AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Chapter 8
“We’ll tell them we broke up.” Grant pulled down the sun visor and guided the car onto the highway leading back to Bliss Cove. “Happens all the time.”
The flippant note in his voice sparked Rory with irritation. “Then what if your mother is so upset by our break-up that she books the next flight to Bali?”
“She’s not going to Bali.” Exasperation threaded his voice. “She neverwasgoing to Bali. This was a ploy to get both me and my father to tolerate a week-long visit to Bliss Cove because she knew neither one of us would agree to it any other way.”
“I realize that, but are you entirely certain shewouldn’tfly off to Bali if things don’t go exactly as she wants them to? That woman is not the type to make a threat and not follow through.”
Grant compressed his mouth into a tight line. Despite Rory’s anxiety about this curveball and her knowledge that Joanna Taylor had a ruthlessly manipulative streak, she couldn’t help admiring her just a tad.
Clearly, the woman was the power behind the throne. She’d have been a force to be reckoned with in Tudor England. Hell, she was a force now.
“She said she’s coming to spend time withus,” Rory continued. “Even if a break-up doesn’t send her off to join the newlyweds on their honeymoon, she’ll go on the prowl for you again. In Bliss Cove, there’s a good chance she’ll meet Madeline Fox, and if Madeline thinks she can get to you through your mother, then look out, Grant Taylor, because there is no way you can battle both of those women alone.”
“Of course I…okay, you’re probably right.”
“And have you forgotten I still need a place to stay?” Wishing she had a bag of gummy bears to gnaw on, Rory unlocked her phone screen and pulled up a game of Clash Royale to give herself something to do. “Everything is still booked for the Harvest Festival through next weekend. What am I going to do when your parents stay in the cottage?”
Grant flexed his hands on the steering wheel. “You can move into my house.”
“Your house? Do you not remember giving me your Boo Radley crap about not wanting anyonearound? You only let me stay in the cottage because you needed something from me. Now you’re asking me to move in?”
“Just for a week.” Grant threw her a scowl. “My parents will stay in the cottage, you’ll move into my house, and we’ll pretend like we’re living together.”
“Whoa there, Buckaroo Banzai.” Rory misjudged her opponent’s attack. Her tower crumbled. She dropped the phone back into her lap. “I agreed to pretend to be your date for a wedding. I did not agree to pretend to be your live-in girlfriend.”
“Okay.” He heaved a sigh and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ll give you Bob.”
“What?”
“The singing fish. Bob. Do this for one more week while my parents are visiting, and you can have the fish.”
Rory blinked. “I hate the fish. Why would I want it? And seriously…Bob?”
“It’s a pun.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Abobberis a float attached to a fishing line.”
“I don’t fish.”
“You were fishing yesterday for information about Madeline.” He slanted her a knowing look.
Heat rose her to cheeks. “I don’t fishin the ocean. So why would I want your stupid singing fish?”
“You can do whatever you want with it. Take it apart. Throw it away. Crush it with a sledgehammer. Pretend to be my girlfriend for one more week, and neither you nor anyone else will have to suffer through Bob’s rendition of ‘Love Me Tender’ ever again.”
“Hmm.” She pursed her lips. “Tempting. Why didn’t you name him Elvis Fishley? Now that would have been funny.”
“AndI’ll cook for you.” He glowered at her. “If we’re not eating out, I’ll make you three large, delicious, well-balanced meals a day until you leave.”
“Done.”
Not a bad deal, all things considered. It wasn’t as if she’d have to hang around Grant and his parents every minute. She could pretend she had some coding contract work and other things to do, so it shouldn’t be too difficult.
Except…
