Page 68 of Taken By the Fake Fiancé

Nick, the 51-year-old chef smiles and nods his head repeatedly.

“The boy is right, Ms. Goleman. Here,” he grabs the panhandle and shows me how to do it for the umpteenth time. I puff my cheeks and wave it away.

"Let’s just try the oven. I think I can manage that.”

“You mean we should bake the pancake?” Eli quips.

I roll my eyes. The boy has been throwing jabs at me at every chance he gets. It’s fun seeing this side of him and being able to laugh so freely. Nick also laughs and pulls out one of the drawers containing bags of flour.

“We can make angel fruit cake for dessert. Any objections?” Nick asks.

“I’m cool with it,” Eli says.

“Me too. I love how fluffy it is, the fruits that come with it are always special.”

Eli’s unpracticed smile spreads across his face.

“I’ll share mine with you. To apologize for being mean to you.”

My breath hitches. I absently wipe my hands on my apron and stand in front of him. He looks so adorable, with his hair all messy and flour on his cheeks.

“Hey, you don’t have to. I--”

The shrill ringing of my cell phone cuts me off. I turn to it with an annoyed glance and reach out to tap the screen to mute it, then turn back to Eli.

“When I first came here, I didn’t expect you to jump into my arms. I knew it was going to take a while, I was ready to meet you halfway.”

“So, you’re not going to take Dad away from me?”

I give him a solemn nod.

“I’d never do that, Eli. Your dad loves you more than anything in the world.”

“Ms. Goleman, it’s Mr. Gray. He says it’s urgent,” Angelina says from the doorway with the landline glued to her ear.

Eli flashes me a radiant smile and tugs me up with two hands.

"Tell him I said hi."

Tears itch the back of my throat. I nod silently and turn the door where Angelina is standing with the phone.

"The way you both are going, I'm afraid I'll be unemployed soon."

I chuckle and pat her shoulder as I grab the phone from her hand.

"You won't. I don't know how to match outfits the way you do. My days here are numbered."

I unmute the call and press the phone against my ear.

"Felicity?"

"Hello, Declan."

I can hear his sharp intake of breath. He sounds exhausted.

"Are you on your way home?"

"Amelia just left with her attorney. It was crazy. She isn't backing down."

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