The Billionaire's Cowboy Groom (Sweet Billionaires Book 4)

by Lorana Hoopes

  Gwen shook her head. “I didn’t say that, but you two haven’t been dating long.”

  “Drew proposed to you after only a few months.” Carrie knew she was being defensive, but she couldn’t help it. Gwen had hit on the very insecurity Carrie had been struggling with. She liked Philippe, but she also wondered at his timing and his slip of the tongue the night before. “Besides, Philippe has his own money.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.” Gwen picked up her mug again and kept her eyes focused on the liquid. “Dating Drew has made me a little cynical about people’s intentions I fear.”

  “It comes with the territory,” Carrie said softening her tone as well. She’d dealt with the fear that people only liked her for her money all her life, and she knew Gwen, because she was new to it, was just looking out for her.

  “Did Cal know about your money?” Gwen asked.

  “Well, I wasn’t as wealthy then,” Carrie began, but she thought back to that weekend. Most of it was fuzzy, but she had no memory of telling Cal about her money. “I don’t think I told him though.”

  “Well, that’s something then.”

  “What is?” Carrie asked. She wasn’t following Gwen’s train of thought.

  She picked up the folded piece of paper again. “This is romantic, Carrie, and I imagine the others are similar. If he didn’t know about your money, then I’d wager he has real feelings for you. Why else would he write you every year for six years even though you never write back?”

  Carrie bit her lip as Gwen’s words sunk in. If she hadn’t mentioned the money, why would Cal want to stay married to her? Why would he write her year after year with no reply? Could it be that he had really fallen for her?

  Chapter 5

  “What do you mean you have to go to Texas?” Philippe asked as he crossed his arms. This stiff almost angry posture was unlike him.

  Carrie bit the inside of her lip. She hated lying, but she didn’t think telling Philippe the whole truth right now would be a good thing. So, she’d opted for the lie of omission. “I told you, I have some business to take care of.”

  “Business in Texas? Have you ever even been to Texas, Carrie?”

  He didn’t believe her, and she had clearly aroused his suspicion, but there was nothing to do now but carry on the lie. “I have a friend there.”

  His jaw clenched. “A friend? Carrie, we just got engaged. Shouldn’t we be planning a wedding or something?”

  Well, at least he hadn‘t asked who the friend was. “We have plenty of time for that, Philippe. I promise. Drew’s letting me take the charter jet. That will cut back on the time, and I’ll be back before you know it. Probably by tomorrow night.”

  “I don’t like the idea of you traveling alone. Why don’t I come with you?”

  Carrie twitched as the thought ran through her head. That could be the worst idea ever. She had no idea if Cal had changed at all, but the two men in the same room would more than likely just turn into a competition if not a full-fledged fist fight. “You have work,” she said shaking her head. “Didn’t you just take on a new company?”

  Philippe’s face twisted and Carrie figured he knew she was right, but he was trying to come up with another option. “Fine,” he finally said. The words came out more like a sigh than a statement. “But please keep me informed of your journey and progress.”

  Another prick pinged Carrie’s conscience. She had no intention of telling him her progress, but she could update him on her arrival. “I will.”

  Though he didn’t look entirely satisfied, he accepted her kiss and stepped back. Carrie couldn’t help but notice the worry lines still etched in his face as she walked past him to Gwen and Drew who stood at the bottom of the stairs leading into the plane.

  “Thank you for letting me take the private plane,” Carrie said to Drew. “I suppose I could have chartered my own-”

  “Nonsense.” He held up a hand cutting her off. “There’s no sense chartering a second one when I have this plane and no reason to deal with airport issues when you have a plane at your disposal. Now, there’s no airport in Soda Spurs, so you’ll be landing about an hour away.”

  “That’s fine,” Carrie said. “I’d rather keep a low profile anyway. No sense causing a scene.”

  “So, do you have a plan?” Gwen asked in a quiet voice. Undoubtedly, she‘d told Drew the real story, but Carrie had asked her not to tell Philippe. At least not yet. Gwen hadn’t been happy, but she’d agreed it was Carrie’s story to tell when she was ready.

