Page 14 of The Fake Fiance's Billionaire Adversary
“It was very romantic. After dinner, we walked along the beach, and out of nowhere, this puppy came running up to us.”
His eyes narrowed. “What kind of puppy?”
“A Great Dane because you know I’ve always wanted one. His name would be Captain.”
He smiled. “Captain?”
“It’s the perfect name, and because you’re so in love with me, you went along with it.”
Hunter nodded and laughed. “Okay. That’s actually plausible.”
She tilted her head. “Really?”
“I’d really like to have a Great Dane, but I’ve been too busy.”
“Me too,” she replied softly, taken aback that they had something in common…besides their favorite pies and their desire to own the bed and breakfast.
He leaned forward, setting his elbows on his knees. “What happened next?”
Reagan’s pulse jumped as he stared intently at her. “Uh, well, I scooped up the puppy, and there was a ring hanging on its collar. Then I gasped as you got on one knee and asked me to marry you.”
Hunter’s gaze dipped to the floor. “That’ll be easy to remember.” He lifted his head and locked eyes with her. “That sounds like something I’d do.”
In that moment, it was so hard to breathe that she half expected the oxygen masks to drop down. It was a fantasy she’d had when she thought about getting engaged. A silly thing because she figured it would never happen that way. Definitely not with the man who wanted to take her family’s business. The thought sobered her, and she straightened. “I guess that’s good. We won’t forget it.”
Apparently, he sobered as well because he leaned back. “Yeah, that’s good.”
A few minutes of silence passed, and Reagan nearly squirmed in her seat. They needed to move to a different topic. “It would probably be a good idea to tell me about your family and Caprock Canyon.”
He took a deep breath and looked out the window. While he started filling her in, she worked to keep herself focused. What she needed to remember was that this was all a charade. He could have just said he had things in common with her to get her guard down. Not only that, but what if that’s all this was? A clever way to break down her walls and weasel her out of her home.
Well, that wasn’t happening, and if he could play this game, so could she. Even if, deep down, she didn’t entirely believe it. This was a show and her way of keeping The Sandy Pelican going. Nothing more.
Chapter 7
After landing at the Amarillo airport, Hunter and Reagan set out on the two-hour drive to Caprock Canyon in the pickup he’d purchased earlier in the week. Normally, he’d have rented one, but since he knew he’d be returning in a few weeks for Christmas, he figured it would be easier just to pay storage fees and then have one of his brothers drop him off when he left for Georgia again.
The jet, on the other hand, was borrowed. First, he didn’t want to own a jet, nor did he want to explain why or how he’d have the ability to own it. As it stood, he’d explained to Reagan that a client had loaned him the use of a private plane.
“Okay, I told you about my family on the way. It’s your turn.” Hunter shot her a quick glance.
Hopefully, she’d stay away from puppies and proposals. There was a moment on the plane when the air was so sparse, he thought he’d suffocate. She’d started describing the proposal, and with each detail, his heart had thrummed harder. It hadn’t been some outlandish, overdone thing. It was simple. Something like what Hunter really would have planned, even down to the breed of dog.
Then the trance was broken, and he’d rattled on about his family, even going so far as to tell her about their good family friends, the Fredericks—Amos, Pauline, Gabby, and Stephanie—and then Bandit, who’d taken one of the ranch hands cabins on Bear’s ranch and fixed it up. She’d been quiet the whole time, seemingly soaking in everything he was saying. More than once, he’d caught himself wanting to ask her what she was thinking, but he’d chickened out.
“Well, my parents are full-time RVers, and my sister owns a clothing boutique in Atlanta.”
“I wouldn’t have guessed that, but it makes sense. I bet they didn’t get to travel much when they were running the bed and breakfast.”
She smiled. “Yeah, and I understand.”
“I hadn’t even thought about if you had plans with your family for Thanksgiving.” Man, he felt ashamed. He should have at least been a gentleman enough to question her about that before now. He’d been so busy finishing the houses that it hadn’t even crossed his mind. “I’m so sorry.”
Reagan held up her hand. “It’s okay. They’re taking a month-long European cruise for their anniversary, and my sister is dating someone. He’d asked her to go with him to meet his family. I’d probably have spent the weekend with Naomi and Kaylee.”
“Still, it bugs me that I didn’t even consider it. I’m usually…more together than that.”
“I don’t doubt that. It seems like coming home is a little stressful for you.”
