The Billionaire's Cowboy Groom (Sweet Billionaires Book 4)

by Lorana Hoopes

  “Well, it’s quaint. I’ll give it that.”

  Carrie looked up at Philippe as he set his mug down across from her. She smiled up at him as she asked, “How did you sleep?”

  “Not as bad as I had expected, but I’m certainly ready for my own bed again. I don’t know how you slept here two nights.”

  She took a sip of the satisfying warm beverage as she regarded him. “Oh, my bed was fine. I could have stayed longer.”

  Philippe stared at her, a concerned look on his face. “What happened to you out here?”

  Carrie dropped her eyes to the mug. That was a good question, but she didn’t have an answer for Philippe. It was probably just the lure of the small town, and she’d be back to her normal self as soon as she returned to New York.

  “Here are your pancakes,” Dixie said interrupting the uncomfortable silence.

  “Thank you.”

  “Anything for you, sir?” Dixie turned her attention to Philippe.

  “Just bacon and eggs for me if you have them.”

  “I’ll be right back with them.”

  “Pancakes, Carrie? Since when do you eat pancakes?”

  “I do on occasion.” A movement outside the window caught her attention and she set her fork down. “Oh, I see Cal with the papers. I’ll be right back.” Before he could argue, she pushed her chair back and raced from the room.

  She flung the front door open as he reached the top step. “Hey, Cal.”

  “Carrie.” He tipped his hat, but his voice held none of its usual teasing inflection. “I’ve got the papers for you.” He reached in his pocket and withdrew the familiar bundle of papers. “I hope you’ll be very happy.”

  Carrie took the papers, not even glancing for a signature. She could tell by the expression on his face he had signed them. “Cal,” she began, but he shook his head.

  “I don’t understand why you are marrying him, but perhaps you’re a different person in New York. I’m glad I got to see you again, even if only for a weekend.”

  Carrie’s throat choked with tears. She hated that she was hurting him. “I’m glad I got to see you as well. Maybe-” She stopped. There was no use going down that road. She was going back to New York, and he was staying here. The chances they would ever meet again were slim to none. “Tell your family thank you again for everything.”

  Cal nodded and turned away, but Carrie caught the glistening of his eyes before he turned from her. She watched him get in his truck and fought her own tears, but it was better this way. At least that’s what she needed to tell herself.

  “Did you get it all taken care of?” Philippe asked as she returned to the table.

  “Yep, all good,” Carrie said with a tight smile. “I’ll get these turned in and it should be finalized soon.”

  “Good, the sooner the better.”

  She dropped her eyes to the plate and blinked back the tears threatening to spill over. Crying in front of Philippe was not an option, and really, she was sure she’d be fine when she returned to New York. Life would pick back up like normal. She would design her wedding dress, plan her wedding, and get back to work. It would definitely keep her busy.

  “Are you finished, Carrie? I’d like to get back to New York tonight.”

  “Sure.” Carrie took the last bite of pancake and chewed slowly. She’d doubted many more pancakes would be in her future as she would need to get back to eating clean to fit in the dress she imagined wearing for her wedding.

  They checked out with Dixie and then loaded their light luggage into the waiting car out front. Half an hour later, they were situated on the plane and heading home. Only then did Carrie realize she had forgotten to take Dixie’s measurements.

  * * *

  Cal pulled into his driveway and turned off the truck. He had firmly believed he would be able to remind Carrie of why they married, that she would change her mind about leaving, and they would have a life together, but instead she was gone. She was gone and the gaping hole in his heart was bigger than before.

  “I wasn’t expecting to see you today,” Stacy said as Cal entered the hallway. Stacy often came over early to check the books and the orders. “Where’s Carrie?”

  “On her way back to New York with her fiancé.”

  Sympathy filled Stacy’s eyes as she stood and walked to Cal. “I’m so sorry. I thought the way she looked at you last night that she was changing her mind.”

  Cal shrugged. He had thought many times over the weekend that he had changed her mind, but it hadn’t turned out that way.

  “What are you going to do now?” Stacy asked.

  “The same thing I’ve always done. I’m going to work and pray and do my best to serve God.”

  “Cal-”

  “Not now, Stacy. I’ve got chores to do. Might as well get to them.” He continued past her to the backyard barely acknowledging Dexter when he jumped up on him. The world just didn’t seem right anymore.

  Chapter 14

  One Month Later

  “How long are you going to mope around here?” Stacy put her hands on her hips and fixed him with her best ‘snap out of it’ expression.

  “I’m not moping.” Cal cinched the saddle under Ginger and smoothed out her skin to make sure it wasn’t folded under the belt.

  “What do you call it then? You barely eat. You’ve lost weight. Even Tyler and Annie have been asking why you never play with them anymore. It’s been a month, Cal. When are you going to let her go?” She picked up the brush and ran it through Ginger’s mane.

  Cal took his hat off and ran his hand through his hair. “I don’t know how to, Sis. Every bone in my body still tells me that we belong together.”

  “You haven’t even tried to get over her. Why don’t you go out with Ginny and at least see if there’s anything there? She’s a nice girl, Cal. You could have a decent life with her.”

  A decent life. Cal didn’t want a decent life. He wanted an amazing life, but he was certain that option had left when Carrie did. So, perhaps he should settle. Stacy was right. Ginny was nice and pretty, and she liked him. “Fine, the next time she comes by, I’ll take her up on her offer.”