  A plan. Carrie had thought all night about how best to handle the situation but come up with nothing. Would Cal fight her? She hoped he would change his mind about wanting to marry her when he saw her again, sign the papers, and let her be on her way, but she doubted it would be that easy. Whatever he did, she figured honesty would be the best option. “I’m just going to show up and ask him to sign the papers.”

  “And what if he doesn’t?” Gwen asked.

  Carrie understood Gwen was just playing devil’s advocate, but it annoyed her nonetheless. “He has to. I’m going to ask nicely. Bribe him if I have to.” Gwen shot her an incredulous stare, but Carrie wasn’t kidding. “I am not sure what I’ll do if he doesn’t.”

  Gwen squeezed her arm and flashed a sympathetic smile, but it didn’t lessen Carrie‘s worries. What would she do if Cal refused?

  * * *

  Dexter’s ears perked and his head turned toward the barn entrance. A soft whine escaped his throat. Cal had heard nothing, but Dexter, who possessed much better hearing, obviously had.

  “What is it boy?” Cal asked as he led Ginger from the stall.

  Dexter’s response was a sharp bark and a tail wag. His eyes never wavered from the barn door.

  “All right, let’s go check it out.” Cal tugged on Ginger’s reigns to get her moving. As they stepped out of the barn and back into the open air, the crunch of tires on gravel reached Cal’s ears. He checked his watch. Stacy usually returned at day’s end to check on everything, but it wasn’t quite that time yet, and he wasn’t expecting anyone else. Surely it wouldn’t be the bank wanting payment on the loan yet. He had told them he was working on something and they generally left him alone as long as he delivered.

  Dexter barked again and pranced around Cal’s legs as if urging him to hurry or give permission to run ahead.

  “Go on then,” Cal said giving him permission. “I‘ll secure Ginger and I’ll be right there.”

  Dexter’s head bobbed as if agreeing with a nod. People said dogs didn’t talk, but Dexter seemed to be an exception to that rule. He gave one final glance at Cal and then bounded toward the front of the house.

  Cal shook his head as he tied Ginger’s reins to the corral. That dog was sometimes more human than canine. Before he made it around the side of his house, a feminine scream carried through the air, and Cal quickened his pace, wondering what Dexter had done now.

  When he rounded the corner, he pulled up short and bit his lips to keep from laughing at the scene in front of him. A mid-sized sedan he didn’t recognize sat parked in front of his house. Dexter had pinned the driver to her door and was attempting to sniff or lick her face - it wasn‘t clear from Cal‘s position. What he could discern was that the woman was actively trying to avoid Dexter’s tongue. Her red mane swished from side to side as her face darted to the left and right. Wait, red hair? Could it be? The lingering sunlight picked up the copper in her hair and Cal thought back to the first time his eyes saw the beautiful color.

  “Will someone get this mangy mutt off me?”

  Cal’s breath caught. Though it had been years, that voice was burned into his memory. Coupled with the coppery red hair, it could be no one else. Carrie Bliss was in his driveway.

  “Dexter, down,” he called when he found his voice again. The dog whined but dropped to the ground and returned to Cal’s side.

  “You really should teach that dog some manners,” she said as she wiped at her white jacket. The remnants of dus
ty paw prints remained even after her hands finished.

  Cal crossed his arms and leaned against the porch post. “He’s just excited. We don’t get a lot of visitors and no one we know wears all white to a ranch.”

  Her posture stiffened a moment at the sound of his voice. Then she turned around and caught his gaze, her emerald eyes fierce and resolute. “Hi, Cal.”

  Two words. That’s all she said, but that was all it took. Immediately he was transported back to Vegas.

  He had been there attending a friend’s bachelor party and while everyone else pounded enough liquor to become stupid drunk, Cal had only partaken of one beer. He wasn’t really a fan of the taste, and he didn’t like the feeling of being out of control.

  “Dude, go ask some girl to dance,” his friend John said with a slur.

