Page 77 of The Fiancé Hoax

Cooper looked at me with surprise. “That's the second time he's visited you in three weeks. He's really coming around, isn't he?”

I rubbed the back of my neck. “Well, he was. But then he saw something today that really set him off.”

Cooper turned the water off and glanced at me. “What?”

“My engagement ring.”

Cooper tossed the dish towel into the sink. “Damn.”

“Yeah, he flipped his lid for a minute. I had to come clean and tell him we've been faking an engagement for the custody trial.”

Cooper sighed. “Well, it was just a matter of time until he figured that part out, anyway. What did he say?”

“He scolded me for being dishonest.” I shrugged. “It'll just go down as another time I disappointed Marshall Hayes.”

“I'm sorry your dad is so hard on you.”

“Thanks. I did manage to get him to see why it was important. I explained about the judge siding with mothers in custody trials. Dad was able to admit that you should have the girls and not Gen.”

“So he agreed to be discreet about the fake engagement?”

“Yes. And I believe him. He doesn't want to ruin things for you.”

“Okay, well, that part's good, at least.” He ran a hand through his hair.

“I told him the engagement thing was temporary. I said I’d be moving out of your house after the trial.”

My chest tightened as I said the words. I glanced at Cooper, trying to read his reaction.

Was that as painful for him to hear as it was for me to say?

But his face was neutral as he leaned against the counter. “Okay.”

My mouth was suddenly dry. “I don't think he suspects we're messing around or anything.”

Cooper nodded. “Good. But I don't like sneaking around behind his back.”

“I don't, either.”

I faced him, my breath catching in my lungs.

Was he going to say what I wanted to hear—that he wanted more than just sex? That he wanted to make the relationship real?

No, he wasn't.

Instead of saying the words I desperately craved, he turned to close the dishwasher and start its cycle.

I looked away quickly and began to wipe down the counter. “Did your day go okay?” I asked, trying to hide the disappointment in my voice.

“Yeah, Eva's field trip went well. I was relieved to see that she could use her indoor voice in the museum.”

I laughed. “She's making progress.”

“She certainly is. After I picked up the girls from school, I came back to get some work done in the home office while Inga was here.”

“That's good.”

“Hey. Come here.” He took me in his arms and pulled me close.