Page 62 of Fake It Till You Make It

“This man is offering you an opportunity to have all of those things, yet you’re settling to attend some other woman’s wedding instead of dancing at your own. Stop being foolish and stupid. You could be Mrs. Doctor Russell Feldman.”

“And when he cheats,” Amarie shot back, “you and I both know from experience he won’t stop. When his next mistress is pregnant with his second child—what then, Mom?”

“Some men wander. It’s not the end of the world.”

“For you,” Amarie announced. “I have decided there are certain footsteps I refuse to follow. A revolving door of partners plucking my husband when he’s too restless to honor his vows to me is one of them.” She raised her voice on the last part. Billy froze, his little body rigid as stone. Perfect, Amarie was frightening the wedding guests. “A revolving-door marriage is not good enough for me, Mom. You know what I would become if I accepted what Russell is offering?” Which wasn’t much at all. “I’d be Mrs. Doctor Feldman and company. Russell is never going to stop cheating on me, don’t you know that?”

Her mom fell silent for a moment, but then asked, “Is that such a high price to pay for your own house, your own car, and access to money?”

“Do you have your own home, or do you live in Dad’s house? You’ve owned one car with your name on the title, and Dad hounded you until you gave that up.” Thank goodness she had saved enough money to buy Prince before her mother abandoned him to a dusty used-car lot. “I want a husband who loves and respects me.”

“Tell me, Amarie. Can you buy whatever you want?”

“Can you?” she snapped. A tense silence followed.

“I-I wanted you to have a better life, Amarie. If the day comes when you have the honor of being a mother, you’ll grow to understand that your children may not understand your choices, your sacrifices. Love and respect didn’t keep you fed. Love and respect didn’t pay your college tuition.”

“And I would rather starve than swallow my self-respect.” An audible gasp from the other end of the line sliced Amarie’s heart open. But she couldn’t bring herself to rescind the words.

“When I left, did your father come looking for me? No.”Her mother’s voice cracked. Amarie’s throat constricted. The old pain and fears tried to snake around her resolve, weaken her conviction. “Do you think Dr. Reid Walker called your grandmother over me? No. You know Russell has called Vali. Did your father call one of my friends? No. Look at all the effort, honey, Russell is putting into getting you back. You’re special to him.”

“Not special. Useful. There’s a difference.”

“What’s so wrong with being needed?” There was a hollow longing in her mother’s voice, the echo of years of pouring into a broken marriage without being refilled. Amarie didn’t feel the same way about Russell anymore. She didn’t feel the same way about herself. Whatever they’d shared, he’d destroyed with lies and betrayal.

“Mom, I know you’re worried, but don’t be.”

“A mother never stops worrying about her children.”

“That’s what Leah says.”

“Leah is a wise woman. This is the last time I’ll bring it up, but just consider what I’m saying. Not that you have to do what I’m suggesting. Just think about your future. I know how quick you are to put everyone before yourself. You’re attached to this shiny new place, but will you really throw away six years of time invested with Russell for a month of happiness?”

When her mom put it that way… Amarie looked to find Eli’s attention focused on her. When their gazes locked, his lips curled up into a broad smile, forher. Call her a hopeless romantic. Call her goofy. None of it could overshadow the charge of energy arcing between them. “Mom, we both have a lot to consider. I have to go. Happiness is waiting for me.”

She beckoned him forward. And guess what, after days of questions about his intentions for their partnershipturning into a courtship, watching him take long, determined strides to reach her, her pulse raced. Please let him have come to his senses.

“It’s about time you got your gluteus maximus over here,” she called, when he was within hearing range.

“Name the other two muscles that comprise the buttocks and I’ll treat you to a spin on the dance floor.”

Eli took his licensure review duties seriously. During work he’d recite the questions they’d studied the night before and wait for her to answer before moving on to the next body system. She had to admit his random pop quizzes had alleviated some, if not all, of her test anxiety. Educating came as natural to him as breathing. Their online followers often commented on his instructional abilities, too. She hadn’t shared this with him, but she’d discovered another of Eli’s passions.

“Urgh,” she lamented in jest. “The medius and minimus,” she answered with hesitation. “Now can a girl get one day off from learning?”

He looped her arm in his. “Not when there’s so much I want to teach you.”

Oh, her body heated at the idea of instructing her in ways to wring out every ounce of his pent-up passion. But she’d keep the conversation PG-13… for now.

“You and Hiccup looked rather dashing in the ceremony. Why didn’t you tell me that Hiccup would be in the wedding?”

“I wanted you to be surprised when you saw Hiccup in his finest, gussied up in his tuxedo vest. I hope you took a picture for our followers. Jessie McGillacutty’s golden poodle caught his scent during the processional. He’s probably behind the barn with Cocktail’s work vest unzipped. Jessie’s pup never stood a chance.”

“Stop it. Hiccup knows how to let a lady down without causing hurt feelings.” Or leaving her confused. Eli’s recent withdrawal had definitely left her frustrated… and needy, in a hot-under-the-pearls way. Really, what kind of lunatic kissed a woman crazy and then went cold turkey. Or in her overheated state, cold shower.

“Thank you.” He wrapped her in his arms. “I have the most beautiful girl in the world smiling up at me,” he whispered in her ear.

Amarie’s legs went weak. Clearly the dress had worked its spell because she melted into Eli’s strong body.