Page 35 of Merry Fake Bride

Turning that into a reality would grant Devon the funds she’d need to contest the land rights for the bakery, and if she owns the land it stands on, nothing can be done.

Just A Sweet Thing would become a Silver Canopy asset rather than a stone to be kicked aside.

But how on earth do I get her to talk to me again?

9

DEVON

“Peas… peas… wait, no, I have peas.” The basket bumps against my hip, causing the rustling bag of peas to shift to the side. “I need chicken.”

The list in my hand crumples slightly as I weave down the grocery aisle toward the refrigerated section in search of enough chicken for tonight’s plans.

The last few days have been hectic since Kairo turned up at the bakery and revealed himself to be a snake in my grass, so to make it up to my parents, I’m cooking them dinner.

What are the chances that it happens twice?

My terrible taste in men is two for two, and the regret in my chest hasn’t shifted since I slammed the door on Kairo’s lying face and cried in the supply closet.

For a moment, just one moment, I thought he was different.

I thought I’d made a good choice and considered a good man. Instead, I brought the devil right to my door.

“Chicken,” I murmur to myself as I reach the chilled aisle and scan over the various meats looking for the exact pack I need.

“Devon?”

I glance up at my name and skim the couple of people nearby until I notice the smiling face of a tall, thin woman clad in pink leggings and a neon green tank top.

Her golden skin glows under the bright lights of the grocery store, and her platinum blonde hair is scraped back from her face and pinned high by several butterfly ribbons.

“Amanda?”

“I thought that was you!” She lurches toward me, and I’m unable to avoid the hug she forces on me with her arms around my shoulders.

“I haven’t seen you since that night Francine turned twenty-one and we got all those Jell-O shots! I thought you’d moved out to L.A.? Don’t tell me you’ve come all the way back to this dead end down?”

Amanda speaks with a lightness that often comes across as arrogant and thoughtless, but she has lived her life in her own world and rarely intends anything by her comments.

She lets her mouth run away with itself and it’s rather comforting to be hit by such old familiarity.

“Yeah, I moved back just over six months ago,” I reply as she releases me from the hug.

It takes all my strength to suppress the shiver that arises from her closeness. “I wanted to be closer to my family.”

“Oh, really?” Her perfectly lined eyes narrow at me. “I heard you married some hotshot and decided you were too good for us!”

Her tinkling laugh draws curious glances from other customers.

Despite the lightness of her words, my heart sinks.

Did Axel spread his lies out here, too?

I shouldn’t be surprised.

The reach that man has is only held at bay by a restraining order that only shackles him because he has no idea where I am.

“You heard wrong, I’m afraid,” I lie with a smile. “I just got busy with a new job and I swear time in L.A just passes differently. One blink and it was years, y’know?”