Page 23 of From Grumpy to Forever
“I don’t want it to get awkward if…well, any more awkward by paying you by the hour. Maybe we should do a flat rate. Like half now and half when it’s all over.”
That made sense to me. I did the rough calculations in my head. The first installment would be more than enough to cover the deposit and the first few payments on the new shop space. Maybe even get me a few new tools. “Deal.”
“We’ll need an actual marriage certificate,” she said. “It has to be legal.”
“No problem. I know Judge Baker. He’ll do the ceremony. I can get the marriage certificate tomorrow.”
She blinked rapidly as that sank in.
We were doing this.
“And your family?”
“Oh.” My brothers could potentially be a problem. Mostly because they were always up in my business. And annoyingly, they always seemed to think they knew me better than I knew myself. “I don’t usually involve my family with my relationships.”
It wasn’t a lie. I’d never brought a woman home to meet my family, but only because I’d never dated anyone seriously. Hookups? Yes. Fuck buddies? Also, yes. Girlfriends? No. And definitely not anything that might resemble a relationship.
At least not since senior year and Isabella Hendricks. I loved that girl, and I would have done anything for her. Correction: I had done everything for her. Including turning down my college acceptance so I could stay in Trickle Creek with her.
Three months after graduation, Isabella hooked up with a rich city kid on vacation with his family, fucked him in my truck that she’d “needed to borrow,” and gotten herself knocked up.
Last I heard, she was divorced with three kids and a huge alimony payment. Good for her. But, yeah, I hadn’t bothered with anything that came close to a relationship since.
Fool me once, and all that.
“They’ll buy it,” I told Avery. “Plus, they’ll be so fucking happy that someone will have my grumpy ass, they’ll be all for it.”
“And your niece?”
Shit.
I hated to lie to Quinn. My brothers were different. And with my mom down in Arizona, I was pretty sure I could handle her questions easily enough. At least for a little while. But Quinn was different.
“She liked you.” It wasn’t a lie, but I didn’t bother telling Avery that earlier that afternoon, I’d made a point to tell my niece that Avery and I were not and would not be dating. I’d have to figure out how to work my way out of that.
“Okay then.” Her pretty smile was back on her face.
I hadn’t realized just how much I’d missed it until that moment. Fuck, she was gorgeous.
“It’s settled then.”
“I guess so.” I reached for her, suddenly unsure of how to seal such a deal. Did we kiss on it? Shaking hands seemed a little cold. But?—
“Reid Lyons!” The sharp and unmistakable voice of Tilley Beckett rang out right as I grabbed Avery’s hand.
“Tilley,” I said. “It’s nice to see you.” That was a lie. Although there was nothing inherently bad about Tilley, the older woman always seemed to appear at the most inopportune time. She knew everything about everyone and loved nothing more than sharing any and all details with everybody she came across.
At the same time, Tilley was probably the most beloved citizen of Trickle Creek. Despite her incessant need to gossip, she truly didn’t have a bad bone in her body. She volunteered for everything, including things you didn’t even know needed doing.
Still. She was the very last person that I wanted to see at the exact moment Avery and I were about to finalize the details for our fake marriage.
“Who is this pretty young thing?” Tilley ignored my attempt at pleasantries and homed in on Avery immediately.
Without missing a beat, Avery stood and offered the old woman her hand. “Avery Walker. My grandparents were?—”
“Sue and Tommy Walker!” Tilley grasped Avery’s hand. “Well, I haven’t seen you since you were a little girl. Such lovely people, your grandparents. I was so sorry to hear about your grandfather’s passing. And the two of you…” She gestured between us. “It’s been a few years since you two knew each other.”
Avery and I exchanged glances, but before either of us could ask what the older woman was talking about, Tilley continued.
