Page 47 of His Fake Fiancé

And Jake, poor Jake, was more than likely oblivious to what he’d just done.

In his defense, he didn’t know Claire hadn’t told KC about what was going on. Or that she was still trying to decide whether or not to let her friend in on the ruse. That was really a conversation she needed to have with Jake first, though, because he was the one who had more at stake when things went south.

No, not when, if. If things went south.

And she really needed to stop thinking so negatively. Putting bad vibes out into the ether was a sure way to make sure they came true.

“I’m going to put the baby down,” she said, scooting away from Jake and practically running for the hallway. Yes, she was a coward. She was fully willing to admit it at this point.

She sat in the rocking chair and tucked Olivia against her. The rocking motion soothed her own frazzled nerves. A sense of peace washed through her, and her heart calmed to a regular rhythm. As usual, she started to sing softly.

Olivia yawned and then stuck her fingers in her mouth. Claire smiled and patted the baby lightly on the back. It only took a couple of minutes for Olivia’s breathing to even out. She was fast asleep.

“What the hell is going on?”

Claire looked up. KC stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, her hip cocked one way, her head cocked the other.

“Shh.” Claire indicated the baby with a tilt of her chin.

KC gave her a that-is-the-lamest-thing-I’ve-ever-heard look, and pressed her lips together.

“Fine,” Claire said, although she kept it to a whisper. She pushed to her feet, and placed Olivia in the crib. She brushed the dark curls off the baby’s forehead, silently wishing her sweet dreams.

And maybe avoiding the third degree she was about to get from Kase.

Finally, she turned and faced her friend. KC hadn’t moved, still stood there staring at her from the doorway.

She sighed. “Come on,” she said, ushering KC out of the room and into the hallway. She pulled the door almost closed, leaving it open a tiny bit. She liked to be able to hear if Olivia was awake or making a fuss.

“What are you doing, Claire?” KC kept her voice low, but there was concern and exasperation and anger a plenty in her tone.

Claire blew out a breath. That was the bazillion dollar question, wasn’t it? And hot on its heels was whether or not to let KC in on the lie. It wasn’t like KC was going to run out and tell everyone. Claire trusted Kase with her life. There was no way KC would betray them.

“Jake is fighting for custody of Olivia, and his lawyer thinks he’ll have a better chance of winning if he can show he’s in a committed relationship. You know, the whole nuclear family thing.”

“So, you’re playing the doting housewife?”

Claire opened her mouth to refute the claim, but then snapped it closed. Getting defensive wouldn’t help. She took a breath instead. “Not exactly.”

KC balanced her fists on her hips. Claire wanted to laugh at the pose, because it was very Wonder Woman-esque, and very much KC. “I understand what Jake’s getting out of this little arrangement, but what are you getting out of it?”

Claire blinked, her mind blanking at the unexpected question. Leave it to Kase to render her speechless. “I mean… it’s… it’s not like that… I can’t…”

Kase stared at her, her mouth twisted in a disapproving scrunch. There was something in her gaze that looked an awful lot like pity. It was the kind of look that felt like small little knives, slicing and dicing all of Claire’s organs, making her bleed out from the inside.

And then that streak of defensiveness slashed through her again, and she couldn’t help herself. “I get to help a friend who needs me. That’s what I get out of it. Satisfaction that I did what I could to help.”

KC grabbed Claire’s arm and gave a squeeze. “I just don’t want you to get hurt is all. You know, given your feelings—”

“Shh.” Claire glanced over her shoulder, fully expecting Jake to be prowling around in the shadowy hallway behind them. Of course, it was empty because she was being ridiculous. Why would Jake be listening in on her conversation with KC? “That has nothing to do with any of this. Besides, that was in the past. It has no bearing on now, or my current feelings.”

“So, you’re saying you no longer have feelings for Jake Callahan?”

The confirmation got stuck in her suddenly dry throat, and wouldn’t budge, no matter how badly she wanted to casually lie. Defensive was the way to go. “Well, that’s ridiculous. Of course, I have feelings for Jake. Friendly feelings. I’ve hung out with him practically every day for the last two decades.”

KC gave her the stink eye, but didn’t say anything, just pursed her lips. Claire decided to take it as a win, because the last thing she wanted was to fight, especially since it had been too long since they’d last had a chance to hang out.

Claire indicated her bedroom door with wave of her hand. “I’m just going to go and get changed. That shit-ton of margaritas are calling my name.” She spun around before KC could say anything, ducking into the bedroom and closing the door behind her with a soft click.