Page 31 of How To Fake A Fiancé

“What the fuck is wrong with you?” I yell at him, not caring about the confused stares from other customers.

“Why don’t we talk about this somewhere more private?” He indicates the door leading to an office.

I let him escort me inside the cramped office, and he shuts the door behind him.

“Are you fucking crazy?”

“For you? Most definitely, but not usually.”

I scoff. “Don’t be cute.”

He crosses his beefy arms over his muscular chest, every ridge and vein prominent. My mouth waters at the sight.

“I’m being honest.” His expression is casual.

“Being honest? Okay, then please explain to me why you told my mother you were my boyfriend.”

“I only told her what she wanted to hear.” He smiles smugly.

I shake my head. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“And what, out your little lie? I didn’t think you’d appreciate me doing that.”

“Look, I appreciate you covering for me, but why did you say you were my boyfriend?”

“Because I like you. Why did you lie to your mom?”

Because I was tired of being lectured about my fertility. Because I’d rather lie to her than admit I don’t want to end up like her. There are too many reasons for me to lie. In fact, she is the very reason I’d rather be alone for the rest of my life. He wouldn’t understand.

I shake my head. “You’re an asshole, you know that?”

“Maybe so, but for the next month, I’myourasshole.”

Chapter Eight

Monday, October 31

Dallas, TX

Kami

With two large cups of coffee in hand, I make a beeline to my boss, Nathan Knight’s, office. My boss is deep in concentration on his computer when I walk through the door. His fingers on the keyboard look like they’re going a mile a minute.

“Morning, boss.” I place the cup of coffee beside him. “You like your coffee black, right?”

“Like my very soul,” he says with a flat expression. Dry humor. I can work with that.

This is a bad idea, but I have to at least try.

He stops what he’s doing and looks up at me. His gaze goes from me to the large cup, then back at me. “What do you want?”

Why do I get the feeling he’s not going to buy this? “Can’t I buy a friend some coffee every now and then? You may be my boss, but we’re still friends, right?”

He shakes his head. “As good a friend that you are, Kami, you know as well as I do you’re not the type to buy coffee for me, especially at work on a whim. So let me ask again, what do you want?”

Might as well put all my cards on the table. “All right, you got me. I need your help with something personal.”

“You know as your boss I can’t get involved in your personal life,” he reminds me.

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