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Pride made Tillie sit stiffly in her chair while her ego slunk away to hide weeping in the corner. Too conservative? She had only been conservative for all these years because Simon had insisted on it. Sure, she might not be going to rush off to steal cars or snatch purses off old ladies any time soon, but neither was she planning to sit at home every night in front of a PG movie with forty-seven cats for company. ‘What do you mean Blake wouldn’t fall for someone like me? He’s in love with me and wants to marry me.’ What’s wrong with me?

‘Tillie...’ Mr Pendleton gave her hand a little pat. ‘You’re a good girl. You always colour between the lines. Blake McClelland on the other hand is too much for an old-fashioned girl like you to handle. You’d never be able to tame him. And you’re too sensible to even try.’

Old-fashioned. Sensible. She would show everyone just how ‘old-fashioned and sensible’ she was—including Blake McClelland. ‘Maybe I have already tamed him,’ Tillie said, pulling her hand away. ‘Maybe he’s sick of being a playboy and wants to settle down and have babies. That’s why he wants to buy McClelland Park because—’

‘He wants to buy McClelland Park because he’s filthy rich and thinks he can open his wallet and get anything he likes,’ Mr Pendleton said. ‘It’s time that man learned a lesson. And you, my dear, are not the one to teach him. Stay away from him. You’ve already had your heart broken once.’

‘But I love him,’ Tillie said, mentally crossing her fingers for all the lies spouting out of her mouth. ‘I really do. He’s so much more exciting and interesting than Simon. I can’t believe I ever fancied myself in love with Simon now. Blake is romantic and attentive in a way Simon never was nor ever could be. He makes me feel things I’ve never felt before. I—’

‘Have you slept with him?’ The old man’s gaze was as direct as a laser pointer at a scientific meeting.

Tillie opened and closed her mouth, her cheeks feeling so hot she was sure they were going to scald the skin right off her face. ‘That’s a rather personal question to—’

‘Has 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.