Sadie’s eyes widen.
Maddie looks stunned that I surrendered first.
I focus on Jillie. “No fake dad stuff,” I say carefully. “No confusing her. No pretending we’re something we’re not.”
Sadie studies me for a long moment.
Then finally: Maddie…“One month.”
Jillie blinks between us. “Wait.”
Oh no.
“Are you dating now?”
Maddie whispers, “And there’s the headline.”
Chapter three
Sadie
The Rules
Fake dating sounds significantly less ridiculous in theory.
In theory, it’s strategic.
Temporary.
Controlled.
In reality, I’m standing inside my bakery at seven-thirty the next morning while my six-year-old proudly tells Mrs. Bellamy that Colby Reid might come over for spaghetti someday.
Jillie only spends mornings at the bakery during school breaks and teacher workdays. Most weekdays she catches the elementary school bus from the corner by eight o'clock, but today her classroom is closed for a district training day, which means she's currently acting like Sweet Seasons' smallest and loudest employee.
I close my eyes briefly. “We are not planning dinners,” I say.
Jillie blinks at me from her stool behind the counter. “Why?”
“Because we are pretending.”
Mrs. Bellamy gasps softly like I just informed the town I plan to outlaw Christmas.
“Sadie Bennett,” she whispers. “You are fake dating a hockey superstar. At least let the child dream.”
“I would actually prefer that the child remain emotionally stable.”
Jillie stuffs a powdered donut hole into her mouth. “I’m stable.”
“You’re covered in sugar.”
“That’s different.”
The bell over the bakery door jingles again, followed immediately by excited whispers.
I don’t even have to look anymore. The whole town is treating Sweet Seasons Bakery like a celebrity safari.
Three different college girls stand near the window pretending to study muffins while very obviously trying to photograph the front counter. I glare. They immediately become fascinated by blueberry scones.
