“As long as he remembers that, we’re good.” Bear glanced around the property. “All right, anything else I need to know?”
“Naw, things are running smooth. There’s something off about Mark that I can’t put my finger on. I keep thinking I’ve seen him before, but I don’t know where.”
Bear had thought the same thing when he interviewed Mark Anderson. Of course, he’d run a background check, and it was all fine. With no red flags, Bear had hired him. “Is he not getting the job done?”
Shaking his head, Caleb said, “No, he’s good, but I feel like he’s hiding something. Can’t hold that against him, though. We all have our secrets.”
Yeah, everyone had their secrets. “As long as he’s doing well, he can have his secrets.”
“That’s what I thought. Is everything okay with the family? Thanks for the Thanksgiving meal you sent out to the hands. It was amazing.”
“I’m just sorry I didn’t think to invite you all in for the actual meal with the family. I hope you all will join us for Christmas dinner. The family is fine. The ladies went shopping yesterday, and they were all tuckered by the time they got back. I suspect they’ll sleep in a while.”
Caleb grunted a laugh. “I’d rather pay full price than deal with all that nonsense. You’ll never catch me in that mess.”
With a snort, Bear shook his head. “I’ve learned never is never a good word to use.”
“True. I guess I’ve doomed myself to Black Friday shopping in the future.” His horse shifted, and he rubbed her neck again. “It’s cold. I’m going to take Lanny to the barn, give her a good rubdown, and then huddle around the fire.”
Bear gave him a small two-finger salute. “Sounds good to me. I think I’ll do the same.” With that, they went their separate ways.
Back at the barn, Bear brushed Spur, blanketed him, and put him out so he could graze. On his way to his room, he spied Winnie on the back deck, wrapped in a blanket and sitting in her rocker. Instead of going to his room, he stepped outside to see if she was okay. “Do you mind if I join you?”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “No, I don’t mind at all.”
Bear pulled his rocker closer to hers, slipping his hands into his pockets. “It’s a little cold out here.”
“Yeah, it is, but I really like it.” There was a sadness in her voice. It had been a great day in his opinion.
“Is something wrong? Because if it’s something I’ve done, I apologize.”
Shaking her head, she picked at a string on her sweater. “No, you haven’t done anything. I’m just starting to feel terribly guilty for lying to your family. They’ve been so sweet to me.”
He understood that. He’d never liked lying to people. Even his justification in the beginning wasn’t giving him a reprieve now. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. Lying to them hurts.”
“How do we fix this, then?”
“That’s a good question.” Part of him wanted to come clean, but if he did that, he wouldn’t have an excuse to kiss her anymore. Simply put, that bothered him just as much or more than the lying did. What was the solution when his head and his heart couldn’t come to terms? Before he had a chance to really think it through, he said, “Maybe we don’t pretend the rest of the time and actually date instead, knowing it will end after the new year.”
As soon as the words left his lips, he considered taking them back, but it seemed to be the best solution to him. His family wouldn’t know he’d lied, and his heart would remain safe. If he knew the relationship was ending, he could keep that in mind when they were together. There was no chance for a heartbreak for either of them when the terms were laid out in black and white.
She twisted in the seat and faced him. “Don’t pretend?”
“Well, we can drop the deal and just enjoy our time together so it isn’t a lie anymore. But after the holidays, you’ve got a restaurant in San Antonio that needs to be opened, and I have this ranch. After wanting it so many years, I just—”
Winnie touched his arm. “I get it.” She chewed her bottom lip as if she was struggling to decide. Maybe she was thinking he wouldn’t pay her the rest of the money since that was the deal from the beginning.
“I’ll still provide the other half of the money. After enjoying your food today, I’ll consider it an investment for a friend.”
What he thought would give her peace made her expression even more like a raging war. That’s not what he wanted at all. He was sincere when he offered the rest of the money. It was only fair since he was altering the agreement. He’s the one who initiated it. If she was agreeable, couldn’t he change it?