  “I’m good, really.” Cal was honestly hoping the party would end soon. Fatigue covered him, and he just wanted to crawl into bed, but it would be rude to leave this early.

  “No, you’re not. You’re not having any fun. You’re barely drinking, so go find a girl. Look, there’s a perfect one.”

  Cal followed John’s finger not expecting much. His friend was three sheets to the wind at least, but as the sea of people parted briefly, Cal’s heart paused in his chest. A beautiful red headed woman surrounded by a few friends danced freely to the music. Her body swayed in perfect time to the beat, and a smile stretched across her lips as if the dance floor made her feel alive. She was the most exotic, intoxicating woman he had ever seen.

  His feet propelled him across the room though he had no idea what he would say to her. When nothing brilliant came to mind, he said the first thing he thought of. “Hi, I’m Cal, and I think you’re beautiful.”

  Her eyes flicked to his and the corners of her mouth pulled into a flirtatious grin. She closed the space between and splayed her hands across his chest. “Hi Cal,” she said as she looked up at him with sparkly green eyes.

  “Are you just going to stand there all day?”

  The harsh tone in Carrie’s words drug him back to the present, and Cal shook his head to clear the cobwebs of the past away. “How you been, Carrie?”

  A tight smile played across Carrie’s lips. “I’ve been better, Cal.” She walked around the front of the car toward him. Physically, she looked the same, but there was a difference in her. She seemed stiffer, more polished. Her white jacket was tailored perfectly to her form as were her pants, and the emerald shirt that skirted her neckline brought out the same color in her eyes. She was a vision of perfection. “But you can help.” She held out a stapled packet to him. “I need you to sign these.”

  He took the papers though he knew what they were. Only divorce papers would bring her all the way out to him. Cal scanned the papers - he had no plans to sign them, but she didn’t need to know that. “Why now?”

  Carrie bit her lip and her eyes fell to the ground. “I should have done it ages ago, but I just kept ignoring it. However, I can’t ignore it any longer because…” she lifted her left hand, “because I’m getting married. He’s a wonderful man and this time I’m ready to be married, but I can’t do that until we get divorced.”

  Cal searched her eyes. She did seem earnest and sincere, but she’d never given their love a chance, and he wasn’t ready to give her up without a fight. “I’ll make you a deal,” he said crossing his arms. “You stay here for a few days and give us a chance. If, at the end of that time, you still want a divorce, I’ll sign the papers.”

  Her eyes flashed, and a spark of the old Carrie reappeared. “No, I’m not dating another man while I’m engaged. That’s not right.”

  “Technically, you already have been.” His gaze never wavered. He might still lose, depending on how stubborn she was, but at least this gave him a chance.

  “But that’s… that’s not the same thing. We barely knew each other. We were both inebriated-”

  “I wasn’t drunk,” he said cutting her off. “I was very aware of what I was doing. I knew from the moment I saw you that I felt something and when you said my name and put your hands on my chest, I knew I wanted to marry you. And you can claim intoxication all you want, but you were pretty firm in your decision that night as well.”

  “I…” Carrie opened her mouth but her words stalled. She held his gaze for a minute before pinching her lips together. A tiny vein throbbed in her clenched jaw, and Cal had to bite back a smile at how cute she looked when she was angry.

  Cal raised a brow and tilted his head to the side. “It’s either stay the few days or we stay married.”

  Irritation flared on Carrie’s face sending a red flush up her neck. “What do you even hope to get out of this, Cal?”

  He locked eyes with her. “You.”

  Chapter 6

  Carrie blinked as the wave of emotions rolled over her. Flattery hit first. That he would still want her after all this time was ego boosting, but it was followed quickly with disbelief. Why would he still want her after all this time unless he was after her money? Indignation flared soon after. How dare he barter with her life as if it meant nothing! She had a fiancé back home whom she loved or at least thought she loved, and she should not be staying here with this practically perfect stranger. It didn’t matter that they were married on paper; she knew almost nothing about him.

