Page 3 of The Replacement Fiance

"So why all the pretense? Not to mention the expense of hiring someone. I bet he wasn't cheap."

"No, he wasn't." I sigh again. "I know it sounds shallow but I just didn't want people seeing me still single."

"You mean you didn't want your ex seeing you're still single."

"It's a her, actually. Minerva, the woman he ended up with."

"Why?"

"She used to be my best friend and now she's his wife."

Logan winces. "Ouch. I'm sorry, Mariah."

"Yeah. Ouch is about right. Anyway, don't tell anyone, okay? It's bad enough that you know. It's downright embarrassing, now that I think about it. It makes me look so… so desperate."

"Actually, it doesn't. If my girl ended up cheating on me with my best friend, you bet I'm going to show her I've moved on to someone even better. Like a total upgrade," Logan says, grinning. "And don't worry. I'm not going to tell anyone. It's our secret."

"Thanks."

"Come to think of it, you could have just asked me. I'm sure I know you better way more than that guy you hired," he says, pausing. "Where do your folks live again? Lake Tahoe?"

"Just before Lake Tahoe. It's called Soda Springs."

His brow furrows as he thinks for a few moments. "How far is that from Nevada City?"

"Less than hour, depending on how fast you drive. Do you know the area?"

"Chad Stoker, one of our buddies moved up there a year ago and Liam and I rode our bikes up to see him back in September. Nice place," he says. "Anyway, if this guy doesn't make it, you know who to call. You don't even have to pay me a dime."

My phone rings before I can say anything. I retrieve it from inside my purse, hitting Answer the moment Cooper's name flashes on my screen. "Hi Cooper, what's up?"

"Hey, babe, all flights from JFK are grounded until tomorrow. There's a freaking snowstorm over here," he says. "I don't think I'll make it. Definitely not in the next five hours."

"Can you get on a flight tomorrow?" Beside me, Logan doesn't budge from his spot. I know he's listening but it's not as if I'm still keeping a secret from him. When the shop phone rings, he gets up to answer it just as two people enter the front door.

"I don't know, babe. It looks really sketchy right now." Cooper pauses as an announcement comes on, something about a list of flights canceled. He waits until the announcement finishes before continuing. "Look, babe, I'm so sorry. I was really looking forward to meeting you in person."

"Me, too."

"I'll try to get on the first flight in the morning. Or any flight for that matter. Right now, it's a madhouse in here. People are going crazy."

"Well, tomorrow is Christmas Eve."

He exhales. "Yeah, I know. I'm really sorry, Mariah."

"It's not your fault, Cooper. Do you have the address to the lodge?"

"Yeah, I do. I'll text you as soon as I get on a plane."

As I hang up and return my phone back into my purse, I tell myself that it's probably for the best that Cooper can't make it. Maybe I should just wear the ring and leave it at that. I'm not exactly lying if I told everyone he got stuck in the East Coast because of the snowstorm. Besides, no matter what I'll say, I'm sure Elliot and Minerva will think whatever they want to think anyway.

Behind the counter, Logan hangs up the phone and helps the two customers who've come in to pick up their cars. As I switch on my iPad, three more customers arrive, keeping Logan busy with repair estimates and invoicing besides needing to go back into the shop area to help the guys.

An hour and a half later and with most of my mobile accounting settled for the day, Liam calls me over to the counter and lists down all the things he and the guys completed. As he finishes ringing me up, Logan comes back into the office area.

"Let me take care of that, man," he says as Liam steps aside. Logan waits until his brother is out of the reception area before turning to look at me. "So what was your fiancé calling about? Sounded serious."

I hand him my bank card and watch him swipe it through the terminal. Knowing Logan, he probably gave me a discount like he always does. "He can't make it. He's stranded in New York."

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