Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set)

“The point is, I’m not going to date you, Tucker.”

The meal I’d been so looking forward to eating, now looked unappetizing.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have led you on,” she finished.

“No.” I pushed my plate away. “I knew you were resistant. I just hoped that my charm would make you change your mind.”

I had to accept her position. She didn’t want to date, but I knew she liked me. She’d enjoyed fucking me. So maybe, over time, when her heart wasn’t so newly broken, she’d be more open to me. I just had to bide my time.

If I couldn’t date her now, I could at least be her friend. That was how we started over text, and hadn’t I made the decision to go back to the beginning when I texted her this morning?

I pulled my plate back and picked up the bacon. “Is tipping cows a thing?”

8

Holly

Cow tipping? I stared at him for a moment not sure what had happened. I’d expected him to be angry. To call me out for leading him on and then cutting things off. Instead, he asked about cow tipping.

“Ah…no. Cows sleep laying down. They’re light sleepers so you’re not likely to sneak up on one. Plus, have you seen a cow up close? They’re huge. You’re not likely to tip one over.”

He seemed to think on that. “Huh. Good to know.”

“Why are you asking about that?”

He shrugged. “If I can’t date you, I can be your friend, right? I’m a good friend. Just ask Brooke.”

I couldn’t decide if he was changing tactics or really accepting my stance. A part of me was disappointed he wasn’t trying harder, which was really messed up of me. I didn’t want him to try harder. I wanted him to be relegated to colleague. More than that, I wanted my hormones to shut up around him, which would be impossible now that I knew how good he could make my hormones feel.

I had to take him as his word, so I smiled. “You can never have enough friends.”

I pointed his bacon at me. “You’re so right.”

With my stomach somewhat settled, I poured syrup on my pancakes and took a bite.

“Am I right or am I right about pancakes and hangover relief?”

I laughed. “Pancakes probably cure a lot of ills.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Do you have lots of ills?”

I sighed as my dilemma with Meredith came to mind. “Just one,” I said, not including the complication I had with him.

“What is it?” he asked, digging into his eggs.

“I’m working on fundraising for the library, and have a great potential donor that I’m about to lose when I tell her the truth about my life situation.”

He stopped mid-bite. “Your life situation? What does that mean?”

“She thinks I’m married.”

“Why would your single status be a problem?” His brows furrowed in confusion.

“Because she’s old fashioned and thinks women my age are old maids or are ruining society by not being married.”

“Fuck her.”

I laughed. “Except she has money that the library really needs. You’ve seen the library. It’s really lacking in resources the kids could use.”