He tried to explain. “I’m the one changing things. Not you. Now that I’ve gotten to know you, I realize I’ve put you in a bind. You’re honest and sweet. You would have never lied to my family or me. It’s just not in you.”
“I wouldn’t, but…you run this ranch. That much money is a huge amount. I don’t want to put you in a bind either.”
“I’m a billionaire, Winnie.” It had left his mouth before he could rope it back, but of the things he was worried about telling her, that one wasn’t nearly as closely guarded as the other. “I’m not hurting for money.”
She blinked a few times, her mouth opening and closing at almost the same rate. “A bi…a billionaire?” She tilted her head like the word was foreign to her tongue.
“I am. A few years ago now, we won the lottery. That one that kept rolling over until it was in the billions? Well, my brothers, sister, and I won it.”
“Oh, my. I don’t think I’d want to win that kind of money,” she mused as she looked down. “I can’t imagine the stress and frustration that comes with it. Sometimes money only makes things worse.”
Truer words had never been spoken. “You’re right about that. I told you so you wouldn’t worry about it.” He paused a second. “I’m okay if you just want to come clean, too. I don’t want to be the cause of any grief to you.”
“I like you, Bear. I wouldn’t have to—”
“I like you too, and this way we can enjoy the holidays. You can go back to San Antonio, and I can stay here. We’d know the whole time where everything stood, so there’d be no hard feelings.” No hard feelings, but they’d definitely be hurt.
Winnie lifted her head, and their eyes locked. When she remained quiet, he wondered if maybe he needed to reassure her a little more. “I’m really not ready for a full-time girlfriend yet.” Surely, that would give her what she needed. She wasn’t the sort of woman to hurt people, and this was him solidifying that he’d be okay when she left. It would break his heart, but in the best way possible. He’d be setting her free to be happy, even if that meant he wasn’t in the picture.
Slowly, she nodded, and a tiny smile quirked on her lips. She stuck out her hand. “I can handle that deal.”
There was something different in her touch this time. It didn’t set his nerves aflame; it was a slow burn, like grass in the spring. The fire would char the dead, making way for new growth. Something he’d needed the last few years.
At least now he wouldn’t be lying to his family. Not that he was going to tell them he had been in the first place. There was no sense in making a ruckus when he could legitimately call her his girlfriend. They didn’t need to know it would end when he took her to the airport. And it was a fact he was going to tuck into the back of his mind for the duration of her stay.
The little taste of happiness he’d had the last few days had taught him life alone wasn’t possible anymore. He’d mourn the loss of Winnie for a bit, pick up the pieces of his heart, and find someone to love.
Chapter 16
Tuesday morning, the rattling of Winnie’s phone pulled her from a miserable nightmare. For once, she was thankful for being woken up. She grabbed her phone and put it to her ear. “Hello?”
“Winnie, it’s Mom.”
Sitting up, Winnie palmed her forehead. “What’s up, Mom?” She pulled the phone away just long enough to rea
d the time. Three in the morning?
It was only thirty minutes ago that she’d fallen asleep. In the few days following her talk with Bear, she’d done nothing but dream about him. Making that deal with him to not pretend to be dating but to actually date? It had mixed her up in ways she never thought possible. She’d laugh, cried, and been tempted to pull her hair out.
The confession that she felt guilty lying to his family hadn’t been an attempt to change their deal. On the contrary, it had been a wish that she was a real member of the West-Fredericks family. They’d embraced her like she was a long-lost member, and she loved the feeling of belonging when she was around them.
Getting to know them made it easier to understand Bear’s desire to have someone during the holidays. His siblings were so happy with their spouses and children, and there he was, an outsider in his own home. If she’d been in his shoes, she may have done the same thing.
Then he’d suggested they stop pretending. For a moment, she’d been confused. The only reason she was at the ranch was to pretend to be dating, and when he’d clarified his suggestion, her heart had sunk—until he reminded her why their relationship couldn’t continue. That she had a restaurant in San Antonio, and he couldn’t leave his ranch. If there was one thing she understood, it was having a dream.
