This was a side of him she never expected to see. A vulnerability she would have sworn didn’t exist just a few weeks ago. She placed her hand on his chest. “The impression I got from your mom was of a very proud parent. I don’t think you give yourself enough credit.”
A smile quirked on his lips, completing a gaze so smoldering she could hear the whoosh as the air was sucked out of the room. “I guess we’re two peas in a pod, huh?”
Her head was screaming, Move, get away! while her heart was whispering, One little kiss wouldn’t hurt, right? In the end, her head won out, and she stepped back. “I guess we should get down there, huh?”
He held her gaze a moment longer. “Yeah, we should. She’ll send a search party if we take too much longer.”
They stepped into the hallway, and Hunter quickly stashed his luggage in the room across from hers. As they reached the last few steps, he paused and threaded his fingers through hers. “Here we go.”
That’s right. This was business. The only thing that happened in that room was a momentary lapse in judgment. He needed a fiancée; she needed funds.
“Yep,” she said, adding extra confidence to her words. She wasn’t sure who needed to buy it more. Him or her. It was only Wednesday.
Her head had the ball and was ready to do a touchdown dance, and her heart was the referee throwing a penalty. She was in so much trouble.
* * *
The promised hot chocolate had turned into a smorgasbord of finger foods. Veggie trays, fruits, and little bite-size pastries were brought out. Caroline, Bandit, Hunter, and Reagan were seated around the island in the kitchen. It wasn’t until she popped a tomato into her mouth that she realized she was kinda hungry.
Hunter had offered to get something to eat when they landed in Amarillo, but she’d declined. At the time, she was a ball of nerves and the very thought of food made her stomach churn. Now that she thought back, he’d not eaten either.
She leaned over and whispered, “It just dawned on me that you didn’t eat earlier.”
His breath tickled as he put his lips against her ear. “You said you didn’t feel good. I didn’t want to get something and make you feel worse.”
Color her gobsmacked. None of the men she’d dated in the past had ever been that thoughtful. Not a single one of them. But this man? Every time she turned around, she was seeing a new facet of him. She cupped his jaw and kissed his cheek. “That was kind of you. Thank you.”
“So, Reagan, Hunter told us you run a bed and breakfast on Tybee Island. The Sandy Pelican, right?” Caroline asked.
“Yes, it’s been in my family for four decades.”
“Well, he’s had nothing but wonderful things to say about it,” his mom said.
“She could show Bandit a thing or two.” Hunter laughed. He’d teased Bandit several times.
Reagan bumped him with her shoulder. “Stop that.”
“It’s true.” He smiled.
With a grin, Bandit slid off his stool. “Th-th-that’s all right. I d-d-don’t mind.” At first, Bandit hadn’t spoken much, but as time passed, he’d begun speaking more. Reagan suspected he needed to feel comfortable around her.
Caroline leaned forward with her arms on the table. “I am interested in how you two met.” She tapped Hunter on the arm. “I can hardly get this one on the phone, and when I do, it’s like I’m pulling teeth.”
Hunter sat back. “I wanted to buy her bed and breakfast.”
Reagan’s heart sped up. They weren’t going to tell his mom this part. Was he breaking the contract? Before she could interject, a door opened from what sounded like the back of the house, and three men strode into the kitchen.
After they’d cleaned up a little and gave an update about the mare—both the mom and baby were in the barn and doing fine—they introduced themselves as Bear, Wyatt, and King, Hunter’s father, and then stood around snacking. It amazed her how close they all seemed. This was a normal gathering for them. If Reagan was honest, she liked it. How much fun would it be to have such a large family and have this every holiday?
“Okay, now that I know the mare is all good, I want to hear the rest of how Hunter met Reagan. He was just telling me as you guys walked in.” Caroline looked at Hunter. “Now, finish.”
“Well, like I said, I’d stopped in on my way home one evening because I kept passing her bed and breakfast on the way to work. I’d wanted to buy it, but when she found out, she wasn’t very happy with me.” He turned his gaze on Reagan and smiled. “She had to be the cutest woman I’d ever seen. The place wasn’t doing so well financially, but she has more determination and drive than anyone I’ve ever met. Not only was she beautiful, but she was someone I respected.”
