Page 33 of Matched with Her Fake Fiance

The two of us start laughing. As fun as she is, she seems like a rule follower and I’m sure the worst thing she’s ever done was prank call someone.

“We’re going here?” Dani asks, glancing through the window. The car sits facing out of the parking garage and the large buildings that make up the mall.

I can’t tell by the look on her face whether it’s a good thing or not. “Yeah, is that okay?”

She nods. “My friends and I went window shopping here once, but even the accessories were more than I could ever afford.”

I park the car and turn to her. “This is the only place I know. And Sonia is one of the best at her job.” We get out of the car and my phone rings for what feels like the hundredth time today.

“Give me one second,” I say, seeing Oliver’s name on the screen.

“Hey Ollie,” I say, taking a few steps away from the car. Pacing is what I do when I talk on the phone.

“Hey yourself,” he says, sounding like he’s standing in front of a wind turbine. “I’ve just spoken with my assistant. I can give you a month to work on the project. Grandpa needs me back at the end of July for a couple weeks but I’m hoping that will be enough time to get your project underway.”

I fist pump and say, “Thank you, Oliver. That means a lot.”

“Oh don’t worry. I’ll be calling you for a favor soon enough.” Oliver laughs and I follow.

“That’s fine with me. I’m happy to reciprocate.”

“I’ve got to run. See you next week.”

We hang up the phone and I turn to Dani. My research project is going to be in good hands with Oliver, and I get to spend more time with Dani, which has been the bright spot of my week.

I turn to her, reaching out my hand to take hers. It’s not a necessity to hold hands, but I tell myself the paparazzi are everywhere.

“Are you ready to do some shopping?”

CHAPTER14

Dani

“We can always go to TJ Maxx. Or Ross. I’m a good bargain hunter,” I say. My nerves are shaking like I’m about to walk onto a stage facing hundreds of people.

Miles laughs. “It’s fine. Sonia will help you get set up with everything you need.”

“Please tell me she won’t torture me with high heels,” I say, mostly to get a reaction out of him. “Unless you want your girlfriend to look like the damsel in distress type. I mean, fake girlfriend.” I have to whisper the last part because people are approaching.

It gets the desired laugh and he says, “We can talk to her about non-heel options.”

I should be excited about getting a few things for my wardrobe, but guilt is the overruling emotion here. He shouldn’t be spending money on me when I’m not his real girlfriend. And I am definitely underdressed for this place. They’re going to look at me like I walked in dressed in the styles from the past decade.

And to that I would say they’d be wrong, because who knows when or if my style has ever been popular.

We enter a large department store, and as if they have been keeping watch, a couple of women in matching blue pants suits come scurrying over to us.

“Mr. Clark,” one of the women fawns. “What a pleasure it is to have you in today.”

Miles gives them what I’ve come to know as his business smile as he shifts from one foot to the other.

“Hello,” he says, placing a hand on my lower back. A tingle travels all the way up my spine because of it. “I asked for Sonia to be here today,” he says, his tone firm.

The one woman’s face falls a bit. “Of course, I’ll call her up here.” As she and the other woman hurry away, I lean closer to Miles. The smell of his cologne is different than any other I’ve smelled before. Right now, if he told me where he bought it from, I might just go get a bottle to spray on my pillow. Okay, so I would wait for him to not be here. I don’t need him thinking he’s in a fake relationship with a stalker type.

“Does this happen to you often? The attention and the hurrying to fulfill your request?” I ask, glancing up at him. He’s probably five or so inches taller than me, but from this close, it’s like I’m seeing a whole other side of him.

He nods, looking somber. “Yeah, more than I’d like. It’s a casualty of the business.”

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