Page 90 of Fake it for Keeps

“You were right. Just like always.” I sank into my desk chair. “The engagement was supposed to be simple. Clean. But now?”

“Now you’ve slept with her,” Frankie finished.

I looked up sharply. “How did you know?”

“Please. I saw that kiss at the fundraiser. I’ve seen how you look at her. And you just confirmed it.” She shook her head. “Colt, what are you thinking?”

“I wasn’t thinking. That’s the problem.” I leaned back, staring at the ceiling. “She stayed over last night. And this morning I wanted her to stay for breakfast. Wanted her to stay period.”

“And?”

“And she made it very clear it wasn’t going to happen again because she’s smarter than I am. Because she knows this complicates everything.”

Frankie was quiet for a moment. “Do you love her?”

“Fuck off,” I said, shaking my head.

I thought about the way my chest tightened when I saw Hallie smile. The way I wanted to protect her, defend her, make her happy. The way sleeping next to her had been the first peaceful night I’d had in weeks.

“No,” I said, reaffirming it. “Come on, give me some credit. I don’t fall in love with a woman I’ve slept with one time.”

She laughed. “You know, there are some people that believe you fall in love with someone before you have sex with them.”

“Who, the Amish?” I rolled my eyes. “No, I’m not in love with her. It’s just different. I feel relaxed with her. Like, I don’t know, like hanging out with you.”

“Gross.”

“Not like that. I mean she’s not an airhead.”

Frankie gave me a dirty look. “Should I get you a shovel?”

“I’m trying to say I like spending time with her. She just seems chill. Normal. There’s not a bunch of pretentious bull shit.”

“It’s almost like you’ve been getting to know her,” she said quietly. “Treating her like a person instead of a conquest.”

I nodded. “Yes. It does feel like that.”

She sighed and shook her head. “I would love to tell you what to do here, but this is something you have to figure out on your own. What does your contract say about falling in love?”

“There’s nothing in there about that. I checked. I’m going to see the contract through, though. What else can I do?” I met her eyes. “But what happens in July when the contract ends? When we’re supposed to have this very public divorce? If I have feelings for her⁠—”

I couldn’t finish the sentence. Couldn’t say out loud what I was most afraid of.

My heart would break. Again. Like it had with Lauren.

I would have to watch Hallie walk away knowing she’d only been there for the money. That everything I thought I felt had been one-sided.

“You could back out now,” Frankie said carefully. “It’s not too late. We could stage a pre-wedding breakup. Mutual decision, nobody’s fault. Your reputation might take a small hit, but whatever.”

“No.” I shook my head firmly. “The investors would lose their minds. We’ve built so much momentum. And the Valentine’s collection is banking on this narrative. If I bail now, it was all for nothing.”

“So you’re going to go through with it? You’re going to marry the girl you’re falling for? Colt, you can’t fall in love with your wife.”

Put like that, it sounded insane. “I don’t have a choice,” I said.

“You always have a choice.”

“Not this time. The company needs this. Dad’s legacy needs this. I can’t bail just because I was stupid enough to pick a woman I actually enjoy talking to.”