Reagan was nearly gasping for air as he finished. He’d said all that in front of his family, so either he really believed it or he was piling it on high and wide. “I doubt I was that cute or anything else.”
“Oh, you were.”
The way he was looking at her nearly had her believing he meant every word. But there was no way that was true, right? Even if he did, that didn’t mean anything. Maybe he just needed to find a way to sell this whole thing to his family and this is what helped him do that.
Still, she couldn’t deny that a part of her liked the idea that he thought of her like that. That he really, truly meant what he said. Oh, her thoughts were spinning so hard she was getting dizzy. One second, she was thinking he was playing a part, and the next, she was wondering if he was being truthful. She needed Sunday to get here and quick.
Chapter 9
Hunter slowly shuffled into the kitchen the next morning a little before dawn. It was typical of him. By now, he’d be hurrying out the door and headed to a job site. The smell of coffee beans brewing hit him, and he took a big whiff. Bandit’s coffee. The good stuff. Reagan’s was probably just as good.
With a little hunting, he found a cup and poured himself some, doctoring it with sugar and cream. He took a sip and looked down at it. This wasn’t Bandit’s coffee at all. This was a mean trick. How could something smell so good and then taste so awful?
His mom walked into the kitchen and smiled. “Hey, sweetheart. How’s the coffee? I went ahead and started a batch.”
Horrible, but he had better wits than that. “Uh, it’s good.” He took another small sip and smiled. “Thanks.”
“I told Bandit I’d get up early this year and set the turkey out, but I know him. He’ll probably be in here any second, checking up on me.”
Hunter leaned his hip against the counter and set his cup down. Despite the coffee, he was glad to be home with his family. He’d missed them more than he realized. “Knowing Bandit, that’s probably true.”
She poured herself a cup and took a giant sip. Her lips curled up as she wrinkled her nose and then dumped it in the sink. “You said it was good.”
“I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.” He chuckled.
“Oh, you!” She snatched his cup and set it in the sink. “We’ll wait for Bandit.”
“I’m on board with that.” He hugged his mom. “I’ve missed you, Momma.”
His mom patted his back. “I’ve missed you too, sweetheart.” She leaned back, took his face in her hands, and kissed his cheek. “You’ve been too busy to let us visit. Have you been taking care of yourself over there in Georgia?”
“I guess.”
She sighed and dropped her hands. “Well, at least I know you have someone to make sure you do. I really like Reagan. She is just a cup of joy. And so pretty. Honey, I think you found a keeper.”
If only. The instant thought threw him. It was just…a contract. Pretend. But he’d enjoyed spending time with her the day before. Twice, he’d nearly kissed her. Mercy, he’d been more tempted than ever.
Bear joined them in the kitchen, bundled up for work on the ranch. “Nice morning.”
Hunter nodded. “Yep, you want some help feeding the animals?”
“I sure ain’t stupid enough to turn it down.”
“Let me get dressed.” Hunter paused at the kitchen entry. “Don’t drink the coffee. Momma poisoned it.”
Their mom grumbled and threw a dishtowel at him. He dodged and hurried up the stairs. He rushed getting dressed, and moments later, he was downstairs and headed out the door with Bear.
“Are we starting with the cattle?” Hunter asked.
Bear shook his head. “Naw, they’ve got some good grazing right now.”
They reached the barn, and Hunter was blown away. “Wow, Bear, you’ve really worked on this place.”
The once sad-looking barn now sported brand-new paint, but what wowed Hunter was the inside. Not only was it heated, but the stalls were stained in a rich color, and the solid-surface floor sloped so it could be easily cleaned. It gave new meaning to “state of the art.” No wonder the horses looked so happy.
“Well, once we got the fencing taken care of, I started working on the fields. While that was going, I got a contractor out here to fix up the barn with all the ideas Wyatt came up with last year around this time. Can’t herd cattle without horses or ATVs. And you know Dad…”
“Horses,” they said at the same time.
