Free The Pretend Fiancé by Lucy Lambert Page A

answered without hesitation in the same language, holding up two fingers and smiling.
    The panic gripping at Gwen's inside began receding. The fresh air really helped. The relative quiet (compared to the lobby at least) did, too.
    The waiter nodded, and headed back for the cafe.
    "You speak French," Gwen said, her brain still a little too fuzzy to keep her from stating the obvious.
    The woman smiled in response. "French, German, Italian, and I'm working on my Cantonese. Oh, and I've been told my English is pretty flawless, minus the American accent, that is."
    Pretty, smart, and funny. Yes, Gwen definitely liked her. She smiled. "So you're American?"
    "Well, my paternal grandfather is from Toronto. I hope you won't hold that against me. We like to keep that little factoid hidden."
    "I won't tell," Gwen replied, her smile turning into a grin. "What did you say to the waiter?"
    Gwen had taken precisely one semester of French back in middle school. She remembered that Bonjour meant Hello and that Oui was either Yes or No.
    "Well, you look like you could use some espresso, and I know I could, after that flight."
    "Thanks. I'm Gwen, by the way."
    "Catherine. Not Cathy, not Cath..."
    "Cat? Kitty?" Gwen supplied.
    Catherine twisted her lovely face into a mock snarl, "Definitely not." She finished with a wink. "So, now that we're done with the introductions, do you want to talk? It's okay if you don't. It's just that I've always found talking through something really helps. And since we're strangers, I'm not really biased."
    That weighed down Gwen's newfound levity somewhat. She set the folder down on the bistro table, tapping her fingers against it.
    "I think I'm a terrible person," Gwen said, deciding to go for it. Catherine was a stranger, after all. And somehow it was easier to tell all this to someone who had no part in her life and never would.
    The waiter came back to their table with two steaming cups on china saucers, " Merci ," Catherine said, turning back to Gwen, "I don't know about terrible. Have you tried just being bad, or maybe even downgrading to disagreeable? I know there may be a pay cut involved, but there may be other benefits."
    Gwen chuckled again. "If only..."
    "So like I said, I'm a stranger. Unbiased and whatnot. Why don't you walk me through what's going on, and then I'll be the judge on whether you're terrible or not? Scout's honor. Girl Scouts, that is." Catherine made two quick chops in the air over her heart with her finger.
    Gwen's first instinct was a polite refusal, but she bit it back. Why not tell Catherine? Oh, maybe not the whole truth. But enough to fill her in? So far, this had been quite therapeutic. And the steaming cup of espresso in front of her really did smell appetizing.
    Besides, she was right. She was a stranger. What did it matter if Catherine judged her? There was a pretty good chance they'd never see each other again after this anyway.
    "Okay, just bear with me..." Gwen began.
    "Brown, black, grizzly, or polar?" Catherine said. When Gwen sighed, she held up her hands. "I kid, I kid. Bad joke. Please, continue."
    Gwen launched into the story, beginning with their trip to Europe and ending with her breakdown outside the door to her mother's room. She left out certain key details, like names. And she tried to be as vague as possible about the contracts. Both the one Aiden knew about and the one he didn't. "I know it sounds pretty out there, but that's my life. Truth is stranger than fiction, I guess."
    Catherine lifted her saucer and held the cup daintily in her other hand as she leaned back in her chair. Her fingers were long and graceful. Is there anything not beautiful about this woman? Gwen wondered. She took a sip, her soft eyes also somehow sharp. She stayed quiet for a while. Long enough for Gwen's pulse to ratchet up again.
    Remember, you don't care if she judges you , Gwen told herself. Even her inner monologue could tell it was a lie, though.
    "You must really love him,"