Page 5 of The Grump's Fake Wife

“So, it's a woman, huh?” Derek asks, his smile widening. “That's new.”

“You've got any ideas?”

“Must be serious if you're this invested,” he retorts, searching my face. “I haven’t seen you have more than a passing interest in any woman.”

“She's just… different,” I say with a shrug, pouring myself another shot. “Keeps me on my toes.”

Derek laughs. “A keeper, then. Well, women typically love flowers and expensive jewelry, as far as I know. You can get her a designer bag. It works with my woman.Women,” he corrects with a cocky smile.

“Not this woman,” I mutter, shaking my head.

I can picture her shoving whatever gift I get her right back into my hands. The thought makes me smile. She sure is different. With her, I'm out of my element.And that is as exasperating as it is exciting.

“Oh, man,” Derek says with an amused chuckle. “You're in for one wild ride.”

“If that ain't right,” I mutter, downing another shot of liquor.

“But hey, that's what keeps it interesting, right?” Derek says with an amused chuckle. “And you, my friend, are due for some challenging fun.”

Chapter Three

Lily

When I tell Dana about my new “job,” she’s happy for me. “It should be easy at least, right? After all, you’re just pretending. In the meantime, you can focus on finding a regular job.”

“I guess,” I grumble, scrubbing our old frying pan with excessive force. “He’s just such ajerk!I can’t believe I have to pretend to be married to a man like that!”

“I know.” She gently pulls the pan out of my hands to rinse, dry, and shelve it. “Just focus on the positive. Is he at least good-looking?”

I hope she can’t see me blushing.“You could probably say that.”

She shrugs. “Then maybe it won’t be so bad. You get to help your sister, you get to go to fancy parties with a handsome guy, and you might even get a nice dress or two out of it. It may not be ideal, but it’s not the worst way to make money.”

I sigh. She’s right about that. I’d marry Gabriel Foster ten times over if it meant saving Ella.

Dana must know where my thoughts have gone, because she asks, “How’s she doing?”

“I still haven’t been able to talk to her.” I swallow around the lump in my throat. “Mom called to say she got the money, though. So at least I know that’s been taken care of.”

Dana wraps an arm around my shoulders and gives me a squeeze. “You’re amazing, Lily. Your family’s so lucky to have you.”

My stomach turns.If only they felt that way.

That night, I relive the worst moment of my life in my dreams – the way I do every night.

It’s all just as clear as it was the first time: my stepfather, drunk and raging; my mother, covering her terror with a snarl; and my poor sister, already sick and feeble, hiding from our stepfather’s blows under the kitchen table.

No matter how many times it happened – and it happened plenty – it was still utterly nightmarish. I felt so helpless clutching onto my trembling sister, watching the man who attacked us at least once a week bear down on our mother.

“You dumb bitch!” he slurred. He fumbled for my mother’s wrist and missed. “Don’t you know how much better I could do than you? You’re lucky to have me!”

“Oh, please. You’re drunk!” she snapped, backing into the fridge. “Just get to bed. You’ll be fine tomorrow.”

“Goddammit, woman, don’t you talk down to me!” He grabbed the front of her shirt with one hand. The other curled into a fist.

Ella sobbed into my neck. “I’m scared, Lil,” she whispered.

I felt something break inside me.

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