  Carrie returned his frank stare as she weighed her options. He had her between a rock and a hard place. She couldn’t very well leave and stay married so that left staying. “Fine, but I’m not staying here. It wouldn’t be proper. This town has a hotel, right?”

  A deep, irritating chuckle spilled from Cal’s lips. “A hotel? No, but there is an inn, and since there’s no festival going on this weekend, you might find a vacancy. I do have plenty of room here though-”

  “Not on your life,” Carrie seethed. “I’ll take my chances on the inn. Do you have an address?”

  “Nah, but I can take you there. You could get settled in and then come back here for a bit. I’ll make you dinner and show you around.”

  None of that sounded appealing to Carrie, but as she was at his mercy, at least for the time being, she agreed. “Fine, get in. You can lead the way, but I’m driving.”

  Cal tipped his hat at her before pushing himself off the railing and sauntering to the sedan. The way he confidently carried himself was sexy and Carrie watched him fold his long frame into the passenger seat before shaking her head and crossing back to the driver’s side. This was not what she had planned at all, and she had no business thinking of him as sexy. That was a rabbit trail she should not go down.

  “This is nice,” Cal said as she started the engine. His hand glided down the leather seat beneath him.

  “It’s a rental,” Carrie said, “but thanks. Now where are we going?”

  Cal removed his hat and pointed straight ahead. “You drive, and I’ll tell you when to turn.”

  Carrie swallowed her irritation and shifted into drive. A few minutes later, they pulled up in front of a quaint two-story home. “You sure this is an inn?” Carrie asked. “I mean other than the sign, it looks more like a house.”

  “Well, that’s the charm of Soda Spurs. It’s got that home-grown vibe.”

  The corners of Cal’s lips pulled up into an irresistibly charming smile. Darn it. Why did he have to be handsome? This would be so much easier if she felt no attraction to him.

  “Right.” She pulled her eyes from his face and turned off the ignition. “Let’s see if there’s any room at the inn then.”

  “The sign said Vacancy, so I think you’re good,” Cal said as he opened his car door.

  Before she even had her seatbelt off, he was opening the driver’s side door for her.

  “I can open my own door,” she said. Did he think she was incapable or weak?

  “I’m sure you can,” he took off his cowboy hat and flashed her a wink, “but my momma raised me right, and it’s only fitting I open the door for my wife.”

  “I’m not your-” Carrie
trailed off at the teasing glint in his eye. She would not win this particular argument with him, so she might as well stop trying. “Fine, thank you.”

  He placed the hat back on his head and tapped the brim at her. “You’re very welcome. Shall we head inside then?”

  “Unless you want to stand outside all day.” Carrie poured enough vitriol in her voice to garner an eyebrow raise from Cal.

  “Nah, no sense in that. Momma would have my hide if I left you to wilt out here.” He glanced toward the trunk. “Do you have bags I can help with?”

  “No need,” Carrie said. “I hadn’t planned on staying long, so I only have one bag. I’m certain I can manage to carry that.” She punctuated her words with sharp steps to the trunk of the car. Her heels made a satisfying clacking sound on the pavement. When she reached the back, she punched the button on the remote, staring at Cal as it popped open. Then, she pulled out her bag before shutting the lid.

  He was waiting at the side of the car as she shut the trunk, and he nodded at her before leading the way up the pathway. A tiny bell jingled as he pushed open the front door, and a wave of warmth rolled out to greet them.

  “Welcome to the Soda Spurs Inn.” The bubbly voice belonged to a short, stout woman with curly brown hair. “Oh, hey, Cal. What can I do for you?”

  “Hi, Dixie, this is my friend Carrie, and she needs a room for a few nights.”

  Relief flooded Carrie that he had called her his friend instead of his wife. Though she would probably never see the people in the town again once she left, she didn’t want to explain to everyone her situation with Cal.

  “Welcome, Carrie,” Dixie said turning her friendly gaze on Carrie. “How long will you be staying?”

  Carrie raised a brow and turned to Cal. “That’s a good question. Cal?”

  His lips twisted into a mischievous smile and he shrugged leaving Carrie on her own.

  “At least tonight with the option to extend?”