Page 19 of The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
Molly rolled her lips in and looked away before laying her arm across his shoulders and kissing him on the cheek. “This is the only time he can tell a lie,” she said, looking at Winnie.
“That’s what Bear told me.”
“Can I help it that I’m a naturally honest person? This is cards. It’s different.”
Molly leaned her head on his shoulder. “Whatever, babe.”
“So, Winnie, are you coming shopping with us? No pressure, but we have a ton of fun,” Carrie Anne said.
Winnie looked at Bear. “Uh, actually, I think I will. The airline called me earlier, and they still haven’t found my luggage. In addition to my knives, some of my clothes were in there and a few other things I’d like to replace.”
Bear set his cards down. “They called? You didn’t tell me you had other stuff in there.” She’d lost her things because of him. She’d agreed to the arrangement, but it wasn’t supposed to cost her anything but time.
“It was while I was getting cleaned up after chores. I just forgot about it until now. I mean, if you’re going to lose stuff, this is the best time of the year. Everything’s on sale.” She smiled.
“Well, I’d like to help with that.”
“Don’t worry about it. You already replaced some of the knives. Maybe they will still find my bag. And with me taking another flight, I probably should wait to buy a lot of it until I get back home.”
“Will you be doing Christmas with your family after the new year then?” Bear’s dad asked.
Winnie nodded. “My stepfather travels a lot, so the timing just worked for me to get to spend it with Bear this year.”
“Well, we’re glad you were able to make it.”
Bear was thinking the same thing. He’d enjoyed their water fight, working with her in the kitchen, and everything in between. Her laughter had filled the kitchen, and it was the first time his home had really felt like a home. Of course, he felt that way when his family visited, but with them gone, it was just walls and paint. Winnie made it more than that.
It had been so long since he’d given companionship a thought, and he hadn’t realized how much he’d missed it. Just being her friend, having her near, brightened the place. But he shouldn’t let himself think that way. Not when she was leaving in a few weeks. She’d go on her merry way, and he’d still be working the ranch. Alone.
Yeah, Angela had taken a lot of his time. The new year wasn’t going to be the same song. He had a life, and he needed to live it. Now that he’d had a reminder of what life could be like with someone special in it, he wasn’t going back to the way things were. And while there was a huge part of him that wished it was Winnie, he couldn’t dwell on that. It would only cast a shadow on something new. He’d spent enough time under a raincloud. It was time to let the sun shine again.
Chapter 14
It had been a while since Winnie had been Black Friday shopping. She hadn’t remembered the traffic, the crowds…the pushing and shoving. Four-dollar mittens for a dollar as a doorbuster wasn’t exactly that huge of a deal. Certainly not worth getting elbowed in the ribs. Who needed twenty pairs of mittens?
“Okay, was it just me, or were people taking the doorbusters entirely too seriously this year?” asked Reagan.
Winnie shook her head. “No. That was nuts.”
They’d stopped at a breakfast place before heading back to Caprock Canyon. Mrs. West, or Caroline—she’d quickly shot down being called Mrs.—had needed a little coffee for the drive.
Gabby raked her hand through her hair and then tied it in a ponytail again. “Good grief and gravy. Some of those people needed a refresher on manners.”
Carrie Anne took a sip of her coffee. “Right? That guy who took the pillow out of my cart. Who does that? It was a three-dollar pillow.”
“Yeah, I’d stuck it in Carrie Anne’s cart. I was getting it for Captain,” Reagan said, leaning forward. “I found the cutest pattern online for a doggie stuffed animal. He’s so big, and he just chews through everything lately. He’s a big ole baby.”
Bear had told Winnie about Captain. She’d hoped Reagan and Hunter would bring him, but they’d left him at home in Georgia. He was going through the terrible twos, or that’s what Reagan was calling it. They’d done puppy training classes and even gone through advanced classes. He was a well-mannered dog, but he was a chewing machine, apparently. He’d taken a corner of their door like he was a beaver, and Reagan didn’t trust him to go anywhere.
“At least we got the pillow back,” Carrie Anne said. “He looked positively shocked that I demanded to have my pillow, acting like he had no idea what I was talking about. He must have been from out of state because he wouldn’t have tried that had he been Texan. Our men are smart enough not to pull stunts like that.”
Caroline set her elbows on the table and yawned. “Oh, Carrie Anne.”
“It’s true.”
Laughing, Caroline waved her off and looked at Winnie. “So, Bear said you were thinking about opening your own restaurant.”
Nodding, Winnie smiled. “I am. I’ve secured a location, and I’m currently talking with a contractor about the kitchen remodel to fit the new appliances I’ve purchased. The seating wasn’t exactly the atmosphere I was going for, and I’ve been talking looking for replacements.”
