Page 46 of Taken By the Fake Fiancé

"I could input it in the GPS for you," she responds, her voice calm and even, I wonder whether she is suggesting that because she doesn't want to have to talk to me more than she is required.

Felicity does as she says but does not glance in my direction, I am forced to listen to the robotic voice that continues to give directions to her apartment.

Maybe it's best to leave her to process this and realize the sexual tension between us because I am well aware that she desires me sexually as much as I do her. It had been evident in her eyes this morning when I reached out for her and kissed her. It had also been very obvious when she looked up at me. Her eyes were filled with that barely repressed desire. Her look of desire is what had egged me on because I wouldn't have been able to go through with it otherwise.

Felicity appears to be living on the outskirts of town, I wonder just how early she has to get up every morning to prepare in order to get to the office on time. I finally park in front of her apartment and watch as she turns to flash me a strained smile.

"I had the best time at your parents’. I'm quite glad that they didn't hassle us too much when we decided not to have breakfast."

"Thank you for coming with us," I say and watch as she pushes the car door open and gets out.

I wait until she disappears in the stairwell before turning on the ignition again and beginning our drive home.

I really have messed things up. I should not have kissed her a second time.

"Are you both fighting?"

I look in the rearview mirror, shocked at Eli's question.

"I think so. I did something she didn't like."

"So, are you both broken up now?" Eli sounds hopeful.

I turn this time to gaze fully at him.

"No. We are still together. Couples have problems all the time. You just don't give up like that."

"But you gave up on Mom,"Eli's tone is accusing.

I give a low sigh.

"Your mother and I were fighting over bigger problems than what Felicity and I fought about this morning."

"My art teacher says that sometimes what creates bigger problems are the smaller ones we ignore."

"Felicity and I are definitely going to work out our differences," I say determinedly because even though this relationship between Felicity and I is as fake as the hair on my father's head, I am determined somehow to get through the current problems that we are experiencing.

Maybe it's because I had not been able to navigate my marital problems as I should have. Maybe I'm taking this chance to convince myself that I wasn't entirely the problem.

I have stayed in my room, trying to be productive and not think about the strange morning I have had.

Sharing a bed with Felicity was one thing; kissing her more than once was another. I mean, I have always noticed how really attractive Felicity is with her luscious brown hair and expressive green eyes. But I didn't think I would act on it. I wonder whether my actions from this morning will wreck our little arrangement.

When a knock sounds on the door, I give a low sigh, happy to be distracted from my thoughts.

“Come in.”

My French door is pushed open, Eli walks in, his eyes filled with the excitement that hadn't been present when he had been in the car with me and Felicity.

“Mom is here!” He informs me with a wider smile I'm only now realizing had not been present the entire time at dinner as well as this morning.

I fight the painful feeling that climbs up my chest at the realization of who Eli's favorite parent is.

But what had I expected? That I'd be put on a glittery pedestal and worshipped after my continuous absence in the past years?

“All right. Are you all set?” I ask, glad that I have long since perfected the art of stoicism so that the hurt I currently feel does not bleed into my voice.

“I am. Mom would like to have a word,” Eli says as he begins to make his way toward the door again.

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