Page 25 of The Fake Fiance's Billionaire Adversary
She settled into the chair next to his and held her coffee cup with both hands. “Nice morning, but a little brisk.”
“Yeah, I think that sun out there is teasing us. Those clouds rolling in from the northwest are going to drench us.”
She nodded and took a sip of her drink. “I think you’re probably right, but we need it. So I’ll be grateful for it even if I’m not looking forward to it being cold and wet.”
That’s how most people in the Panhandle felt about the rain. “Always thankful for the rain. It sure is frosty, though.”
“How are you liking it in Georgia?”
He took a drink of his coffee. “I love it. The people are friendly, and the weather is nice. I love the beach.”
She glanced at him. “If I ask you something, will you give me a real answer this time?”
He grunted a laugh, suspecting he knew the question she’d ask. “Yeah, Mom, I’ll give you a real answer.”
“Why did you leave and move so far away?”
Yup, he knew it, but before now, it had been hard to put the answer into words. “I think I needed to prove that I could make something of myself. Wyatt had the rodeo, Josiah is a whiz with real estate, and Bear had worked his way to the top in the cotton ginning business. Carrie Anne’s already won Teacher of the Year twice now. Then there’s me. I was a nobody in a family of somebodies.”
She touched his arm. “Oh, honey. No one thinks that. We’ve always been proud of you.”
Shrugging, he replied, “I wasn’t. I needed to get away and figure out who I was and what I wanted. Buying that first house and selling it made me feel independent. I needed time to figure out my place in the world.”
“Do you feel like you’ve done that now?”
“I think so.” It struck him as funny. For the first time in his life, he was at peace with who he was and what he’d accomplished. His worth wasn’t tied to any one thing; it was tied to the man he wanted to be. Maybe that’s why finding a place and putting down roots appealed to him so much.
Silence stretched as Hunter and his mom rocked, watching the sun climb inch by inch.
His mom finished her coffee and cleared her throat. “Do you think you’ll ever move back?”
He shook his head. “I really love Tybee Island. To me, it feels like home. I think that’s where I want to hang my hat.” He looked at his mom. “I’m sorry.”
“If that’s where you want to be and you’re happy there, that’s fine with me. Just make sure you get a place on the beach with plenty of bedrooms.” She smiled.
With a nod, he chuckled. “Yeah, that was my plan.”
“So Reagan…” His mom side-eyed him.
His pulse jumped. “Reagan what?”
His mom stood and smiled. “I really like her. She’s sweet, and her coffee is delicious. Plus, she agreed with me that you don’t get home often enough, so she said she’d love to stay until New Year’s.”
“Mom, she has a bed and breakfast to run.” And if she’d agreed to stay, it probably meant she also had zero reservations.
His mom nodded. “I know, and I made sure she knew she didn’t have to change her plans for me.”
“Well, then I guess we’ll stay.”
She patted him on the shoulder on the way to the door. “When she wakes up, take her into town and let her pick a ring.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Hunter?”
The question in her voice caused him to twist in his chair to look at her.
“You are a sweet man. Reagan is a sweet woman. I think the two of you make a good pair. Dad agrees with me.” She winked and left him on the porch alone.
