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“Apologize.” Merrick’s voice is stern.
“What?” Tammy acts as if he just told her to kick his puppy.
“Apologize to my girlfriend.”
My heart squeezes in my chest at the way he so easily refers to me as his girlfriend.
“Merrick, is everything okay here?” Dorothy, the owner of the diner, asks. She smiles at me. “Hello, Courtney.”
“Hi, Miss Dorothy.”
“We were just leaving, but Tammy here was just apologizing for hitting on me in front of my girlfriend.” It’s not the whole truth, but close enough.
“Tammy,” Dorothy scolds. “You may be my niece, but I will still fire you. How many times have I told you to stop hitting on customers?”
“Whatever. I’m sorry,” Tammy grumbles.
“You’re done. Get your stuff and go home. You’re done for the day, possibly forever. I haven’t made up my mind.”
“But I need the money for that weekend trip I’m planning next month,” Tammy whines. She sounds like a toddler.
“You should have thought of that before you insulted Courtney and Merrick. Go.”
Tammy rolls her eyes but turns to walk to the back of the diner.
“I’m sorry. Your next meal is on the house,” Dorothy says, trying to make up for the rude behavior of her niece.
“Oh, Dorothy, that’s not necessary. I’m sorry to cause a scene,” I tell her, keeping my voice quiet.
“You have nothing to be sorry for. I’ve been on her for weeks to stop constantly hitting on the male customers.”
“That’s not on you,” Merrick tells her.
“It is if I continue to let her work here. She’s my sister’s kid, and just as big of a pain in the rump as her momma. I hope this didn’t ruin your day.”
Merrick slides his arm around my waist and pulls me into his chest. “Nah, it’s going to take more than that when I get to spend the day with my girl.”
Dorothy’s eyes light up when she looks at me. “You caught a good one, dear.”
One arm is hanging at my side, while the other rests on his chest, trying to make it believable. I glance up at Merrick to find his eyes already on me. “Yeah, I know I did.”
Again, his lips find their way to my temple as he turns, and with his arm still around my waist, he leads me out of the diner. He doesn’t let me go until he reaches the passenger side of his truck and opens the door for me.
Once I climb inside, he pulls out the seat belt, offering it to me, and when I’m buckled in, he closes the door and walks around the truck. He’s quiet as he climbs behind the wheel. Guilt weighs heavily on my shoulders, knowing that because of his willingness to help me, a spectacle was made in the diner.
I want to tell him I’m sorry, but I can’t seem to find the words. He heads to the outskirts of town, and I don’t know where we’re going until he pulls into his driveway. Without a word, he parks his truck, steps out, jogs around to my side, and pulls open my door. He offers me his hand and helps me down. His fingers are entwined with mine as he leads me inside.
He has yet to say a word, and I have a feeling this is where our story ends. Not that I blame him. This relationship, no matter how fake, has disaster written all over it.
CHAPTER
SIX
Merrick
I guide Courtney into my house with her hand locked in mine. We were both quiet on the drive. I’m sure for very different reasons. Courtney is worried she caused problems for me, and me? Well, I’m pissed that she didn’t stand up for herself. Leading her to the kitchen, I stop when we get to the island. Turning, I drop her hand and move to grip her hips and lift her up to sit in front of me.
Her legs automatically part, allowing me space to move in close to her. Bracing my hands on the counter on either side of her, I fight the urge to pull her into my arms.
