Between Desire and Denial: A Fake Dating Romance (Hardy Billionaires)

Dimitri was true to his word that he wouldn’t have wandering hands in the bed we shared that night. Or the night after that.

He left for a week, and I told myself it was for the best. We’d had our fun. When he didn’t text me the first day, I decided I needed to work on establishing even a small relationship with my brother while rekindling other friendships in town.

My brother didn’t answer my texts or calls, but Lucille did. She talked my ear off about how my mother would be so proud of me having a hand in Paradise Grove’s magazine. Then, she invited herself over but gave me until the end of the week. She was a busy woman, she reminded me.

So, for the next six days, I tried to keep busy without texting Dimitri. What he was doing wasn’t my concern. Instead, I made it my mission to walk past my father’s house once a day in hopes of talking with Knox.

He was never there.

I worked on my thesis, unpacked all my clothes, and shoved the little box of keepsakes I had under the bed. I watched TV and texted Kee probably too much about the dating app I was on.

That day, I’d even texted her pictures of all the guys I’d thought would be worth a date.

Kee: Yes to all of them if they get you out of your Rufford slump.

Me: I’m not in a slump. It’s been a month now without him, and I’m completely fine.

Kee: That’s what I like to hear. You need to get back in the saddle with someone else.

Me: You’re one to talk.

Kee had pretty much saved herself for her high school sweetheart and it worked out for her. Not so much for me and Rufford.

Kee: You’re right. I’m not. But Pink says it’ll help. Get over someone by getting under someone.

Me: I’ve been on dates. Gotten under someone too. Don’t worry.

Kee: I hope you’re being careful though! I haven’t worked much lately and recently gotten into documentaries about dating apps and some of these men are spreading diseases. Birth control and freaking wrap it up, Olive.

I winced at her lecture text because I’d let Dimitri have me without a condom.

Kee: How is your birth control by the way? Still getting migraines on that pill?

Me: Yeah, I think it’s mostly stress though.

Kee: Just get off it if they keep happening.

I sighed and threw my phone down on the table. She was making the dating app not fun at this point. Plus, it was right on time and Lucille knocked on the door.

She waved from the side window and pointed toward all the papers she had under her arm. I hurried to let her in, and she smiled big at me in her purple tweed dress. “I’m so happy we’re doing this. I have so much to show you!”

She set her armful of papers on the dining room table as I offered her something to drink and she showed me all the different sections of the magazine. “You’ll get a 200-word article in the opinion section.”

“The condos are already standing and so is the office building, Lucille. Don’t you think maybe more facts—actual real information—would help rather than just an opinion piece?”

She fluttered around the dining room and peered down the hall. “You need to add some touches to your living space, Olive.”

She wasn’t at all concerned about the article we were discussing. “I’m more focused on what I can put in here to make Walter and Reggie change their minds about the office space.”

“Don’t forget Earl too. He wasn’t at all on board with Dimitri’s plans from the beginning.” She sat down at the table and opened up the laptop she’d brought. As she typed away, she hummed, “If I made a few changes, I could maybe get you on the front of the magazine for a feature. People wouldn’t like it. It would stir things up a bit though. Let’s see here.”

She pulled out some wired glasses and put them on. I stood over her shoulder and made light conversation. “How is Earl, by the way? I haven’t seen him since I’ve been back.”

She straightened her dress and fluffed her shoulder-length hair. When Lucille had a meeting, she dressed up even if it just encompassed coming over to my house. “He’s been busy. Have you seen your father?”

“No,” I grumbled and went back to skimming some of the articles she was adding into the little magazine.

“You should call him, Olive.”

“What could I possibly need to call him for?”

“Oh, I don’t know. To tell him you’re home?” She grabbed my phone that I’d placed on the table and waved it in front of me. “Be good to him even if he’s not to you.”

“This isn’t how I wanted to spend my day,” I ground out before I swiped the phone from her and pounded the number in. Lucille always had a way of making everyone feel like she was their grandmother who knew best. You just didn’t want to disappoint her.

My father answered on the first ring. “Olive.” His deep timbre rumbled through the phone. “I was expecting a call from you.”

“Yeah. I’m in Paradise Grove. I thought I’d let you know.”

“Your brother already did. I’m out of town for the next few weeks, but there’s a grill out soon, right? I’ll fly in. And the board meeting, I believe, in about a month or so. I’ll be back for that.”

“I’ve heard you agree with the city ordinances. You don’t want to fill the new office building with businesses.”

“I’ll agree to anything to keep that Hardy boy out of here. And if you’re really shacking up with him, I suggest you stop.”

“What?” I rolled my eyes. “You haven’t met him, and he’s—”

“I don’t care what he is. He’s in business with people we won’t associate with. Your mother would have wanted—”

I winced at him bringing her up. “Mother is gone.”

Lucille’s eyes cut to mine then, and her manicured hand immediately fell over mine.

He sighed, “I’m not an idiot. She may be gone but her legacy in this town lives on through us. We have a status to uphold.”

“Speaking of that, Knox isn’t well.”

“He’ll get better. He’s fine. He’s been working with me, doing great.” I heard someone in the background and knew my father was focusing on work rather than family.

“Doing what exactly? Because if he’s hanging out with the wrong people …”

“I’ve got my son under control. Get yourself under control if you know what’s good for you.” He hung up abruptly.

I was white knuckling the phone, ready to tell him off, and my hand shook as I set it down on the table. Lucille patted my other hand for a minute or two as the silence stretched between us.

Then she murmured, “Maybe you shouldn’t write the article. Maybe we should—”

“I’m writing it.” I grabbed the paper and clutched it to my chest before smiling at her. “I’m going to write it and it’s going to be great, Lucille. My father doesn’t get a say in who I’m dating.”

“He won’t ever vote for your boyfriend to be around. He’s trying to push Dimitri Hardy out one way or another.”

“Is everyone trying to do that?” I inquired, because I was starting to think there was an underlying reason. It wasn’t simply about the condos and office building.

Lucille sighed and looked out the window. “Oh, our little Paradise is a complicated place. You know that. I just hope your brother starts to see that your dad isn’t the best influence.”

“But a father should always strive to be that for their son.”

“Not all people are meant to be parents, Olive. You’ve learned that the hard way.” She pulled me in for a hug right as a text lit up on my phone.

She looked down and saw the notification just like I did.

Kee: And if you do get off the birth control, wrap it up. Unless you want littles running around.

I snatched the phone up, but Lucille was already smiling big. “You’re getting off birth control to start a family?” She clapped her hands together, tears in her eyes.

And that’s when I heard the garage door opening.

Dimitri must have gotten home. Not that he’d texted or called. I glanced at Lucille, and she tilted her head before she patted my cheek. “Oh, has he been gone all week? I haven’t seen him outside lately. You must have missed him.”

She wasn’t moving to leave at all. The woman was nosy, and she wanted a show.

Shit.