Page 62 of The Fiancé Hoax

“Daddy!” Eva exclaimed as I sat next to her in the booth. Felicity and Lily sat across from us.

“Hey, girls. How was dance class?” I asked, ruffling her hair. I picked up the menu.

“Awesome!” Eva said. “My teacher taught us this really cool new move. Here, I’ll show you.”

She popped up to stand in the booth.

Before she could show us the move, I shook my head. “Show us after dinner, okay, silly goose?”

“Okay.” She plopped back down in the booth. “And we got Felicity a new customer.”

I looked at Felicity. She grinned.

“Yeah, one of the moms at the dance studio really liked the clothes Eva and Lily were wearing. I gave her my card, and she said she'd come by soon to check out the boutique.”

“Really? That's great.”

Felicity nodded, her face lit up with excitement. She was beautiful, and her enthusiasm was contagious. “And the best part is that she works for LA Now Magazine.”

I dropped the menu. “She does?”

“Yeah, she's a writer… for the fashion section.”

She danced her feet with glee under the table, then reached across the menu and squeezed my hand. Her touch was sweet and warm, and I never wanted her to let go.

“Cooper, do you think she might write a review of my store?”

“She might. What's her name? I may have heard of her.”

“Hold on. She gave me her card.”

Felicity let go of my hand to rummage in her purse. I cursed myself silently for asking the question. I instantly missed her skin on mine.

“Here it is.” She handed me the card. “Dana Berceli.”

I looked at the card, then handed it back to her. “I don't know her, but I think this is a very good sign, Felicity. You should put some of the clothes you designed for the girls on display in your store. And you could advertise a custom design service for little girls.”

Felicity smiled. “I do like the idea. It just seems like a big change. I've never designed for children.”

“Until us!” Eva interjected.

Felicity grinned at her. “Right. Until you two.”

“I should have thought of this in the beginning,” I said. “Expanding your market to children. People in high financial brackets will pay top dollar for custom, one-of-a-kind clothes for their kids.”

Felicity played with a strand of her hair, looking off into the distance. “I'll have to think about it. But it’s very exciting.”

The waitress came to take our orders, and we spent the rest of the meal talking with the girls. I did my best to keep my eyes off Felicity. But she was so gorgeous it was hard not to stare at her.

Back home, Felicity helped me put the girls to bed. It was quickly becoming a routine for her to read to them at night, and I sat in the room to listen and tuck the girls in.

By the time she finished the story, both Eva and Lily were out cold. We turned the lights out and left the room, closing the door behind us.

In the hallway, I turned to her. Her chocolate brown hair fell down her shoulders. Her full mouth pulled up at the corners. Those gorgeous eyes sparkled as she looked up at me.

She was perfect, and I didn't want to pretend anymore.

I couldn't hold myself back any longer.

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