The Tycoon's Marriage Deal. Melanie Milburne

he moved in with you?’

      ‘Erm...would that be okay if he did?’

      Yikes! What are you doing?

      Mr Pendleton was still looking at her as a cop did a sneaky suspect. ‘He’s not the marrying sort, you know, and good girls like you always want marriage. I’m not saying he isn’t charming. He is. Just about every nurse in this place goes into a swoon when he comes in here. He’s only put that ring on your finger to sleep with you. As soon as he’s done that he’ll be off in search of the next conquest, you mark my words.’

      The nurse popped her head around the door. ‘Everything all right, Mr Pendleton?’

      ‘Tillie fancies herself in love with Blake McClelland,’ he said with a snort. ‘Says she’s engaged to him. And you think I’m the one who’s confused.’

      The nurse glanced at Tillie with wide did-I-just-hear-that-correctly? eyes. ‘Blake McClelland and...you?’

      Tillie’s ego had had just about enough bludgeoning for one day. ‘Yes. He asked me yesterday. He’s been coming into the shop every day for the last couple of weeks and we hit it off. I know it’s a bit of a whirlwind, but when you’ve met the right one you just know.’

      ‘Oh, Tillie, I’m so thrilled for you. Everyone will be when they hear the news,’ the nurse said. ‘When are you getting married?’

      ‘Erm...we haven’t set a date yet but—’

      ‘It’s fabulous you’ve found someone. Really fabulous. We’ve all been so worried about you.’

      The nurse led Tillie out of the room and softly closed the door. ‘Don’t listen to Mr Pendleton. He’s still a little out of sorts from his fall. He’ll be delighted for you in a few days. Give me a look at that ring. Gosh, isn’t it gorgeous? Much nicer than he-whose-name-is-not-to-be-mentioned.’

      ‘Yes. I’m very happy.’

      Who knew how easy it was to lie?

      ‘I have a theory about playboys,’ the nurse said. ‘They make the best husbands in the end. They get all that running around out of their system and then they settle down.’

      Tillie was pretty sure Blake McClelland had no intention of settling down and certainly not with someone like her. What was she going to do now? Mr Pendleton might doubt her engagement but the nurse clearly didn’t. It would be all over the village within hours. Tillie was effectively engaged to Blake even though she’d adamantly told him no. She could almost see his sardonic I’ve-got-you-where-I-want-you smile.

      She slipped out of the respite facility and back to her car. The ring was still stuck on her finger as if some mischievous supernatural forces had conspired against her.

      How was she going to face Blake now?

      * * *

      Blake came back to the bed and breakfast after tidying his mother’s grave at the cemetery. He hadn’t stayed in a B&B since he was a kid on one of the rare holidays his father took him on. But the cottage had a nice vibe—an old-world charm about it that made his business mind spark with ideas.

      However, he didn’t get a chance to discuss a business proposal when he entered the cottage’s rose-framed front door because Maude Rosethorne was standing there with a broad smile on her face.

      ‘Congratulations, Mr McClelland,’ she said. ‘We’re all so excited with the news of Tillie and you getting engaged. It’s the most romantic thing ever. It’s all over the village. We didn’t even know you two knew each other and now you’re getting married!’

      Blake had counted on that ring changing Tillie’s mind. What girl could resist a rock like that? It was worth a minor fortune, but he wasn’t quibbling over the expense—no expense was too much in his quest to get back his family property. ‘Thank you,’ he said. ‘What’s that old saying? When you’ve met the right one you just know?’

      ‘She’s a wonderful girl—but you don’t need me to tell you that,’ Mrs Rosethorne said. ‘Everyone loves Tillie. We’ve all been so worried about her after Simon jilted her. I suppose she’s told you all about that? Terrible, just terrible to leave her to face all the guests like that. He sent a text message. A text message! Didn’t have the backbone to see her face to face. He’s no longer welcome around these parts, let me tell you. No one gets to break our Tillie’s heart without all of us in the village having something to say about it.’

      Blake went to his room feeling relieved he’d offered Tillie the chance to end their relationship once his goal of securing McClelland Park was achieved. He didn’t want his father to feel unwelcome when he finally moved back home. Blake wasn’t interested in breaking any hearts. Tillie hadn’t bothered to disguise her instant dislike of him—a novel experience for him, as he usually had no trouble winning women over within seconds of meeting them.

      Her reaction to him amused him. He liked nothing more than a challenge, and cute little Matilda Toppington was nothing if not an Olympic-standard challenge. She was feisty and quick-witted and sharp-tongued with a body as delectable as the cakes and slices in her shop cabinet. Not beautiful in the traditional sense, but with the sort of understated looks that held a compelling fascination for him. For years he’d been surrounded by stunning-looking women, so much so they were starting to look the same. Even their personalities seemed similar—or maybe that was his fault for only ever dating a certain type.

      But when Tillie hitched her chin and glared down her uptilted nose at him with those flashing nutmeg-brown eyes, he couldn’t help thinking how unique she was, how refreshing and unaffected. Her mouth was on the fuller side with an adorable little Cupid’s bow. For the last couple of weeks he’d been fantasising about kissing those soft and pliable-looking lips. She might not like him but he knew raw physical attraction when he saw it. Such crackling chemistry would make their ‘engagement’ all the more entertaining. That was probably why she’d decided to run with the engagement in spite of telling him to take his offer and get out of Dodge before dawn. And why not? A fling between them wouldn’t be hurting anyone.

      He allowed himself a congratulatory smile.

      The ring had been the bait and she’d snapped it up just as he’d planned.

      * * *

      Tillie was walking Truffles around the lake in front of McClelland Park still wondering how on earth she was going to face Blake. Her phone had been running hot ever since she’d left the respite centre. When she went back to her shop, she’d explained to Joanne what had happened, but, instead of being upset on her behalf, Joanne had seemed inordinately thrilled, spouting such idiotic statements as ‘it’s meant to be’ and something about ‘fate’s meddling hand’. Joanne had even gone on to say how she thought Tillie was secretly in love with Blake but hadn’t yet admitted it to herself.