Page 87 of Decidedly Off Limits

He nodded. “You were mine too.”

They say distance makes the heart grow fonder, but I wasn’t sure that was true in our case. The love I had once felt for him had long since faded. I loved him, but it was a different kind of love now.

“So what was it you wanted to ask me?”

He took a sip of his coffee. “The wife of one of the senior partners organized a black-tie charity event. I’m expected to attend and show my support. But I need a date for the event, and I’d rather go with you than have to ask someone else.”

I clasped my hand to my chest, and in a faked Southern drawl said, “Oh, Owen, you always did know how to sweep a woman off her feet.”

“Always the funny girl,” he said dryly.

I giggled. “And that’s why you miss me…so when is it?”

“May 3rd.”

In two weeks. “All right. I can do that.”

He fidgeted with his cup.

Owen never fidgeted with anything.

“There’s one other thing. I never told anyone at the firm that we’re no longer engaged.” He flashed me a sheepish grin.

I blinked. “Come again?”

“They’re expecting to see you…as my fiancée.”

I blinked again, positive I’d misheard him both times.Who went around pretending they were still engaged when they weren’t?

“Can’t wait to hear this explanation,” I said, barely holding back a laugh. With Owen, it was bound to be good.

He was a lawyer after all.

“The day you dumped me, one of the guys who was also trying to make partner announced his wife was leaving him. He was a mess, and I overheard one of the senior partners grumble, ‘God forbid the next person who announces he was dumped’…”

“So you decided not to tell them about us,” I finished for him, somewhat not surprised.

“I figured there was no point in saying anything. Besides, everyone would eventually come to the conclusion on their own, and by then it wouldn’t matter. But…”

“But what?”

“But then one of the wives of the senior partners decided to set the poor sap up on numerous dates. Really bad dates with her friends’ scary granddaughters. And let’s just say I want to avoid that.”

I laughed, knowing how that went.

The corner of his mouth twitched up. “Glad you find that so amusing.”

I pressed my lips together, attempting to stop the giggles now plaguing me. “I’m sorry.” It probably would’ve sounded more sincere if I hadn’t burst out laughing again.

“She’ll be at the event,” he said once I was finally able to stop laughing, “and I just want to avoid that insanity while I’m there.”

“Which is why you need my help?”

He nodded.

“Sure, why not?” It could be entertaining, especially if I got to meet Erin’s alter ego at work. “But you will have to tell them the truth, Owen. I can’t keep pretending to be your fiancée.”

That was right. I had officially joined the hypocrites’ club.