The Cowboy Billionaire

by Lorana Hoopes

  “Me too,” Cody said. “Chocolate is my favorite.”

  “Well, that’s because great minds think alike,” Hunter said.

  Daisy could hear the smile in his voice, and a check in the rearview mirror showed his gaze was focused on Cody. Why did he have to be so good with her son?

  The Soda Shop was just down the road, and Daisy pulled into the parking lot before Hunter and Cody had even finished their conversation on the best toppings for chocolate ice cream.

  An old fashioned shop, The Soda Shop looked like it had been preserved from the fifties, complete with a sign shaped like a 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

  “Whoa, I feel like I’ve stepped back in time,” Hunter said as he opened the door for everyone. The inside of the shop was decorated in a black and white checkered pattern with pops of blue and pink on the stools that sat around the bar and the booths that lined the walls. An old fashioned jukebox even crooned popular music from the era.

  “Yeah, the tourists love this place too,” Daisy said, leading them to a booth. “It also helps that the food is good too.”

  “Be right there,” Erica said from behind the bar as they sat down. Erica had taken over the shop from her parents after earning her business degree at the nearby college. Young and cute, Daisy wondered how long the girl would stay in the small town. It wasn’t like men her age were rampant here.

  “Welcome to The Soda Shop,” she said, handing them each a menu. Her hair was pulled back in a smooth ponytail, and she wore a flouncy striped dress behind a bright pink apron. “Our special today is the chocolate malt. I’ll give you a few minutes to look over the menu, but you can holler for me if you decide before I get back.”

  “Thanks, Erica.” Daisy glanced down at the menu, but she was certain she knew what she wanted. It was the same thing she ordered everytime - a chocolate covered cherry malt with whipped cream, sprinkles, and a cherry on top.

  “What’s with the flyer?” Hunter asked, pointing to the small piece of paper decorated with exploding fireworks that had been inserted into a plastic sleeve in the menu.

  “That’s a reminder for the fourth of July carnival Saturday night,” Fanny said as if that were completely obvious.

  Cody’s eyes lit up. “The fourth of July carnival? Is that tomorrow?”

  “It sure is,” Daisy replied, nudging him playfully with her shoulder. Her eyes flicked up to Hunter. “It’s a pretty big deal around these parts.”

  “And it would be something worth writing about in your article,” Fanny added as she scanned the menu.

  “Yeah, you should go with us,” Cody said. “They have carnival games and music and food and then they set off fireworks once it gets dark.”

  “Well, when you put it like that, how could I say no?” Hunter asked. “I’d be happy to join you tomorrow if it’s okay with your mother.”

  Daisy’s breath caught as he held her gaze. She’d never attended the carnival with a man who wasn’t Ethan, and the thought was both exciting and guilt-inducing. However, the puppy dog eyes that Cody shot her direction made up her mind. “Sure, we’ll be going anyway. You might as well come with us.”

  “Good, it’s a date,” Fanny said. “Now, can we order?”

  Daisy wanted to protest that it was not a date, but Fanny had already called Erica back over. Surely, Hunter would realize it wasn’t a date.

  The ice cream arrived moments later, and the four dug in, enjoying the sugary sweetness. When the bowls were empty and their bellies were full, Hunter paid the bill and led the way back outside.

  “Can we walk to the park?” Cody asked. “It’s still light outside.”

  “Maybe we should drop Mr. Goldsby off first,” Daisy said. “He may not want to go to the park.”

  “Nonsense,” Hunter said. “I love parks.”

  “Okay, for a few minutes,” Daisy said. She was not surprised when Cody and Fanny took off ahead of them, leaving her alone with Hunter.

  “What do people do in this town for fun?” he asked as they walked. “I haven’t seen much that would qualify as an entertainment venue in this town.”

