But Ellie just patted our joined hands and addressed Madison with a smile. “Six minimum. I lost count after Cade did this thing with his hips?—”
I slapped my free hand over her mouth and raised my voice. “Who’s next? Vlad?”
The Russian was leaning back in his chair, pouring more vodka than juice into his glass, and watching Ellie with a new appreciation. “I want to hear more about this crab.”
“Me too.” Piper pulled out her notebook and leaned forward. “Can you describe it from the top, please?”
Ellie smiled against my palm and glanced at me with an impish glint in her eye that I was beginning to recognize.
She evenwinkedat me.
She looked entirely too pleased with herself for running with this story, while I suppressed a groan.
Not for the first time this week, I regretted not hiring one of the actresses. They would’ve followed my script and stayed within the lines of normal social behavior.
Ellie Darling was a wild card one overimaginative story away from blowing up our entire plan.
the dress
. . .
Ellie
Ellie’s Guide toProfessional CuddlingBeing a Fake FiancéeNOT Falling for Your Fake Fiancé, Tip #15: Maybe don’t go to a super romantic dinner with him.
These hives would be the death of me.
After Dr. Lovejoy dismissed us and said we were free until dinner, I holed up in the bathroom and slathered calamine lotion all over the troubling spots on the inner parts of my elbows and along my thighs. The temporary relief was a godsend.
I hadn’t meant to lie as much as I had at breakfast. The plan had been to stick close to the truth with three words that hadactuallyhappened last night, but then there’d been an inquisition about the crab, and Candace had to get all snooty.
And I’d panicked.
I didn’t have the best track record for making good decisions while panicking, so it’d only gone downhill from there. But, really, Cade could’ve been more grateful—I’d totally done him a favor.
When I worked up the courage to return to the deck, Harrison had pulled Cade away to the gym for some brotherly bonding. The others were drinking on the main deck, but ten minutes into me joining them, Candace’s cold shoulder made me feel less than welcome.
So, I used the day to reconnect with Whiskey and earn his forgiveness. We returned the items he’d pilfered—which he wasnothappy about—then hung out on the deck together. I crocheted a new bow tie for him while he sunbathed and played with my yarn.
It only took eleven treats and a promise to let him visit Mac before Whiskey willingly climbed into my lap again.
I gave him lots of quality cuddles.
The evening presented my and Cade’s newest hurdle: a fancy date night prepared by Dr. Lovejoy herself. It was a black-tie event to celebrate the halfway point of our couples retreat, so I raided the wardrobe Nate had put together and found more than one dress that looked red-carpet ready. I wasn’t sure what Nate thought we’d be doing this week that I’d need five evening gowns.
But he must’ve known what he was doing, because none of the outfits clashed with my hair.
My make-believe boo had already gotten dressed while I made use of the jacuzzi, and he was MIA when I foundthe dress.
“Oh wow. It’s gorgeous,” I murmured, trailing my hand down the floor-length golden masterpiece. I couldn’t get it off its hanger fast enough, and Whiskey watched on while I stripped down before stepping into the dress.
A mix of satin and lace, the fabric slid over me like a second skin. The dress brushed the floor, with lace hugging my bust, a slit that reached dangerously high on my thigh, and tiny straps that made my collarbones feel like a million bucks.
It wasn’t something I’d normally wear—not by a long shot. And not just because it probably cost more than my entire income for the year, but because it looked like it’d been created for a movie star. Not little ol’ Ellie Darling.
I ran my hands over the buttery smooth satin at my hips, unable to stop worshiping it.
My brain decided to imagine Cade running his hands over it, too, but I quickly shut down that train of thought.
