Page 16 of The Fake Fiance's Billionaire Adversary
His shoulders sagged, but he could see the wall she’d put up. Trying to crack it when she was upset seemed pointless. Maybe by the time they got to the house, she’d be more open to letting him explain that Bear hadn’t swooped in and taken the ranch while they were having a hard time. It had sat vacant for ten years. “Okay.”
The rest of the drive was spent in silence so tense it felt like fingers pressing against his throat. When he finally turned off the highway onto the stretch of road leading to the ranch house, it seemed like another mile would smother him.
As he parked the truck, he twisted in his seat. “Reagan, this ranch closed down more than a decade ago. The people who used to own it had no money to start it up again. We were kids when it went under, and we weren’t rich. My dad lost his job when this place shut down. A lot of people did. We’re not bad people.” He raked his hand through his hair and sighed. “I’m not a bad guy.”
“I know.” She turned in her seat to face him and closed a bit of the distance between them by scooting closer. “I’m sorry. I overreacted. I guess I’m just…sensitive.”
Yeah, she would be. Not long after he met her, he’d hit her with purchasing her home.Her home. Where he saw a business and a nice place to retire, she was seeing memories of her childhood. It had been thoughtless not to even consider that before offering to buy it.
“It’s okay. I understand. You have every reason to think poorly of me. I haven’t exactly been gentle about wanting your home. And if it were mine, I’d feel the same way.” He lifted his gaze to hers. “You may not believe me, but I really do think you’re great.”
In the next second, her arms circled his neck as she hugged him. “Thank you.” She leaned back. “I don’t remember there being a time when someone said that about me.”
His heart jackhammered in his chest as his gaze dipped to her lips. It was the first time he’d been hit with the temptation to kiss a woman in a long time. “You’ve been hanging out with the wrong people.”
“You think so?”
Before he could answer, someone tapped on the window. They both startled and pulled away from each other.
“Guess it’s time to meet the family, huh?” Her cheeks bloomed dark as a red rose.
“Guess so.”
Whew. He’d almost kissed her. That would have been a marvelous mess. It was odd putting those two last words together, but it fit. Hunter had no doubt he’d enjoy kissing her, but it would make a mess of things once it was over. As long as they maintained that business line in the sand, they’d both come away unscathed in the romance department.
Chapter 8
Reagan quickly opened the door of the pickup and jumped out. Thank goodness the man standing in front of her had knocked when he did. She’d been dangerously close to sharing a kiss with Hunter. A complication she didn’t need.
Now that she was outside, the chill in the air cleared her head even further. “Wow, it’s beautiful here.” Wide-open plains, a few horses lining up along the fence, and the bottom of the sun barely touching the horizon. Rusty reds, burnt orange, and purple colored the sky. “Just, wow.”
Hunter joined her on the passenger side of the pickup. “Reagan, this is my brother Josiah.”
She shook hands with the man. The similarities were easy to see. Same blue eyes and build. The only difference was height. Josiah was a few inches shorter.
“Hi, Reagan.” Josiah smiled and looked at Hunter. “Mom said you were bringing the fiancée. It was about time.”
The brothers hugged and clapped each other on the back. “Is everyone here?” Hunter asked.
Josiah nodded. “Yeah, almost. The Fredericks are picking Stephanie up at the airport in Amarillo. They’re getting in late. Bear, Dad, and Wyatt found that missing pregnant mare. Bear called and said they’d be awhile. She’s having trouble delivering, and they’re assisting.”
“Assisting?” Reagan asked.
“Life on a ranch. Sometimes we have to step in to help new moms,” Hunter replied.
“Oh.” She blinked, never having really thought about how a ranch worked or what it was like to take care of large animals. Great Danes were big, but not that big.
Hunter slipped his arm around her waist, and she caught herself before she pulled away. This was the only reason she was in Caprock Canyon. Pretending to be his fiancée. “Is Gabby at the orchard?” he asked.
Josiah nodded. “Yeah, and Carrie Anne and Israel are with her.”
“There’s an orchard too?” Reagan asked.
“Yeah, Bear found it right before Thanksgiving last year. Our brother Wyatt and his wife, Gabby, purchased it from Bear,” Josiah replied. “Maybe mom can take her focus off me and Bear now that you’re here.”
Laughing, Hunter tightened his hold on Reagan. “That bad?”
She looked up at him. “I think I’m missing something.”
