Page 15 of Faking It with my Billionaire Grump

She eyes Elsa nervously and takes a step forward. Elsa growls, and Tilly stops dead.

“Heel,” I hiss.

Elsa immediately lies down, but that doesn’t seem to put Tilly at ease. I can’t blame her, really. Elsa is a huge dog. She’s also supposed to be frightening. That’s the whole point.

“I came to ask you a favor,” Tilly says.

My jaw falls open at her words, and I’ll admit it, I’m a little speechless at the nerve she has.

“I know,” she says, lifting her hands up. “You don’t owe me anything. And I know my being here is a bit messed up.”

“You think?” I snarl.

Tilly rolls her eyes. “Can we please just talk to each other like adults?”

I heave a sigh and give her a look. As hard as it is to curb my anger, I want her just to spit it out; then I can get on with my day.

“Fine. Get on with it.”

“Okay,” she says, taking a huge breath in. “I’m back at my parents; house because—”

“You split up with your ex,” I say, finishing her sentence.

She looks a little surprised that I know, and I give her a disbelieving look. “You’re back in Baskington now, Tilly.”

“Right. Okay. Well. My ex has come looking for me.” She pauses, like she’s waiting for me to say something. I don’t, so she continues, “He came to Mom and Dad’s house two nights back, telling me he wasn’t going to go back to the city without me.”

I frown and shake my head. “And where do I come into all of this?”

She looks wary and then says, “I need him to know that there’s never going to be another chance for us. So I figure, if we pretend we’re back together—”

“Not a chance,” I spit. “Are you out of your mind?”

I cannot believe what I’m hearing, and completely gobsmacked, I stare at her in utter amazement.

“I know it’s crazy—”

“Crazy?” My eyes are as wide as the gates on my paddocks. “‘Crazy’ would be Elsa standing on two hind legs and talking back to me.” I point to the dog. “This? This is insane!” I shake my head. “No way. I’m not getting involved in your messed-up life.”

“I’m not asking you to marry me, Jake,” she blurts.

“I don’t care. Forget it. You got yourself into this mess. You can get yourself out,” I retort.

“What do you think I’m trying to do?” she yells back. “I can’t think of any other way to get rid of him. Don’t you think I’d be doing it if I could? You think I want to be here begging for your help?”

“I’m sure this guy will give up and go back to New York eventually. You’re just going to have to ride it out until that happens.”

Tilly shakes her head vehemently. “You don’t know this guy. He can’t take no for an answer. That’s why he’s here in the first place. I ended it, and now he’s chased me down.”

“Seems like a pattern with you,” I say, repeating what I said to the guys at the bar the other evening. “Running off when things don’t work out.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, Jake. It’s been ten years.”

“Exactly,” I spit. “You’d think you would’ve learned your lesson by now.”

She drops her head and heaves a sigh. I’ll admit, she does look desperate, and it’s only now that I feel a little bad for her. But only a little.

“I’m asking for your help,” she says quietly. “I’ll do anything. I’m sure there’s something you need done on this great big sprawling ranch. I don’t care what it is. Please. I’ll do whatever it takes.”

---