Page 25 of Taken By the Fake Fiancé

Felicity glances at me and gives a mild shake of her head.

"I'm sorry, I will have to decline," she chimed in. "I’m driving and should be heading home soon."

Disappointment settles in the pit of my stomach.

"You're right," I breathe, getting up when Felicity does the same.

We both move toward the door and somehow, walking side by side allows me to breathe in the beautiful scent of her fragrance.

That’s caramel.

When we get to the door, I experience the strangest urge again to take her in my arms and kiss her like I had done when she first came in.

However, Felicity turns when she reaches the threshold and smiles at me.

"I had a great time with you and Eli."

I gaze curiously at her, trying to gauge how genuine her words are. Eli hadn't been polite, and I hadn't been the best host either.

"I'm sorry that he wasn't very welcoming," I state the obvious.

"He's a sweet kid, I know this is all just a lot to take in. He might eventually come around.”

"You're right," I say, taking an unconscious step toward Felicity and I’m suddenly close enough to catch her sharp intake of breath and wide eyes.

"Declan…" she whispers as she gazes up at me. "What are you doing?"

"I'm simply kissing my girlfriend goodbye," I say, lowering my head to her cheeks and allowing my lips to brush against the soft, smooth flesh.

Even though I know that I should step away, I find myself lingering against Felicity's cheeks, tempted to travel curious lips down her firm jaw and toward that delectable neck that looks like it'll be sweet to taste.

But I don't do that, afraid that I will go ahead and ruin everything by doing so. Felicity has already been gracious enough to agree to this and to take my son's bad attitude in stride. I shouldn't go ahead and make this worse than it already is for her.

"Thank you for coming over," I say when I gather the strength to lean away from her.

Felicity looks flushed, the sight of her pink cheeks causes a familiar sensation to curl through me, one that I know all too well what it means.

"Yeah," is all Felicity says as she pulls the door open and steps out.

I wait at the door and watch her walk to her car. When she is settled, she glances at me to give me a single wave. I wave back and watch as she drives away. Then I turn back to the house, dreading the conversation that I am about to have with Eli. I know I must. Well, here it goes!

Chapter Seven

Felicity

Iamconfusedaboutwhy Declan kissed me and why my body reacted the way it did to his kiss.

For crying out loud, it had simply been a chaste kiss on the cheek. But why it had that sort of effect on me…? I can’t say.

I’d wanted to remain in his presence and talk for endless hours. I didn’t want our moment together to end. That really confuses me because I can’t be attracted to Declan.

The truth is, he is physically good-looking, a credible fact that anyone with two functioning eyes would see. I recall the moment at the restaurant when he had undone his cuff button. But then, that could be because it was the first time I'd witnessed a man do that. It had been almost artistic, the way his shoulders had flexed, the muscles in his arms had bunched with the slightest of movements.

Or was I? Was I really attracted to Declan?

I shake my head at myself. There is no way that I could possibly be attracted to Declan. Haven't I learned enough from Allard?Men spell trouble. There is no way I am ever going to fall for that again. No way I could physically want him. I simply want to help him and get something from doing so as well.

Allard is completely away from me... That's what it is.

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