Page 74 of The Mister I Married

“But now nothing. It began as a marriage of convenience, and it is still a marriage of convenience. Nothing more.”

“And the mussed hair? And the grass stains on your dress?” She raised her eyebrows. “Do not think I did not notice.”

Emmy touched her hair then huffed out a sigh. “I fell. One of Alex’s dogs knocked me to the ground.”

She did not bother to mention the kissing that had followed her fall, nor the lovemaking that had occurred during a certain picnic only a few days ago. Olivia’s romantic heart did not need the encouragement.

“Hm.” The low hum was as dubious as her blue eyes.

“I fell,” Emmy repeated, firmer this time.

Olivia crossed her arms. “Hm.”

“I do wish you would cease making that noise,” she muttered as she turned the doorknob and walked into her bedchamber.

“I will cease once you convince me I’m wrong,” Olivia shot back, following her inside.

“You are wrong, and I wish you would let it go.”

She shut the door with more force than she’d intended and stalked to her wardrobe to fetch a clean gown.

“Why are you so upset?” Olivia’s voice was quiet, confused.

“I’m not upset,” she said firmly, though an idiot could see that she was. “May we talk of something else, please?” She pulled a gown from her wardrobe and laid it on the bed. “Tell me what you and Griffin have decided to name the baby.”

The distraction worked—or, perhaps more likely, Olivia had decided to show her some mercy. Either way, Emmy was grateful when her friend launched into a monologue of possible names while helping her into her clean gown.

She tried to listen, but her thoughts kept straying, repeating, echoing.

You and your husband…walking together and holding hands…

You looked like a couple in love.

Her chest tightened, and she swallowed hard, the words pressing like whalebone even as she assured herself they could not possibly be true.

Olivia was a romantic at heart, and this made her see what she wanted to see. Things that simply were not there.

Alex did not love her, and she did not love him. That was the truth, and that was how it would stay.