Page 38 of The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
Oh, he’d made her feel guilty. Why did Wyatt have to say anything? “Naw, you’re destined for better things. You can’t waste your talent in a one-stoplight town such as this. Your food is way too good for that.”
She hugged him. “Thank you.”
The ride home was spent with her snuggled just as close as she was during the carriage ride. Man, it was going to be hard to go back to being alone, but he’d keep that to himself.
Just as they got inside the house, her phone rang. “It’s my mom.”
“Go ahead,” he said as he helped her out of her coat.
While he shrugged out of his, she answered it. “Hey, Mom…yeah, the festival was fun. Oh, they called you? I only gave the contractor your number in case they couldn’t reach me…I’ve had my phone the whole night.” She paused. “Reception can be bad out here at times. I’m surprised they were working today, but I did tell him I was shooting for the opening to happen in the earlier part of the year. Why did they call?”
Winnie was silent a moment. “Oh, yeah, that wall has to come down. It divides the room and makes it look small. Plus, a stage is going where the wall ended…no, it’ll be local artists playing. I hope.”
Bear leaned his back against the door, his heart growing closer to the floor as she spoke. He hadn’t expected anything to change, but there had been a glimmer of hope that it would. His gaze dipped to the floor as his thoughts wandered down rocky paths.
“Bear?”
He lifted his head, and their eyes locked. “I’m sorry. I was trying not to listen.”
“It’s okay. It was just the contractors. They’d tried to reach me and had called my mom. She’d been trying to reach me for a while. I told her I’d send them an email before I went to bed. They won’t be starting until after the new year anyway, but communication is key at this stage.”
“You’re right.” He smiled. “That’s why I know your restaurant will do great. You’ve got a good head on your shoulders.”
Hugging herself, she took a deep breath. “I hope so.”
“Well, how about I walk you to your room and we’ll call it a night. I don’t want to, but I’m actually a little tired.”
She closed the distance between them, lifted slightly, and kissed him. “How about I walk you to your room?” Instead of waiting for him to answer, she kissed him again and took his hand, leading him through the house to his room.
Standing at his door, he said, “This isn’t the gentlemanly thing to do.”
Holding his gaze, she touched her fingertips to his temple, ran them down his jaw, and cupped his cheek. An intimate gesture that made his skin tingle. “Maybe, but it’s the thing to do when you care about someone. And at this moment, you’re the one needing the extra care. You were really sick for a couple of days.”
Pressing his face into her hand, he said, “I’m sorry if I made you worry.”
“I don’t mind worrying about you,” she said, hugging him around the neck and kissing the side of his face. “Get some sleep, and I’ll see you in the morning. Reagan and I are going to try to replicate Bandit’s cinnamon rolls, and we’re going to start early to make test batches in the hopes of pulling it off.”
Bear buried his face in her neck and breathed her in. “Thank you for spending the evening with me.”
She leaned back. “I think I should be saying that to you. It was fun, and I loved the carriage ride.”
“Itwasfun.” He covered his mouth as he yawned. “Man, I haven’t been this tired in a while.”
Pulling free, she stepped back and smiled. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Night.”
Bear stepped inside his room, and the weight of the evening touched his shoulders like they’d been waiting all evening for him to get home. He wasn’t just tired; he was heartsick. It wasn’t fair to Winnie to feel that way, but he did.
What would she say if he asked her to stay? How would he feel if someone did that to him? He’d hate it. He couldn’t do that to Winnie. He just couldn’t. Even if she did say yes, there would always be the what-if floating over their heads. Every argument would have that elephant in the room. That’s not the kind of relationship he wanted.
In a little more than a week, she’d be on a plane. He’d love her mind, body, and soul until then, and then he’d love her from afar. That was the right thing to do. If she ever wanted to return, he’d welcome her with open arms and every inch of his heart. He’d just let that hope simmer in the background and be happy with what he had.
Chapter 26
Cinnamon, nutmeg, and hints of orange filled the kitchen, but that was about the only thing Winnie was aware of. She was present in body, but her mind was on the evening before. It had kept her awake long into the night.
I want a woman to love the way I love her. I want to love her to the point that all she ever sees in my eyes is how much I love her.
