Page 37 of Don't Go Faking My Heart

Lola Nina tuts, and I break eye contact with Ash's ex. Manners matter more than machismo. "Rusty, why are we finding out from this young man that you two are both vying over the same girl?"

"Vying?" I splash incredulity all over the word. "There's no vying."

"Mr. Dumfries told us about you and a certain someone," Mrs. Beaty says.

"Don't act like you and Ash don't plan your salon visits together," I tease, but my brain is scrambling like I'm trying to read an old-fashioned newspaper. Ash and I never planned to take our fake dating public. It was for Philip's sake, and the fact that he's still here and bringing his drama into my town has me seeing red.

"That Lunch & Learn she did for the Canasta Club on social media was very … inspiring." Lola Nina titters.

The other two women giggle with her.

"Let me guess: she used the Tummy Waffles page as inspiration?"

"We were inspired, all right," Granny Belle says.

"And didn't she pick out the pink for your hair a couple of months ago?" I say to Mrs. Beaty.

"Oh, I did like that pink, though it's nice to have my hair back to its natural color," Mrs. Beaty says, fussing with hair redder than a fire engine.

"That color's about as natural as my teeth," Granny Belle says. "You should let yourself age gracefully?—"

"Tell that to your brow lift," Mrs. Beaty says.

Granny Belle puts her warm brown hand to her forehead and gasps. "I had glaucoma surgery, and you know it."

"Of course, dear," Mrs. Beaty says.

"Well, I can't believe that anything a bottle or doctor would offer could improve on the three of you," Philip says, inserting himself where he doesn't belong.

Granny Belle's suspicion drops faster than an Acme anvil. "Aren't you charming, Mr. Dumfries?"

"Enough of this nonsense," Lola Nina says. "I want to hear about Rusty and his girlfriend. Didn't you tell us you were only friends?"

Philip makes a terrible play that can only be designed to garner favor from the town matriarchs.

That scheming scumbag.

I hate lying to people I love. But as much as I adore these women, I care about protecting Ash more. Whenever our ruse ends, the town will be fine. If I end it prematurely, though, Ash won't be. I can't let her get hurt by this chump again. "We didn't want to go public until we knew it was the real thing."

The lie stings worse than poison oak.

"Of course it's the real thing!" Lola Nina says. "Anyone who's seen you two together for more than a second knows you're meant to be."

Philip feigns a dagger to the chest. "That hurts. I was hoping I could call on you three to help me win Ashley back."

Granny Belle laughs, but Mrs. Beaty and Lola Nina don't.

"Some trophies can only be won once," Mrs. Beaty says. "That girl's heart is one of them."

Philip adds a joker to his meld with more force than is necessary.

Mrs. Beaty laughs and completes her canasta, winning the round. She pats his hand. "Next time you try to hustle a hillbilly, work smarter, not harder."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ASH

I'm running late meeting Rusty at the diner, which is nothing new. What is new is the fact that Rusty still hasn't responded to my texts this morning calling him my "lovah."

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