Page 90 of The Fiancé Hoax
“I'm fine,” she said sheepishly. “I'm sorry I didn't call or text. I didn't have my phone with me when I was out, and when I went back to the store to pick it up, it was dead.”
I put her bag down on the foyer table, and she followed me into the living room.
“So you weren't at Moonstone? Where were you?”
She sat on the sofa and curled her legs underneath her. Her gaze rested on the floor. “I was out walking.”
My relief at seeing her safe and sound instantly gave way to anger. I froze, standing in the middle of the living room.
“Walking?”
She nodded, avoiding my eyes. “Yeah. I went for a walk through the neighborhood around Moonstone.”
I raked a hand through my hair, the frustration building in my chest. “After everything that's happened, after my ex-wife's private investigator got a picture of your hand without the engagement ring… You decided that would be a nice time for a stroll?”
She chewed on her bottom lip. “I just needed some time to collect my thoughts. I guess I wasn't thinking clearly. I'm sorry I'm so late.”
I turned away for a moment, trying to calm myself.
Anger was mounting quickly. And jealousy.
I looked at Felicity, searching her face for something.
“Were you with a man, Felicity?”
She finally looked at me. “What? No. I wasn't with anyone. I was walking alone.”
I narrowed my eyes at her, expecting to find some clue in her expression that would give her away.
Felicity looked nervous, her brow furrowed as she looked up at me. She opened her mouth to speak.
I held my hand up to stop her. “Save it. I don't believe you.”
She frowned. “What do you mean, you don’t believe me?”
I folded my arms across my chest. “I think you're lying.” The words tumbled from my mouth, hot and angry. “Your body language gives away your dishonesty. Why else would you lie to me, unless you were messing around with some guy?”
“Cooper, you’re being a jerk right now. Look, you got so upset with me when I told you about the ring… I needed some time to process all this.”
“I got upset because you’re not taking this seriously.”
Her mouth tightened. “I am taking it seriously. And I don’t appreciate being accused of lying, Cooper. Maybe you shouldn’t fly off the handle at me for an honest mistake. Any seamstress would take off a ring if it was snagging the fabric.”
“I'm done listening.” I looked at her, consumed by jealousy. The thought of another man touching her made me sick to my stomach. “Do you remember our agreement? We agreed to not date anyone else for the length of the engagement.”
She swallowed, her throat rolling. “Yes, of course I remember that. And I didn't break the terms of that agreement.”
“I don't believe you. It's bad enough that PI weasel saw your ring off your finger. Now he may have evidence of you with some other guy. I’m sure he followed you after you left the boutique.”
Felicity’s eyes grew round, and her face turned white at my words.
Her shock at realizing she might have been caught was all the confirmation I needed.
I turned away and began to storm out of the living room.
I was certain she was lying. She had hurt me to my core, and I wanted her to know how it felt. I stopped just before reaching the hallway and turned to say one last thing.
“You know, you wouldn't have a shot of success with Moonstone if it hadn't been for my help.”