  Daisy shook her head. “No, I’m afraid there’s not much of that. We play movies on a white screen in the gym on the weekends or in the park during the summer, though they’re usually old releases by then. Plus, this town loves its festivals. We have the fourth of July festival coming up that we mentioned earlier, then there’s a cowboy festival a little later in the summer,” she began ticking each one off on her fingers, “ a fall festival, the Halloween carnival, a Thanksgiving festival, and of course, Christmas.”

  Hunter’s mouth fell open, and he blinked. “Wow, I attend an annual Christmas party at work, but that’s only because it has amazing food.”

  “What no Halloween or New Year’s parties?” Daisy asked with a laugh. She’d been out of the city for years, but she knew there were more parties than just Christmas get-togethers.

  Hunter shrugged. “I guess I’ve attended a few of those over the years, but nothing like what you’re talking about here. That was a lot of festivals you rattled off.”

  Daisy grinned and nodded. “It is, and that’s only half the year, but those festivals are about the extent of our entertainment, so I think that’s why.”

  “What about you?” Hunter asked. “What do you do for fun?”

  Daisy’s smile faded, and her gaze dropped to her water glass. “I don’t really have time for fun. I try to take Cody when I can, but the ranch takes up most of my time.”

  “You know this town is different than I thought it would be,” Hunter said. His hands swung lightly at his side, and Daisy wondered what holding his hand would feel like.

  “What do you mean?” She dragged her attention from his hands, thankful for the distraction.

  He shrugged. “I’ve lived in the city my whole life, and I guess I thought small towns were the way you see them portrayed on the TV - boring and gossipy - but this place feels different.

  Daisy rolled her eyes as she thought of how fast news traveled in town. Though not as bad as she’d once expected, it hadn’t been fun being on the receiving end of that when Ethan died. Everyone had treated her with pity and kid gloves for weeks straight, and her phone had rung with so many calls asking if she and Cody were all right that she’d been forced to leave it off the hook for a few days.

  “Well, we have our gossipy moments. Frankly, I’m surprised there haven’t been more people coming to ask me about you, but for the most part, it’s more like a family than a gossip train. As for the boredom, it is different. There aren't any entertainment venues like in the city, but the festivals help. Still, I wish we had more, especially for the kids. Summer is hard when parents have to work, but there isn’t much to keep the kids entertained besides the park and the lone movie theater closer to the edge of town that only plays movies from years ago.”

  “What would you like to see?” Hunter asked, catching her eye.

  Daisy was caught off guard by his interest. “Well, I mentioned the youth camp previously, but I guess I’d love to see some indoor areas for them as well. Maybe a game hall or a skating rink or something along those lines.”

  Hunter nodded, and though she could conjure no reason why he should care, she could swear that he looked as if he was trying to figure out how to help.

  “He’s a great kid,” Hunter said, changing the topic suddenly.

  “Yeah, he is.” As they watched Cody scamper around the park, Daisy stole furtive glances at Hunter. She couldn’t understand why he seemed so interested in them or why she felt so at ease around him, but she also couldn’t deny how nice it felt. If only his days here weren’t numbered, but that was just wishful thinking and she needed to focus on reality.

  11

  Hunter

  Hunter spared one final glance in the mirror before he headed down to the lobby. Daisy had said they would be by at six to pick him up, so they could go to the carnival together, and it was now five till. Though he wasn’t sure what to
expect from tonight, the nervous feeling racing through his body surprised him. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been nervous before a date or the last time he’d so looked forward to one. Nor could he understand why Daisy seemed to have taken up a permanent residence in his mind.

  Another pang of guilt fluttered in Hunter’s stomach that he hadn’t told her the truth yet. Daisy deserved so much more than what life had dished out to her. She deserved happiness and time with her son, and Cody - Cody needed more time with his mother. Hunter knew that from first hand experience. His world had been rocked when his mother left, but he’d had his father to lean upon. Unfortunately, just like Daisy, his father had turned to working, and Hunter had been forced to grow up with half a parent instead of two. He didn’t want that for Cody, but he still had no idea how to help Daisy.

