EMMALINE
With the carnival over,they’d explained the situation to the girls together. Annie hadn’t liked the idea of staunching the flow of new mother applicants. But Ethan took her aside and somehow convinced her this was the right course.
Fiona used this opportunity to negotiate for a puppy. Em gave the prospect a solid maybe, and then Fiona announced that fake dating sounded like lotsa fun. Apparently, it helped that there would be cookies involved and probably a puppy, too.
Em had agreed about the cookies and, as a result, she’d put off her hope of breaking the seal of her divorce for a little longer. That is to say, finding someone also not looking for anything long term for a post-divorce…uh…she did not want to think of it as a hookup. Maybe just a liaison?
Anyway, that was all on hold.
“All right, Mr. Greene, what cookies are we making?” Emmaline rubbed her hands together, ready to get cracking so they could get to eating.
Excellent news, once the girls had had their chat and everyone knew the score, Em found her appetite again.
For their first photo op, Em and Fiona met up in Ethan’s kitchen because hers was…well…still an unorganized wreck. There would be no magic making happening there. Also, he was cooking. So, yes, that, too.
“Annie has a request for a batch of her favorite oatmeal chocky chip cookies.” Ethan draped his arm over his daughter.
Annie fought it. That much was clear with the way she rolled her eyes. But she totally loved her dad’s hug. That much was even clearer with the way she leaned right into him.
“Yum,” Emmaline agreed. “Excellent choice of cookie.”
Ethan and Annie had matching aprons. Could they be any cuter together?
His read,I’m the boss.
Hers?Lol. OK.
Fiona’s dad would never—not in a gazillion lifetimes—have worn something that silly. That fun.
“Mom’s specialty is burned cookies,” Fiona not-so-helpfully and oh-so-cheerfully added.
“She’s not wrong,” Em said, unfortunately having to agree with her little girl.
Ethan had set out everything ahead of time, like they were on a cooking show with cameras. But this time, the only camera was his cell. He had an air of excitement like he was going to teach them a new skill that he was thrilled about.
“Shall we?” He lifted his arm so Emmaline could get in closer for a selfie.
Right. Yes.This was exactly why they were there in this room together at this moment.
She shook out all of her reservations and, stepping in beside him, she smiled a big cheesy looking-forward-to-chocolate-chip-cookies grin up at the phone lens.
Darn. They didn’t really look like a couple in the photo. Not that they didn’t work together—she’d done herself up nicely. And he was Ethan-freaking-Greene. He could’ve had a paper bag on his head, and he’d still be gorgeous.
The way they looked individually wasn’t the issue. No, their stance was just…meh. Two acquaintances taking a photo kind of blah.
“Here.” Annie pulled off her apron and handed it to Emmaline. “So you match better.”
“Kid’s got a point.” Ethan helped Em get the loop over her head without mucking up her hair.
His fingers trailed along the edge of her neck only because he had to straighten the clasp.
And the goose bumps she got because of his touch were only because she was a human female, and it was required when being touched by Ethan Greene.
Ethan went back to his spot. Emmaline got into position once more.
Ugh. Again, they looked so stilted. So…planned.
“Turn to each other,” Fiona suggested. “Like youlikeher.”
