Page 35 of Fake It Till You Make It

“More like a busy partner these last couple of days.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Well, you’ve been difficult since I arrived. I’ve done my best to be a support, yet you haven’t been the most trusting of bosses. And now you want me to pretend we’re equal partners to save face with the cute girl.”

“Not a cute girl. A Pendleton. And you’re right. Before you start rambling, I apologize.”

“I’m allowed. Stop policing me. This is your first and last warning if we are to be partners. If I have to tell you again, your pretty boy chin catches these hands,” she teased, doing a classic Muhammad Ali rope-a-dope two-step.

Eli chuckled. “Don’t hurt yourself. This handsome devil is tougher than he looks.”

Amarie believed him. Even now, she could see those sun lines at the corners of his eyes were more pronounced. He didn’t want her to worry. She was a stranger he’d just met, but as his employee, she, well, her livelihood depended on Calvary Vet increasing its value proposition and its revenue. His sense of duty and responsibility included her now.

“Why aren’t you panicking about the notice?”

“Because I don’t have the luxury of falling apart. My father believed I could care for our family. He had faith in me.”

“Must be nice.” She wished her parents could trust her to make the best choices for her life and career.

“It’s no walk in the meadow, Amarie. Some days I want someone else to make the decisions. Trust me, if I had any other way to come up with the money besides the auction, I would take it.”

Amarie wiggled her brows. “Think of it as an ego booster. Lourdes did come with her checkbook.”

“No amount of money is worth that woman sinking her fangs into this family. I can smell her kind from miles away.”

“Well, at least you know there’s a market for grumpy men?” Too late to snatch back the insult. Amarie winced. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that aloud.”

“Sure you are.”

The apology was genuine, everyone deserved to be somebody’s “one.”

“I am,” she pleaded. “It’s just, you make women out to be apex predators lying in wait to pounce on defenseless men while they graze on the open plains. Save the dude-in-distress performance. I wouldn’t need this job or any money from the auction if my fiancé had paid me for all the work I did to grow his medical practice. Don’t get me started on how he left me high and dry—”

Well that wasn’t exactly how she’d ended up in Service. She’d been the one to punch the gas, but Russell had ensured she had little-to-no resources to rebuild a life without his wallet.

“Okay, that explains a lot. Look, I’m a man of my word. You mentioned closing costs. How about in exchange for your partner—”

“Fake partnership,” she interrupted. “I will not be held liable for grumpy pants dustups.”

“Noted, sunshine. As I was saying, for your social media magic, you get a percentage of the auction’s net proceeds?”

“Make that gross revenue.” She winked. “And in writing.”

Eli shook his head. “I’ll honor our agreement with or without a written contract. Now, can we get going if you want your car looked at this week?”

“As in seven days?” She balked.

“Town’s got one certified mechanic who also happens to be the sheriff. Trust me, you don’t want these shade tree tinkerers underneath your hood if he’s busy on the job. Been there. Regret that.”

Amarie walked ahead of him in the parking lot where a rather beastly hunter-green GMC Sierra with massive tires and running boards awaited them. Two quick chirps sounded before the locks disengaged with an airythunksound. How out of character for this beast of an automobile.An elephant’s trumpeting seemed more appropriate. “Wh-what is this?

“Your steel chariot.” Eli held the door open, stepping back for her to climb aboard. “Now light a fire, and let’s git.” Eli beamed, his face alight with schoolboy glee. It might as well have been the Empire State Building on wheels. Forget a step stool, she needed a ladder.

“What are you waiting on?”

As if she required a demonstration, Hiccup bounded off the chrome-polished running board, landing on the passenger seat.

“Next time pay for an elevator install,” she said, reaching for the doorframe to hoist herself up.