Page 22 of The Fake Fiance's Billionaire Adversary
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 haveher. 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.”
Reagan nodded. “Sure.”
They’d discuss it, but he wasn’t going to talk her into staying. She’d already been more than great. His family didn’t seem to have any idea it was fake. It wouldn’t be fair to ask anything more of her. If he had to take her back to Tybee and then fly back, that’s what he’d do.
Chapter 10
Thanksgiving with Hunter’s family was much like any meal they shared. If she hadn’t been told the Fredericks weren’t blood-related, Reagan never would have guessed it with how they treated one another. Lots of stories, teasing, and laughter. She caught herself envying their relationships.
At first, it had felt unnatural that she wasn’t spending the day cooking. Since she could remember, her holidays were spent working. Then she’d forced herself to relax and enjoy the time off. It had almost been like a day at the spa. Another thing she’d never experienced.
The following morning, a knock came at her door. “Come in,” she called out.
Slowly the door opened. “It’s Hunter. Just want to make sure you know it’s me.”
More than once she’d secretly observed him over the past two days, and he was the same person whether she was around or not. It had given her a lot to chew on. Her first impressions of him were turning out to be completely off the mark. He was a wonderful man, kind and thoughtful.
“Come on in,” she replied.
A smile greeted her as he walked in wearing pajamas. His hair was sticking up in places, and she could tell he wasn’t ready to be up. “I hear you’re going Black Friday shopping.”
“Yeah, your mom and sister insisted on it.” The temperature had dipped lower than the predicted forty degrees, but thankfully, there’d been no snow.
Reagan’s parents had never participated in Black Friday. Between not having the funds, and being booked on the weekend, she’d never had the opportunity to go. She was still broke, but she figured being in a group would make it just as much fun as if she had money to spend.
She hoped her change in the day’s plans were okay. “So…if you still wanted to, I guess we can tour Caprock Canyon tomorrow since it sounds like shopping will take all day.”
“That will work.” He seemed a little disappointed. Could he be sad to miss out on a day with her? Wishful thinking.
“Why are you up so early?”
He shrugged. “I…” He crossed the room and sat on the bed next to her. “I’m afraid you’ll take this the wrong way.”
She knitted her eyebrows together. “What?”
Hunter pulled out a small wad of cash and placed it in her hand. “I know you’ve been struggling…and…” His shoulders sagged. “I want you to have fun while you’re out.”
“It’s okay. I don’t have to buy anything.” Plus, taking even more money from him? That wasn’t part of the deal.
