Page 28 of The Fiancé Hoax

I sucked in air as I gazed at the massive rock. “For God’s sake, Cooper. It’s huge.”

Our eyes met, and we burst into laughter.

I knew we were thinking the same thing: That’s what she said.

“But it is pretty,” I said. I slid it onto my finger and held it out to admire the sparkle. It wasn’t quite my style, but I could admit he had good taste.

“It looks good on you,” he said with a smile.

His eyes lingered on my face for a long moment. Then the doorbell rang.

Cooper took a step back. “Come on. Time to make your first appearance as my fiancée.”

He left the room quickly. I followed, my heart thundering.

His fiancée.

Even though it wasn’t real, the word sent goosebumps down my flesh.

Downstairs, Cooper stood at the door and glanced at me before slowly swinging it open. From his tense body language, I could tell the person ringing the doorbell was not a welcome guest.

I paused on the landing of the stairs, unsure where to go.

A beautiful woman in her early forties stood before him. She was thin and statuesque, with long honey blonde hair that fell in curls down her shoulders. She wore workout clothes that highlighted her toned, svelte body.

Cooper’s jaw tightened.

“Hello, Gen.”

8

FELICITY

“Hello, Cooper,” she said with disgust in her voice. “Where are the girls?”

“They're upstairs.”

With a huff, she leaned around him and shouted, “Eva! Lily! Mommy's here!”

Her eyes fell on me, then narrowed. “Cooper, I told you not to have your women around my daughters.”

Oh, shit.

Cooper's women?

Her words made my stomach sour. Not only did her condescending attitude rub me the wrong way, but thinking of Cooper with a lot of women made me feel ill.

And that was silly. Because it shouldn’t. Obviously.

Cooper reached his hand out toward me. I crossed the foyer to stand beside him.

“Felicity, let me introduce you to my ex-wife, Geneviève Barra. Gen, this is Felicity Hayes.”

“Nice to meet you, Gen.” I smiled and extended my hand.

She fixed me with a blank stare and gave me a limp handshake. “Charmed.”

Footsteps behind us drew our attention, and we all turned to see Eva and Lily racing down the stairs.

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