NO STRINGS, JUST LIES

touching unl

No real

looking at m

" I told him wit

sed and propped against the kitchen isl

somewhe

ive

rtuna

ous setup of my life, and I was already thinking about

ling a handful of bananas onto the ha

mom's genes," Rhyland mu

t charming

table and

've got a full diaper b

spond, his phone r

under his breath, and answered it.

he next room, spe

s fingers and trying not to think about the fac

supposed to

dive headfirst into it with the man who on

minutes later, his fa

em?" I

g down, and she's bringing a personal gift

ious

king up. L

chair. "We're not ready. We haven't even talked about

g a novel. Just act

xpecting

my hand. "You're overthinking it. It's one woman. Sh

e, the elev

d feelin

ed to me. "Y

N

Let's f

fties bearing a Tiffany-blue gift bag and the sort of poli

she declared, flashin

sure whether to sha

ou and your sweet little boy." She bent down to smile

. "Thank you ever s

e never seen him this excited about an entrepreneur i

saga.

my waist. "We've had our ups a

lian smiled. "You two

h. "Yeah. Like f

ittle too hard. "Sh

rganic baby shampoo, handmade bi

weet," I said,

And Elliott thought I'd ask you both to our foundation ga

ety int

said.

hyland cut in sha

on sent over. And Emery-if you ever need he

half-laugh, ha

I said with a smile

d the elevator, then paused. "Before I go, can I get a quick photo of the thre

houghts were wipe

I told her. "He's

ble. Just o

ed at

nd my waist, and leaned in to whispe

up and turned

imed. "Sa

lips brushed my cheek-w

athed

n

said, smili

move. Cou

ed too long. His

top now,"

look at me

r doors shu

nudging him. "

perfor

kisse

he ch

gered to

is head. "D

at the ans

rned away, needing space. My heart

idea," I said to h

," he said.

surpris

er. "Only if they

t be

fection are part of the deal. You want me

ne. But I'm w

and opened it. "Make a li

not j

her a

from the drawer an

ching outside o

o real kis

o shirtles

Stop smir

eriously,

ing beds, under

to him. "S

lanced up at me. "

by stabbing you w

led. "Ro

l for you, Rhyland.

h a hint of dishonesty.

lin

ha

ightly. "If I started to li

n't a

I didn't

ed that he u

"This is not real, but h