I sat down, my voice casual, like this was the least important thing I'd be doing today.

Looking at her, I couldn't believe I'd ever thought I could spend my life with her. I had grown up, changed, and evolved in the past couple of months, and it was all thanks to meeting Elika again.

"Dean," she smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you for meeting me."

I leaned back in my chair, taking a slow sip of my drink, letting the cool bitterness of the coffee roll over my tongue. "I've got a busy day, so let's make this quick."

Her smile wavered, but she quickly recovered. "I thought it might be a good idea to clear the air between us," she said, leaning forward slightly, her voice softening. "We had something special, and I don’t want things to end on bad terms. Besides...," she hesitated, her tone turning carefully measured, "it seems there’s been some misunderstanding about the work Thatcher Consulting has been doing with Archer Arts & Antiquities."

There it was. The real reason she called me. I let out a breath, irritated with her transparency.

"You mean the fact that Damian's pulling out of every deal your father was involved in?"

Her eyes flashed with panic, which was quickly replaced with anger. "Yes. He's canceling acquisitions and consulting contracts. And…what's worse is that he's announcing it to the whole world. It's hurting our business. I don't know why he's doing this."

I gave her a look that told her exactly why. "You know why."

She blinked. "No, I don't."

"You fucked with Elika. Damian took that personally."

She scoffed. "Why on earth would he do that?"

"She's mine. He thinks of her as family."

She froze, and I could see her considering how to react to my words. It took her a few minutes but she went with playing it calm. Business was business, and that mattered to her more than anything else—I knew that, and once upon a time, I thought that it was a feature and not a bug.

"This isn't fair, Dean.Youcheated on me with her. How is this my fault?"

I cocked an eyebrow. "Inevercheated on you…or any other woman ever. And we're not talking about that. We're talking about how you tried to frame Elika for theft."

"I had nothing to do with that whole...situation."

I almost laughed out loud. "Really?" I leaned forward, resting my arms on the table. "Because it's pretty clear to anyone who paid an iota of attention that you and your mother orchestrated that little setup."

Her mouth tightened, but she wasn't done yet. "Dean, I swear. I didn't know anything about it. People who work with Elika don't like her and stole from us to blame her. How's that my fault?"

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