Page 103 of The Fiancé Hoax

Suddenly, I was swamped with customers.

I was working long hours before, but that had been a walk in the park compared to my new life after the interview. Out of nowhere, my store was flooded with parents ordering bespoke fashions for their little girls.

The adult clothing started to sell more, too. Once mothers stopped in the store to shop for their daughters, they often found something for themselves.

Three days after the interview was published, I had a large list of custom orders to make. I worked on designing and sewing in every free moment I had at the store. But it was hard to finish the pieces. Nearly every time I sat down at my sewing machine, another customer came through the door.

I barely saw Cooper and the girls. I was working around the clock, trying to do everything. I missed them, and I hated letting them down, but the boutique needed me now more than ever.

Wednesday night, I got home after the girls were in bed. When I walked in the front door, Cooper was coming down the staircase after tucking them in.

“Hey, stranger,” he said, his face neutral. None of the old warmth was there.

“Hey.” I set my bags on the front table.

“I saved you some dinner. It's in the microwave if you want it.”

“Thanks,” I said. “I haven't eaten since breakfast.” I kicked my shoes off.

“The girls were asking about you. They hardly see you anymore,” Cooper said.

“I know, and I hate that I’ve been getting home so late. It's just a lot to manage with all the new customers at the shop.”

“The trial is on Monday, you know.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “I know.”

“We’ll have to sit down soon and go over some details. I want you to know what to expect in the courtroom.”

I nodded. “Okay. I can get home early on Friday, if that works for you.”

“Sure.” He rubbed his jaw and looked away. “Well, I’ll let you eat. I have some work to do.”

“Okay,” I said quietly. He turned and went toward his study.

My heart ached.

I wanted to stop him, but I didn't know what to say. We’d barely had a moment alone since we had sex in his study.

Was this the same man who said he didn’t want to be with anyone else a week ago?

I still needed to tell him about the pregnancy, but I hadn't. I didn't know what the hell was wrong with me. I guess I was scared. Scared of his reaction. And most of all, I was scared of losing Cooper.

He already seemed so far away. I didn’t want the pregnancy to make us lose the last bit of connection we still had.

But tonight, it felt like any connection we once had was hanging by a thread.

* * *

The next morning, I got to the store early. I was hoping to get a jump on my backlog of sewing projects before I opened the store doors.

But when I saw Lauren knocking on the locked front door, I knew catching up on work wasn't going to happen. And I was glad. Talking to my best friend was more important.

I unlocked the door for her and pulled her inside, wrapping my arms around her.

“You're finally back from Seattle!” I exclaimed. “It feels like you've been gone forever.”

“I've only been gone a week.” She laughed as she hugged me, then stepped back to look at me. “Are you okay?”

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