Page 19 of In this Moment

Evie looked around, her eyes flying over everyone who’d stopped what they were doing and were paying attention to Declan, who’d run over and hopped up on a street bench.

She followed him, gesturing for him to get down but he only smiled and winked.

“I’m sorry to interrupt everyone’s day,” Declan continued at top volume. “But I have something to say and it’s so important that I need everyone to hear it. So if you all wouldn’t mind bearing witness to this special moment.”

Evie shook her head and tried to hide her face for a moment before she looked up again. Jonah had appeared at her side and was looking every bit as puzzled as she was feeling. Of course, she knew what he was doing, but she didn’t know why he was doing it. If everyone knew, it would only be harder to unwind.

“What’s going on, Mom?”

“I think Declan has completely lost his mind,” she said in response. “You should wait inside.”

“No way,” Jonah said. “This is gettinggood.”

“I want everyone to know something,” Declan’s voice boomed. “I am completely smitten with this amazing, gorgeous woman right here, and I want everyone to know it.” That got a few oohs and ahhs from the gathering crowd. “I’ve traveled the world over many times. I’ve met thousands of people and I can unequivocally say that Evelyn Rose, you are simply the most amazing woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Not only are you insanely gorgeous, you’re smart, an excellent friend, a brilliant mother and frankly…you take my breath away with everything you are.” He looked her straight in the eyes and for a moment, she actually believed what he was saying.

And then she remembered it wasn’t true. None of it wasreal.

He hadn’t said anything aboutlove.

They weren’t inlove.

They shouldn’t be doing this. It was wrong.

She shook her head and looked at hertoes.

I have to stop this. It’s wrong. So wrong.

“Evie?” She looked up to see Declan, down from his park bench, looking at her with concern. “Do you believe me? Do you believe I think you’re amazing?”

She couldn’t answer.

“All you have to do right now is tell me you believe me,” he whispered so only she couldhear.

She nodded.

“Okay,” he said. “Do you still want to dothis?”

She hesitated. The right thing to do was back out, walk away and figure everything out with Tony and custody. But…her eyes landed on her son, who was watching the scene with a confused grin on hisface.

It was for him. It was all forhim.

She nodded again. “Yes.”

Declan didn’t need anything more from her. He once again hopped up on the bench, but this time he pulled the ring out of his pocket and held it up for the sun to sparkle offit.

“With all of you here as my witness, there’s only one thing left to do.” He waved around the ring one more time for effect which elicited the desired response of more oohs and ahhs as well as a few cheers from the crowd.

And then he was in front of her, on one knee. She clasped her hands over her mouth in a natural response.

“Evelyn Rose,” Declan began. “Will you do me the amazing honor of agreeing to marryme?”

There was nothing but silence as the crowd waited for her answer. She only slightly registered Declan’s choice of words, but no one else would have noticed how noncommittal they reallywere.

You’re in it now. But there were definitely worse choices for her pretend husband. Declan McCormick was handsome, smart, and more importantly, kind. She still couldn’t believe he’d agreed tothis.

It was only a few seconds, but everything processed through her brain and finally, she took a deep breath and said, “Yes.” The smile on her face was genuine and when he leapt to his feet and put the ring on her finger, she looked him in the eye and added, “Of course I’ll agree to marryyou.”

Declan grinned and before she knew what was happening, his hands cupped her face and pulled her close into a passionatekiss.

---