  After their ice cream excursion the night before, he had returned to the inn and brainstormed ways to bring her vision to life. Having no idea how profitable either a dude ranch might be or a game hall, he’d placed a call to Davis asking him to look into it. Maybe, if he could come up with a solution that would make just as much money if not more, he could convince Goldman to leave Daisy’s land alone.

  At six o’clock on the dot, the inn’s front door opened and Daisy, Fanny, and Cody appeared on the other side.

  “Mr. Hunter, are you ready?” Cody asked, racing toward him. “Mommy said I had to wait to eat, and now I’m starving.”

  Hunter squatted down to be on eye level with the boy. “I am ready, and I also waited to eat, so I’m starving too.”

  “Let’s go then. A few years ago, there was this really fun game where you got to throw darts at a balloon. My dad won me a giant teddy bear. Maybe you can win something this year.”

  “I’ll sure try,” Hunter said, flashing the boy a wink before straightening and looking to Daisy. She looked beautiful tonight in a pair of shorts and a red, white, and blue striped top that hung off one shoulder, accentuating her slender neck and collarbone. He’d managed to find a t-shirt with a flag on it for himself at the general store in town this afternoon, but she definitely looked better than he did.

  However, it was her hair that held his attention the most. He’d always seen it pulled back or under a hat, but she wore it down tonight, and it flowed down her back and around her shoulders like a stream of golden honey. He wondered how it would feel beneath his fingertips.

  “Are we ready then?”

  Daisy’s voice pulled him out of his daydream and back to reality, and he felt a heat crawl up his neck. Had he been staring? He hoped not, but from the amused expression on her face, he was fairly certain he had been. “Yep, let’s go.”

  Just like the night before, Fanny and Cody ended up ahead of them, Cody’s animated voice filling the air as he chattered on about everything he wanted to eat and see. Hunter smiled as he listened to the boy’s exuberance. “You know I’m expecting something amazing based on how excited he is,” he said to Daisy.

  She smiled and nodded. “He’s always loved all the festivals, but they are more fun when you look at them from a child’s eye. This one isn’t even his favorite, but I think he’s so excited because he’s been sitting at home for a while,” she paused and pursed her lips together before continuing, “and because of you.”

  “Me? Why me?” Hunter liked Cody, and the boy had been like a constant shadow most of the time he was at Daisy’s ranch, but he had a hard time buying that the boy’s excitement was tied to his existence.

  Daisy’s face took on a wistful expression. “He’s been without his father for a year. Honestly, I think he’s just enjoying the male company.”

  Right. Hunter should have known that. Fathers were important for boys, especially young boys around Cody’s age. Hunter remembered playing catch and football with his own father at about this age. “Well, I’m enjoying his company too. And yours.”

  A soft pink color spread across her cheeks, and her gaze shifted back to the boy in front of them. Suddenly, the downtown area came into view. Hunter was surprised by how it had been transformed. Along the streets, pop up games had been set up with bins of prizes beside them. Brightly colored balloons bobbed in the soft breeze from their tied positions, and the salty scent of popcorn and other fried foods hung in the air.

  “Wow, this is actually more than I expected.”

  “We might be small, but this town knows how to celebrate. Just wait until dark when the fireworks go off.”

  Hunter’s pulse quickened at the thought of watching fireworks in the dark with Daisy, but before he could fully enjoy the idea, she had grabbed his hand and was tugging him to the left.

  “Yes, I was hoping they’d be here. They have the best pizza in Texas.” She smiled broadly as she came to a stop in front of a brightly colored food truck painted like the Italian flag. The words ‘It’s Italiano’ were scrawled across the side.

  “It sure smells good.” Hunter’s stomach growled as the scent of garlic and cheese filled his nose.

  “Yes, pizza!” Cody punched his fist in the air. “This day is awesome.”

  They ordered their slices and then carried them to a seating area that had been set up near the food trucks. After a quick prayer from Fanny, Hunter took a bite of the slice and had to agree that it was indeed one of the best pieces of pizza he’d ever had.

  As they ate, the tables around them filled, and Hunter was struck by how many people crowded the area. “Are there really this many people in this town?”

