Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

Charles?

Hopeful nerves shake my hand, but it’s not him.

Willow: Can you take some time off for lunch and last-minute holiday shopping? We three are headed to the mall.

Me: Yes.

Maybe this is what I need. A girlfriend therapy session.

I drop a text to Charles, who’s currently in a meeting on the other side of town.

Me: I’m going to have lunch with my friends.

I grab my bag, swapping my furry slippers for heels, and march toward the elevator.

What I didn’t expect was for him to text me back.

Husband aka Charles Adorable Hawthorne: Dave is waiting for you.

Me: How are you texting me in the middle of a meeting?

Husband aka Charles Adorable Hawthorne: With my hands. 🙂

He sent me an emoji!

The elevator car arrives and the doors open, but my feet remain stuck to the landing.

Me: Didn’t you once say emojis are juvenile?

Husband aka Charles Adorable Hawthorne: I plead momentary insanity, my dear wife. Now, let your husband do some honest work.

I’m not even going to try lying.

I love everything about his text.

Husband aka Charles Adorable Hawthorne: And, Daisy, stay safe.

Elodie groans as we all settle in at the corner table in the food court. “God, it feels like we haven’t been here in centuries.”

If I can ignore the rings on my finger and a few curious glances from shoppers as they recognize me, everything feels the same as when I was just Daisy Price and Charles was my asshole boss.

Before I can hang on to that feeling for a little longer, Violet plucks a cheesy fry from my plate. “One of my journalist friends told me that the firework show everyone believed was practice for New Year’s was actually a rich dude’s surprise for his girl.”

“Really!” Willow squeals while the delicious burger becomes hard to swallow in my mouth. “Who was it?”

“I don’t know.” Violet’s teasing gaze fixes on me. “But whenever someone says rich, whose name comes to your mind?”

“Holy crap! You mean it was Charles?” Willow turns to me in her seat.

“I don’t know. If it was Charles, I’m freakishly happy for Daze, but if it was someone else, I can’t wait to find out about Cherrywood’s new rich Romeo.” Violet crosses her arms over her chest, with her grin intact and her gaze never leaving me. “So was it Charles?”

I keep my face straight.

Should I tell them? There’s definitely no NDA around that. Plus, with Violet’s penchant for gossip, how long can it be kept hidden anyway?

“It was. But it’s no big deal.”

“Uh-huh.” My friends make a collective sound, clearly stating without words that they’re not buying it a bit.