Page 42 of Fake it With Me

“You won’t. I promise.”

I hoped I could keep that promise.

15

LIZA

Ishowered and dressed slowly. I was in no rush to go downstairs. I wanted to hide from the whole world. I knew I was safe at the estate. But last night while I was lying in bed, my mind had spun up some pretty elaborate scenarios. What if the paparazzi got a boat or jet ski and a telephoto lens? They could get pictures of us from the water. What if they somehow managed to get pictures of me in my room? I had closed the blinds and then pulled the curtains.

I was freaking myself out.

I did consider staying in my room all day. All those windows downstairs made me anxious.

Then I remembered Darek’s promise of a surprise, and curiosity got the better of my anxiety.

I found him in the kitchen making breakfast, Daisie already at the table in her pajamas when she should have been getting ready for school.

“Morning,” I said cautiously.

Darek looked up and smiled. “Morning. Good news. The weather’s cooperating, so the surprise is a go.”

“What surprise?”

“Can’t tell you. That would ruin it.” He slid a plate of eggs and toast across the counter to me. “But you should pack a bag. Sunscreen, a bathing suit, layers in case it gets cold. We’ll be gone most of the day.”

“What about school?” I looked at Daisie, who was practically vibrating with excitement.

“I told the school she’s sick,” Darek said with a conspiratorial grin at his daughter. “Sometimes you need a mental health day.”

“I’m not actually sick,” Daisie informed me seriously. “But Daddy says we’re going on an adventure and that’s more important than spelling tests.”

“Your secret is safe with me,” I promised.

I loved their relationship. He wasn’t always the perfect daddy, but he was definitely a good one. I didn’t have that kind of a relationship with my own father. Daisie was very clearly Darek’s whole world. I wondered if she knew just how special that was.

After breakfast, I went upstairs to pack, my mind racing through possibilities. An adventure that required a bathing suit and sunscreen that would take all day.

We were going out on the water. We had to be.

I stood in front of my closet, trying to decide what bathing suit to wear. I had three options, all purchased during that shopping trip with Janice. One was practical. A one-piece that could have passed for athletic wear. One was cute. A two-piece with high-waisted bottoms and a sporty top. And one was, well, it was the kind of suit you wore when you wanted someone to notice you. It wasn’t necessarily great for swimming in the ocean. It was more the kind of suit you lounged around in to work on your tan because there was very little coverage.

I reached for the cute one, then hesitated.

I should wear the practical suit. Keep things professional. Not give Darek any reason to think about what had almost happened in the boathouse.

But another part of me wanted him to notice. Wanted to see that look in his eyes again, the one that made me feel like I was the only woman in the world.

I compromised, choosing the cute two-piece but packing a cover-up that would keep me mostly concealed. Professional with the possibility of slightly less professional if the mood struck.

I added sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, and a light jacket. Changed into shorts and a tank top, practical for a day on the water. Looked at myself in the mirror and tried to give myself a pep talk.

This was just a day out on a boat. Nothing romantic, nothing that would complicate the arrangement. Daisie would be there to make sure things never crossed the line.

When I went back downstairs, Daisie was zooming around the house like she’d been mainlining sugar. Her bag was already packed and waiting by the door.

“We’re going on Daddy’s boat!” she announced, in case I hadn’t figured it out. “The big one! Not the little one, the big one!”

“I gathered that,” I said, smiling at her enthusiasm. “Are you excited?”