Lucky This Isn't Real: MacBride Brothers Series St. Patrick's Day Fake Fiance Romance by Jamie Knight (digital e reader .TXT) 📕

back and smirking in a way that made me want to slug him. I looked at Nicole, hoping it might be a joke, but she looked as surprised as everyone else.

My dad couldn’t stoop any lower. Trying to pressure me into a loveless marriage with a public announcement was a shitty move even for him. He was certain that I’d been raised well enough not to make a scene or call him out as a psychopath who thought he could barter his daughter to secure a business arrangement. He was right, of course, which made me even angrier. I wanted to leave before I had to make a scene.

He turned in my direction. “Darcy, I can’t express how happy and proud I am of you.”

I almost felt sorry for him, not really, but almost. The poor bastard never saw it coming.

Sean cleared his throat. “Thanks, Garrison. I’d just like to say I’m thrilled to be marrying Darcy.”

Murmurs spread around those gathered. Dad looked like he was going to choke, and mom, who clearly had no idea what he’d been planning, stared daggers at him.

“Why didn’t you let me meet him sooner?” she demanded of me.

“Please, don’t be cross with your daughter. It was something of a whirlwind courtship. Not something that was kept from you, Mrs. Matthews. Despite the swiftness of everything, I know in my heart, Darcy is my soulmate.”

He said the last part while looking right at me. Speaking with so much honesty and intensity, his eyes felt like they could look into my soul. For a second, I almost believed they could. He hadn’t exactly been lying. The engagement was a fabrication, but what about the rest of it? From Maggie’s wedding to the garden party, everything that had happened could be defined as a whirlwind romance. We also hadn’t had time to tell our families, at least not formally. Maggie and Gavin knew, but it seemed like they had mostly guessed. Nicole looked as shocked as anyone at Sean’s pronouncement.

In a way, I was glad it wasn’t Maggie because I really wouldn’t know how I would explain not telling her. Nicole was my boss, or at least above me on the ladder, as well as my friend, but she was perhaps not the first person I would tell. Particularly if I hadn’t actually told my parents.

Like an award-winning salesman, Sean had convinced everyone gathered that we were really engaged. Perhaps he was so convincing because he had the advantage of truth behind him. In his eyes and in his heart, we were soulmates. Maybe he would, in fact, like to marry me one day. I wanted so much to believe he did, but it was the context of his declaration that made me wonder.

Did Sean really mean it, or had he said what he’d said to throw my dad off? There was really no way to know. I still trusted him on an intuitive level but needed to be careful.

“That was quite the speech,” I said when we got a moment alone.

“Really had them going, didn’t I? It was a gamble, but at least you shouldn’t have to worry about your dad for a while or the Ashtons. As far as anyone knows, it’s us that are engaged.”

“Yeah, but we’re not, though, are we?”

“Not strictly no.”

“Not at all. We haven’t even talked about our future.”

He shrugged. “I was just trying to help.”

“I know, and I appreciate it.” I glared at him. “It’s just become clear to me now that Gavin isn’t the only MacBride with a talent for acting and selling lies and half-truths with intensity. He’s really good. So are you. I thought Harry was good too, for a while.”

He blanched. “You really aren’t seriously comparing me to Harry, are you?”

“No, not directly anyway. I’m just not sure what’s true anymore, and that’s a problem, particularly if I’m going to trust you.”

I’d gone too far. I could tell just by his expression that I’d really hurt him, even though that hadn’t been my intent. It was unlikely he would be hurt by my words were he not telling the truth. The only other option was that he was an emotionless manipulator playing me for his own benefit. I honestly couldn’t be sure anymore, but I sincerely hoped it was the first one.

He was going to say something. I saw his mouth open, but before any words could come out, we were swamped. Friends, family, and bystanders all coming to congratulate us on our happy news. Even if it had come as something of a surprise.

“I don’t blame you,” Nicole said, candidly, “I’m a bit shocked but also really happy for you. I really do need to get myself an Irishman.”

She seemed so happy for me that I wasn’t about to dispel her notions, though I didn’t like having to go along with what was, at most, a half-truth.

“We thought you were lying,” Mr. Ashton said, speaking for the whole family for once. “Sorry.”

I never thought I could feel sorry for the Ashtons, but just a bit of sympathy crawled its way up. Sure, they could be awful sometimes, expecting the world to be handed to them on a platter. That didn’t mean I took any joy in seeing them miserable.

“Honey!”

Damn. The last thing I needed was to face my mom. I couldn’t lie to her, never could. Technically, Sean had lied for me. The whole thing could come down with the wrong line of questioning.

“I’m so happy for you. I wish I’d met him sooner, but I’m so glad you’ve found someone who makes you happy.”

She reached over and smacked my dad, who looked to be almost catatonic. All his plans falling apart before his eyes.

“Um, yes, er, well done.”

He didn’t really mean a word of it. I knew him well enough to