His wealth was merely a blip in their conversation. She didn’t care about his money, and she’d struggled just managing the startup funds her father had given her. Adding that many more zeros would’ve only made it harder.
When she’d tried to tell him she liked him, that she didn’t need to pretend, he’d interrupted her, telling her they could enjoy the holidays and, at the end, part with no hard feelings. Her head and heart were in a battle. Her dream of owning a restaurant was in direct conflict with wanting Bear.
Then he’d said he couldn’t handle a full-time girlfriend, and the battle turned into a war. What did she really want? With no clear winner, she’d opted for the safe route. She’d spend the holidays with Bear, soak him up, and leave with her heart still intact. That was as close to having both him and her dream as she could get.
Maybe she would have felt better if he’d kissed her a few times since then, but for some reason, he’d held back after their handshake. She took that to mean he was giving her time to get used to the idea, maybe. Or the most logical reason was that he didn’t want to hurt her. She’d been half joking when she told him she’d punch Angela’s lights out, but now, Winnie would sock her in the nose and that woman would be lucky if a surgeon could fix it. Bear was Prince Charming…he even had a horse.
The sound of her mom sniffling quickly pulled her from her thoughts.
“Mom?”
“It’s your dad. He’s been rushed to the hospital. He’s had a heart attack.”
Sucking in a sharp breath, Winnie’s chest constricted. “A heart attack? He’s the healthiest person I know.”
Another few sniffles. “I know.”
“Who found him?”
“He felt it coming on and took an aspirin and called emergency. Since I’m his emergency contact, they just called.” She hesitated a moment.
Winnie’s shoulders rounded. “What, Mom?”
“I know you’re doing your deal with that man, but I’d really like it if you came to the hospital.”
“Momma, you don’t even have to ask,” Winnie replied as she hopped out of bed. “I’ll be there as quick as I can.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
“I’ll see you when I get there.”
They said their goodbyes, and Winnie took a deep breath. Bear. She needed to tell him. Hopefully, he wouldn’t be too upset.
She quickly strode from her room and took the steps two at a time before breaking into a near run to get to his room. She knocked a few times and then again even louder. “Bear—”
The door opened, and for a second, she was frozen. A bare-chested Bear was a sight to behold. She knew he was muscular, but this wasn’t bulging bodybuilder muscles. His body was lean muscle. Waking up to him wouldn’t be a chore at all, even if his hair was sticking up funny. A soft voice chastised her. Here she was, drooling over Bear’s hotness, and her dad was in the hospital.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice husky as he rubbed his eyes with his hand.
“My dad had a heart attack. My mom’s asked me to come to the hospital. I’m so sorry.” Then it hit her. Her dad, the man she fought with tooth and nail, was in the hospital. They butted heads, but she loved him. She knew he wasn’t being mean when he was pushing her toward things she didn’t want. He cared about her, her future. She was just as guilty when it came to listening to him.
Bear gathered her into a hug. “Oh, honey, I’m sorry. Let me get dressed, and we’ll go right now.”
She leaned back, her vision blurry with tears. “You’d go with me?”
“Well, yeah, if you want me to, I will.”
“What about the cattle? The horses?”
He kissed her forehead. “Darlin’, I’ve got three brothers, my dad, Amos, and a brother-in-law. Plus my hired hands. Shoot, my mom could rustle cattle. The ranch will be just fine without me for a few days.”
She hugged him tightly. “I’d really, really like it if you did.”
“Yes, ma’am. Let’s get dressed and pack. I’ll let my mom and dad know. They’ll fill in the family when they wake up.”
“Okay,” Winnie said, stepping back. “I’ll go pack. I’ll get our tickets, and we can stay at my mom’s house so it’s not so expensive.”
The distance she’d given him was erased as he pulled her back into his arms. “I’ll worry about those details, sweetheart. You pack, stay close to the phone for your momma, and don’t worry about anything else.”
