Page 17 of The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
“So. Fair is fair.” He laughed.
Now it was really on. She was using both hands this time. If she needed to mop the floor later, she would, but this cowboy was going to learn that Winnie didn’t go down without a fight.
Before long, the sink was empty, they were soaked, and it looked like a rainstorm had hit the inside of the kitchen. She started to turn on the faucet, and he caught her around the waist, keeping it just out of reach.
“This isn’t over!” she huffed.
He caged her in his arms against the island. “You win.”
“I didn’t win. You aren’t wet enough.” Besides, being told that she won wasn’t winning. That was just…losing in a nicer way.
“I’m soaked to my boots,” he said softly, touching a finger to her chin and making her look at him. “All the way to my boots.”
In an instant, all that water turned to steam. His lips were inches from hers, and it was all she could do not to kiss him. She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand, tracing the line of his jaw until she was palming the side of his face. His eyes slid closed, and he leaned his face into her hand.
“Whoops.” The sound of a deep male voice pulled them from the moment. “I see nothing.”
Bear straightened. “Shut up, Hunter.” He turned to Winnie. “Winnie, this my brother Hunter and his wife, Reagan.”
“Hi, I’m Winnie,” she replied, taking a turn shaking both their hands. She fussed with her hair. Why did she have to look like a wet mop right as she met another one of his brothers? “Hi, I’m sorry about all the water.”
Reagan chuckled and looked around. “I wish I’d met you sooner. I could have warned you about these men and water. I can’t tell you the number of times this one has started a water war.” She nodded toward her husband.
Hunter wrapped Reagan in his arms. “I don’t start them. I merely finish them.”
His wife elbowed him on the arm. “Not true.” She looked at Winnie. “If you want, I’ll clean up if you want to go change.”
“I kind of look like a wet rat.” Winnie looked down at her clothes.
“No worse than him,” Hunter teased.
Bear shoved him on the shoulder. “Shut up.” Putting his arm around Winnie’s waist, he pulled her close. “I’ll walk you to your room, okay?”
Winnie nodded, which really was the only response she could give. They were fake dating after all. “Sure.”
“See you two later,” Hunter called as they left the kitchen.
It was a quiet but somewhat tense walk to her room. Maybe he was mad that the kitchen was soaked just as his brother got into town. The whole home was so tidy all the time. He’d flicked her first, though.
When she paused at the door, her shoulders sagged. “I’m sorry I messed up the kitchen, but you started it. If I’d known Hunter and Reagan—”
“I’m not upset.”
“You’re not?” She lifted her gaze to his. “I thought that’s why you wanted to walk me to my room.”
A smile tugged the corners of his lips up. “No. I wanted to walk you to your room to tell you I enjoyed your company this morning. That I liked helping you in the kitchen. Thank you for spending time with me when you didn’t have to.”
She touched her hand to her chest. He was thanking her for spending time with him? “It was my pleasure, Bear.” She circled her arms around his neck. “I’ve enjoyed my time here.”
He placed his palm on the flat of her back, pressing her harder against him. “I’m glad you feel that way.”
Winnie dropped her arms and stepped back. “I’ll get cleaned up and then be downstairs in a bit.”
“Okay,” he said and then froze as their eyes locked. For a minute, she thought he was going to lay one of those toe-curling kisses on her, but he cleared his throat and strode off to the stairs.
This time, Winnie watched him go. Coming or going, he looked fantastic. Dear heavens, it was only Thanksgiving, and she was falling for him. Head-over-heels, not-a-chance-of-slowing-down kind of falling.
She couldn’t, though. If she fell for him, what then?