They laughed, and Bear stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Yeah, they don’t run out of gas and leave you stranded in the middle of a field.”
“True.” Hunter drew in a long breath, loving the smell of hay and sweet feed. “You’ve done an incredible job, Bear. You should be really proud of yourself.”
“You could move home and help.”
Shaking his head, Hunter said, “I like it in Georgia.”
Bear eyed him. “I guess Reagan has something to do with that?”
Before this trip, she hadn’t, but spending time with her had already been giving him things to think about. He really liked her. “She’s lived there all her life, and I love being near the beach.” Two total truths.
“Well, you better have a big enough place for Mom and Dad. When you start having kids, you know she’ll be visiting every chance she gets.”
Hardly, since the relationship wasn’t real. He’d need to find a wife before he even considered having children. Although, children with Reagan didn’t sound too bad. “Let’s get these animals fed. I need to get back and check on Reagan. I don’t need her getting grilled by anyone.”
On their way to the feed room, they stopped at the stall that held the mare and her new baby. The momma whinnied as her baby nursed. It sure was a cute little colt with spindly long legs. Bear talked of letting her out to graze, but with it being so chilly that morning, he opted to keep her in until it was warmer.
The chores took longer than Hunter planned, but that’s what he got for being gone so long and underestimating the number of animals they needed to feed. After they were all taken care of, they returned to the house. As they stepped through the back door, voices filtered out of the kitchen. One was unmistakably Reagan’s. Hopefully, she didn’t feel thrown to the wolves.
When they entered the kitchen, Reagan was hunched over a cup of coffee. She wasn’t gagging, so most likely Bandit had fixed it.
Hunter crossed the room and stopped next to her. “I’m sorry. I was helping Bear feed the horses.”
His mom and Bandit were working together on Thanksgiving dinner. Hunter wasn’t sure what to think of that. He loved his mom, but after that coffee, he wasn’t sure he could ever trust her around food again.
“Yep, my fault he wasn’t here,” Bear replied. He grabbed a cup and poured himself some coffee. “See you folks in a bit. I’m gonna go get washed up.” He chugged his drink and left the kitchen.
“Wow, that’s a different way to enjoy coffee,” Reagan said through a laugh.
“I think he pours it directly into his stomach,” Hunter said, slipping onto the stool next to Reagan. “You okay?”
“I’m fine. And good morning to you.” She smiled at him. Man, she was some kind of beautiful of a morning: a cute set of pajamas, no makeup, and her hair a little disheveled as it spilled over her shoulders.
“Good morning, beautiful,” he said without an ounce of hesitation. He pushed her hair back and pressed a kiss to her forehead. It was as natural and normal as breathing. When he leaned back, her wide eyes were locked with his.
A breath later, she touched his cheek and jerked her hand back. “You’re freezing. I’ll get you a cup of coffee. Bandit was busy, so I made it.”
“You don’t have to do that. I can get it.”
“Stay,” she said as she slipped off the stool. “I can get you some. Cream and sugar, right?”
How did she know that? They’d talked about a lot of things, but he couldn’t remember anything about coffee. “Yeah, the sweeter the better.”
“You s-s-still drink it that way?” Bandit asked.
“Yes,” Hunter answered, and moments later, a steaming cup of coffee was slid in front of him. Wrapping his hands around the mug, he let the warmth thaw his fingers. “Oh, smells good.” He took a sip and wilted. “Oh, babe, this is good.”
“One spoon of sugar.” She smiled like she’d won a race.
“Only one?” Boy, it sure didn’t taste like it.
“Bandit challenged me. I had to bring my ‘A’ game.” She giggled.
Hunter set the cup down and hugged her to him, kissing her forehead. “That’s my girl. You show him how it’s done.” It wasn’t a shock that she fit against him.
Honestly, he’d spent the night thinking about her. He’d liked her the moment he met her. With a little soul-searching, it didn’t take long to figure out that purchasing the bed and breakfast wasn’t the sole reason he’d been drawn back to the place again and again. It was her.