  Fanny chuckled. “There are more people in town than you’d think, but our festivals are renowned. People come from all over to check them out.”

  Hunter wondered what he could do with that information. What if he could find a way to bring people in from all over at other times as well? There had to be some way to satisfy Goldman and help Daisy keep her land.

  “Can we go play some games now?” Cody asked after swallowing his last bite of pizza. “I want to throw the darts again and do the ring toss.”

  “Hang on, Tiger,” Daisy said with a laugh as she gathered up their empty plates and napkins. “There’s plenty of time for games before the fireworks begin.”

  After depositing their trash, they made their way to the row of carnival games where Hunter proceeded to win a stuffed tiger for Cody, a hat for Fanny, and a miniature carved horse for Daisy. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had so much fun.

  With the games conquered, they made their way to the gazebo where a small band had set up and was playing old country favorites while people danced in the streets.

  “Do you dance?” Daisy asked, her eyes sparkling.

  He didn’t. At least not normally, but he was so struck by the excitement in her eyes that he could not say no. Besides, he couldn’t deny he wanted to feel her in his arms, so he nodded and held out his hand.

  She handed her horse to Fanny and placed one hand in his and the other on his shoulder. The skin under her touch pulsed and tingled, affecting Hunter in ways no woman before ever had. As he placed a hand on her trim waist and pulled her closer, the soft floral scent of her shampoo filled his nose. Though he never would have believed it, he realized there was no other place he’d rather be than dancing with her in the middle of the street. What was happening to him? This wasn’t how his trip was supposed to go, but he seemed helpless to stop the feelings that were developing for the woman he held in his arms.

  Before he knew it, the sun had set, and people gathered in the grassy area to watch the fireworks explode. Fanny spread out a large blanket she had brought, and the four of them sat down. Moments later, the music began again and the sound of booms and shrieks filled the air. Hunter smiled as he listened to Cody exclaim that every firework was his favorite, but he found it hard to stay focused on the exploding balls of color. Instead, his eyes kept glancing to the side, to the mesmerizing woman who sat mere inches from him. He wondered how her body would feel in his arms, how heavy her head would be against his chest, and most importantly how soft he
r lips would feel against his.

  As if she felt his gaze, Daisy turned his direction and flashed a smile. It wasn’t the first smile she’d given, but there was something different about it, something free and endearing. It was a smile that struck his core. He knew at that moment that he would do whatever it took to keep that smile on her face forever.

  12

  Daisy

  Daisy found herself whistling as she changed out of her church clothes and into her ranch gear that afternoon. Though Hunter hadn’t accepted her invitation to join them at church that morning, he had agreed to join them for lunch and stay to help out around the ranch afterwards, and though she knew she shouldn’t be, she was eager to see him again.

  The carnival the night before had been so much fun, and she honestly couldn’t remember the last time she’d felt so happy. Certainly not since Ethan’s death. As her gaze fell on the miniature horse Hunter had won her, she glanced up at the ceiling. Would Ethan be angry at her attraction to this new man or would he understand? She hoped he would understand. After all, she did need help on this ranch and Cody needed a man in his life, but she was getting ahead of herself. It had been one night. One very fun and relaxing night, but Hunter had given her no indication of his interest to pursue anything serious or stay any longer than his story required.

  At that sobering thought, her smile slipped and she sighed. She needed to rein in her heart and her mind before they ran away from her and left her heartbroken once more. Tucking in her shirt, she grabbed her hat from the dresser and headed to the kitchen.

  “What’s with the long face?” Fanny asked as she handed Daisy a bowl of biscuits. “You seemed so much happier this morning.”

  “It’s nothing,” Daisy said, shaking her head. She knew if she told Fanny, her aunt would just tell her to pray about it which wasn’t a bad idea. If God wanted her and Hunter to be together, He would find a way, and if He didn’t, well, then she would consider it a closed door. At that moment the doorbell rang, and Daisy chuckled at the irony of the timing.