The tears spilled over. She didn’t want him to think she wanted any of his money. He could be the poorest guy in Texas and he’d be worth billions to her. “Are you sure? I don’t want your money, Bear. I promise I don’t.”
He gave her a squeeze and said, “I know you don’t. It’s all right.”
She stood there in his arms, basking in his comfort for a moment. “I’ll hurry.” Pulling away, she took a few steps and stopped. “We can still stay at my mom’s house so you don’t have to find us a hotel.”
He smiled. “Yes, ma’am.”
With one last look, she hurried back to her room. Bear was coming with her. She’d have his shoulder to cry on, his strength to carry her, his kindness to bind her together. The last time she and her dad fought, they’d both said ugly things to each other. Of course, she’d apologized, but only half-heartedly. When she saw him, she’d apologize for real and mean it. Her dad meant the world to her. The only reason she’d been so determined was because she wanted him to be proud of her.
He'd worked long hours when she was a kid, but he’d always made it to her silly elementary plays and softball games, and he’d even rented a limo for her and her prom date. Her dad loved her. She just needed to be okay with his brand of love. Between now and the time she saw him, she’d figure out a way to do that.
Chapter 17
Bear should have known if he woke his parents, they’d wake everyone up. Perhaps it was a good thing. His family had a way of coming together in a crisis.
Hunter called a friend with a private jet, and they’d offered to let Bear and Winnie use it to fly to Houston. It had been fueled and ready to go when they arrived in Amarillo. Reagan had brewed them some coffee for the road, going so far as to pack a few thermoses with coffee and hot water in case Winnie needed some tea.
His girl had grown quiet as everyone fussed over her. He figured it was because she was overwhelmed with worry. A person could fight to the death with someone they loved and still want to hold them when they hurt.
“It’s okay. I’m sure if anything was wrong, your mom would have called again,” Bear said, taking her hand in his. “I don’t doubt your father’s in the best hands.”
Winnie turned to him, her eyes red-rimmed from
crying. “We fought the last time I saw him. We haven’t talked, really talked, for a long while. We were cordial, but that was about as good as it got. He had this plan for me. It was paint-by-color, but I liked coloring outside the lines. He was suit-and-tie, and I was jeans-and-sneakers.”
“He knew you loved him. Kids fight with their parents. It’s not a measure of how much they love each other; it’s growing up.” He tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear. “I know if I had a little girl, it wouldn’t matter if she was five or fifty, she’d always be my baby. I’d always want what was best. To know she’s safe. Perhaps he just loved you so much he struggled to let you go. It’s not that he didn’t want you to fly. He just didn’t want you to fall and get hurt.”
Tears pooled in her eyes once more, and Bear wished more than anything that he could soothe her hurts. Pulling her closer, he wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back. He didn’t say it was going to be okay. In truth, he had no idea if it would be. Mostly, he just wanted her to know he was there so she knew she wasn’t alone.
Spending the flight holding her was a treasure. The only thing he hated about it was the circumstances. In the days after their talk about dating, he’d held back. He didn’t want her to think he’d only made the deal so he could kiss her. He wanted her to know that he liked all of her. If all he got was her sitting next to him, that would be all right by him. Of course, he wouldn’t refuse a kiss. He wasn’t that stupid.
Once the plane landed, they’d been greeted by a driver. Apparently, his brother Wyatt knew someone in the area, and he’d called before they arrived. It was nice that he and Winnie didn’t have to wait for a car and that the driver knew the area. The situation was stressful enough without dealing with navigating Houston.
The closer they got to the hospital, the more relaxed Winnie became. Her mother hadn’t called once, and they took that as a good sign. Surely, her mom would have notified her if anything had changed. The other side of that was maybe the news was too bad and it was an in-person kind of thing. Bear didn’t speak that thought aloud.
The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match (Caprock Canyon Romance Book 4) Page 7
