Page 46 of His Fake Fiancé

KC shrugged, but she also smiled and pushed past Claire and into the guest house.

“I would say the same thing to you,” KC said, giving her a once over. “Except you look like crap.”

There was no venom behind the words, just KC being her blunt self. Looked like living in the big city hadn’t dulled that sharp edge. It made Claire happy. “Thanks, Kase. That’s just what I needed.”

KC shrugged, but she also smiled, and then pushed past Claire and into the house. Claire’s cheeks flamed again. The place was still a disaster area.

“Sorry about the mess,” she said, rushing around and picking up the toys and tossing them in the pack and play. She grabbed the blanket that Jake used on the pullout and began folding it.

KC waved her hand, like she was batting Claire’s words out of the way. “I’m not interested in the mess. I’m interested in what’s going on here.” She circled her hands around to encompass the room.

Damn, Claire hoped to have a little more time before she had to explain. Mostly because she was still undecided on how much she was going to share.

“Hey, KC. I didn’t know you were coming into town. It’s good to see you.”

Claire spun at the sound of Jake’s deep voice. He was standing at the end of the hallway, Olivia balanced on his hip. The fricking epitome of a family man.

“Jake,” KC said, and there was some frost in her tone.

Claire internally winced, hoping this wasn’t going to turn into a thing.

KC’s gaze drifted Olivia, who was leaning against Jake’s torso, staring at the newcomer. “And this must be baby Olivia.”

“The one and only,” Jake said, his gaze drifting to the baby. That look of love she hadn’t been sure she saw on his face this morning returned, and that same bittersweet ache bloomed in her chest. Jake gave the baby a little jostle. “You wanna say hi to KC, Peanut?”

Olivia stared at KC like she still wasn’t sure, and Claire had to bite back a smile. She should probably save the situation.

She clapped her hands. “I promise, she doesn’t bite, baby girl.” She used her happiest, baby voice.

Olivia looked at her and then reached out. “Ca-ca.”

Claire made a funny face and then walked over and swooped the baby up into her arms. The baby snuggled against her, and the feeling of rightness that flowed through her was almost too much. She pressed a soft kiss to the top of Olivia’s head. “I missed you today.”

She spun around the face KC, who was staring at her through narrowed eyes. Claire got the distinct impression her friend was seeing way more than Claire wanted her to. But then, KC had always had a knack for reading people, getting right to the heart of them. Mostly she used her powers for good, but occasionally, she swung toward the dark side.

Claire walked over to stand in front of KC and turned so Olivia was between them. “KC, this is Olivia.”

KC reached out and took one of Olivia’s hands. She gave it a shake and it was the cutest thing Claire had ever seen. “It’s nice to meet you, Olivia.”

Olivia stared at KC really hard, like she was still sizing her up. But she didn’t pull her hand away, so it was a start.

“Well,” Jake said from behind her, and her damn pulse skipped more beats than was probably necessary to function. And none of them were missed because he’d startled her. His hand landed on her shoulder, and it took every ounce of willpower she owned not to flinch.

The warmth from his palm seeped through her shirt and her skin making her tingle from the inside out. He moved in behind her, the heat from his body wrapping around her like a big, warm blanket. He smelled amazing, the clean scent of the body wash mixing with the heady scent that was all Jake. Her mouth watered. She wanted to taste him again.

KC’s gaze went from the baby, to Claire, to Jake, and then back to Claire. There was a gleam in her eye that Claire didn’t like. “Things here seem pretty cozy.” Her tone was friendly, but there was an underlying tension in the words.

“Yeah,” Jake said, slinging his arm around the front of Claire’s shoulders and giving a squeeze. He’d never been good at sussing out the subtleties in social situations a lot of the time. And he obviously didn’t feel the tension currently building.

“Jake…” Claire said, hoping if she stressed his name, he might get the hint.

No such luck.

“Yeah, it’s nice. When Claire and I get married, we’ll probably build our own place. But for now, this is our little home sweet home.”

Claire’s stomach sank so far south, she was pretty sure it was hanging with the penguins in Antarctica. She closed her eyes for a second and took a deep breath, trying to figure out what to do. How had she managed to get herself in this situation? She was torn between smacking Jake upside of the head for blurting it out like that, and dragging KC into the other room so she could explain why Jake would just so casually throw that statement out into the universe.

For her part, KC actually seemed to take it well. Her only reaction had been a tightening around her mouth. Other than that, Claire never would have known a bomb had been detonated.