Page 71 of The Fiancé Hoax
No, I couldn't follow my instincts. I had to trust my brain.
Logic. That was what always worked out for me in the end.
My gut instinct had never let me down in business. I invested in companies I had a good feeling about. And my success proved it was a good strategy.
But love was a different story.
When it came to romance, I couldn’t trust my heart.
That had been my mistake with Gen. I’d ignored the red flags popping up in my head. I’d followed my heart like a damn fool.
As perfect as it felt to be with Felicity, I couldn't make that mistake again.
I had to pull back before everyone got hurt.
19
FELICITY
“Oh, my goodness! This place is just darling!”
Dana Berceli, the fashion writer, walked into Moonstone Boutique at eleven o’clock on the dot.
I’d spent the previous few days working around the clock—arranging the store, increasing the prices and implementing Cooper’s strategies. Things were really starting to come together for the boutique.
Now I just needed more customers.
Judging from Dana’s response, at least the store looked good.
She grabbed a pair of wide-leg linen shorts off the rack and shrieked. “These are gorgeous! The details, the stitching!” She looked at me. “Girl, you’re a hidden gem!”
I beamed. “Thank you. That’s my new summer line. Fresh off the sewing machine. Sleeveless shirts, shorts, and dresses,” I said, pointing at the various racks as Dana walked through the space.
“Mind if I take some pictures?” She produced a fancy camera from her bag.
“Not at all. Go right ahead.”
I suppressed a squeal of excitement. When Dana called me the other day to set up this appointment, she hadn’t said she would interview me. She’d said she wanted to see the store. But now that she was taking pictures, an interview seemed likely.
“And you make everything right here in the store?” she asked, moving toward my studio space beyond the sales racks.
“Yep, this is where the magic happens.” I blushed, feeling like a nerd. But Dana didn’t seem to think the same. She gushed over the layout of the space.
I was glad I’d recently added some potted plants to several corners of the store. The lush greenery really made the store come alive. The ample natural light gave it a vibrant feeling, especially when paired with the lavender and dusty pink color scheme. The boutique had never looked better.
“Felicity, I’m loving everything I see here,” she said, looking through my collection of bohemian dresses. “You’ve got quite the unique style. California boho meets sustainable classics.”
“Yes,” I nodded, thrilled she’d picked up on my branding. “That’s exactly what I’m going for.”
“Now.” She clapped her hands together. “Show me your adorable children’s line.”
I gulped. This was the section I was most uncertain about.
I’d just started to dip my toes into kids’ wear, but I’d been able to sew a few pieces in the past week. Despite my relative inexperience in this area, I was proud of what I’d created. I led her to the small section off to the side.
She shrieked again. “Oh, have mercy! These are just to die for!”
She picked up a green and yellow playsuit, inspired by Eva’s bold color combinations. Then she fawned over a rainbow tulle dress I’d designed with Lily in mind.