“Did you sleep okay?” he asked as he leaned back.
She took a deep breath. “Like a log. I guess I needed the break.”
He studied her a moment, noting the dark circles had lightened. “Good.”
Hunter caught his mom glancing at him and smiling. Well, he was engaged. This is exactly how he’d treat a woman he was in love with.
His sister bounced into the kitchen. “Is this Reagan?” she asked Hunter.
“This is Reagan.”
Carrie Anne gathered his fake fiancée in a hug. “I’m Carrie Anne. It’s so nice to meet you.” She released Reagan and stepped back. “Two brothers down, two to go.”
Reagan looked at Hunter, her eyebrows drawn. “What?”
“Wyatt is married, and I’m engaged. Josiah and Bear are on the radar now.”
His sister wrinkled her nose. “They just act like they don’t want help.” She walked to the fridge and pulled out the juice. With a full glass, Carrie Anne again bellied up to the island. “So, have you started picking out dates or dresses?”
Reagan froze.
“We’re taking that slow, so no. We haven’t yet,” Hunter replied.
“I noticed you don’t have a ring, Reagan,” his mother said, throwing a glance over her shoulder.
Hunter stiffened. A ring. How could he have forgotten the most important part of the act? That should have been the first thing he thought about, but it had completely slipped his mind.
Carrie Anne’s mouth dropped. “You asked her to marry you and haven’t gotten her a ring yet?”
“Yes, she has a ring,” he said. “She was working, and it slipped off. It got caught in the garbage disposal and is at the jeweler being repaired.” Talk about thinking fast on his feet. Hunter was proud of that quick response.
His mom stopped chopping sweet potatoes and joined them at the island. “You could let her wear one of Grandma Jo’s rings in the meantime. Just until she gets hers back.”
Reagan shook her head. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly do that.”
“Don’t be silly. Of course you can,” his mother insisted.
Carrie Anne nodded. “I agree.”
“Finish your coffee, and then you can take Reagan into Caprock Canyon. Show her the town and go to the house and let her pick a ring.” His mom patted Reagan’
s hand. “And, sweetheart, whichever ring you like, you wear it, okay?”
“How about tomorrow. We just got in yesterday, and honestly, I’m still a little worn from the travel,” Hunter said.
His mom sighed heavily. “All right. You have a point.” She moved back to the sweet potatoes.
Hunter leaned close to Reagan and whispered, “You don’t have to pick out a ring, but I’d be happy to show you the town.” His cheek brushed hers, and the touch rattled him. He liked being this close to her.
Her hand came to rest on the side of his face as he pulled back. “I’d love to do that.”
Either she was really good or his head was spinning so fast from putting too much thought into it. In the span of a day, he’d gone from wanting her bed and breakfast to wondering what it would be like to have her. If they were equally great apart, what would it be like to have both?
He took her hand and kissed her palm. “Maybe we’ll dress warm and take a walk while we’re there.”
Her head bobbed up and down. “Okay.”
“Better dress really warm,” his dad said as he entered the kitchen. “There’s a cold front moving in from the northwest. Weatherman is saying it’s going to dip into the forties, and we may even get a couple of feet of snow. It’s the Panhandle though, so who knows.”
“Couple of feet?” Reagan asked.
“That’s the Caprock for you,” his mom said. “Add in a little West Texas, and you can have all four seasons in about ten seconds.” She laughed.
Hunter put his arm around her waist. “We’ll still be able to head back to Tybee by Sunday.”
His mom’s face fell. “Hunter, I thought you were staying through the holidays like last year.”
“Mom, I said I couldn’t.”
Carrie Anne huffed. “You hardly ever come home. You had to know Mom would want you to stay through the holidays.”
“I’ll need to discuss it with Reagan first. She has a business to run, and she only planned through Sunday.” He looked at her. “We’ll talk about it on the way to town.”
The Fake Fiance's Billionaire Adversary (Caprock Canyon Romance Book 2) Page 6