  “Good. I don’t think you’ll regret it.” She finished the brushing and laid the brush back down.

  Cal wasn’t so sure about that, but he couldn’t keep letting life pass him by. He’d wasted six years on Carrie. If he ever wanted to have a family - and he did - then he needed to move on. “We’ll see.” Cal walked Ginger out of the barn and then swung up on the saddle before heading out to move the cows. At least when he was riding, he still felt whole. This was where he belonged.

  * * *

  “That was a lovely dinner, Philippe,” Carrie said as he opened the door of his BMW for her. It had been delicious, but Carrie couldn’t keep her thoughts from straying back to the dinner Cal had cooked for her. Even though she had suggested they try cooking a meal together, Philippe had vetoed that idea insisting they had the money to go out or hire someone to cook for them.

  “Yes, it was nice though our server was a little slow on her service. I would have left a much larger tip if she had refilled my glass quicker.” He shut her door and walked to the driver’s side.

  “I’m sure she was doing her best,” Carrie said softly. “The restaurant was busy.”

  “You’re probably right.” He started the car and backed out of the space. “Hey, let’s move the wedding to June.”

  Carrie blinked at him. Was he joking? “June? That’s only two months away, Philippe. That’s not enough time to plan a decent wedding.”

  He glanced at her from the corner of his eye. “What are you talking about Carrie? With our money, we can make it happen as quickly as we want.”

  Our money. Carrie wondered just how much he was planning to contribute to the wedding. Her mother certainly had no money to give, so the majority would fall on Carrie’s shoulders. “Okay, but what’s the reason to speed it up?”

  “I’ve been considering the idea since
we got back, and I realized after seeing that other man that I don’t want to chance losing you. I want to marry you as soon as possible, so we can start our life together.”

  “Well, I mean I can look around, but June is a busy wedding month, and I need enough time to make my dress.”

  “I don’t care that much about the venue. Just find a place that can hold five hundred to a thousand people. I’m sure we’ll get the same kind of publicity that Drew and Gwen did now that you’re a billionaire as well. In fact, you should even get more because you’re a female billionaire. Those don’t happen every day.”

  Carrie winced at his sexist comment. Did he have any idea how chauvinistic he sounded? “They didn’t ask for the publicity, Philippe. I think it’s rather crass if we ask for it.”

  “Oh sure, sure, I just mean your wedding should be a headline story. Anyway, pick a good place and finish your dress. I can be ready pretty quickly. In fact, I’ll have my tailor start on my tux tomorrow.”

  “Philippe, would you do a devotional with me tonight?” The words surprised even Carrie as they leapt out of her mouth. She had wanted to ask him since they returned from Soda Spurs, but every time she was about to ask, something kept her from it.

  “A devotional? What do you mean?” His hands had tightened on the steering wheel and the stiffness in his posture matched the tone of his voice.

  “I mean read the Bible and discuss it with me. I’ve been thinking it would be a good tradition to start.”

  “Where’s this coming from, Carrie? You never wanted to do this before.”

  “To be honest, Cal did a devotional with me when I was in Soda Spurs, and I really enjoyed it. I want it to be a part of my married life.”

  “Cal, huh?”

  Carrie nodded. She hated mentioning Cal’s name as it always made Philippe tense, but the devotional was one thing she had really enjoyed and wanted to continue.

  “Sure, if it means that much to you, I’ll try. I’ve never done one before though.”

  “We’ll figure it out together,” Carrie said.

  Chapter 15

  June

  “Earth to Cal.”

  Cal shook his head to clear the woman from the past and focus on the woman in front of him. “Sorry, Ginny, what were you saying?” He set down his half-eaten sandwich to give her his full attention.

  “I was saying we should try out the new movie theater in town. Sam said they are playing When Harry Met Sally, and that’s one of my favorites.” Ginny’s lips formed a hopeful smile as she picked up her drink.

  “Oh, yeah, sure, we could do that.” This was his fourth date with Ginny, and while she was not Carrie, she was a nice woman. Still, no desire flamed within Cal for her the way it had with Carrie. He wondered if he would have to settle for a loveless marriage in order to start the family he longed for. He couldn’t believe that was what God had planned for him, but he hadn’t heard any wisdom from God on the Carrie front since the day she left.

  Ginny sighed. “No, Cal, I don’t think we can.”

  “What? What are you talking about, Ginny? I said we could. I can make time.”

  “It’s not that, Cal; it’s this.” She motioned at the space between them. “We’ve tried dating for over a month, but I can tell your heart isn’t in this. Half the time you’re too busy to do something and when you aren’t, your mind is a million miles away.”

  Cal raked a hand across his face. “I’m sorry, Ginny. You are an amazing woman, but you deserve more than I can give you. I’m afraid a woman stole my heart six years ago and I haven‘t been the same since.”

  “This is the woman you brought to church that one time, right? The pretty redhead?”

  Cal nodded. “Yep, that’s the one. Carrie.”

  “So, where is she now?”

  A snort escaped Cal’s mouth, and he reached into his pocket. His fingers touched on the envelope he had received in the mail yesterday. He withdrew it and tossed it on the table. “She’s in New York about to marry the wrong guy.”

  Ginny picked up the envelope and peered inside. She withdrew the invitation first. “Carrie Bliss and Philippe Caron request the honor of your appearance June 15th at six pm?” She raised a brow at him. “She invited you to her wedding?”

  Cal scoffed and shook his head. “No, there’s more.”

  Ginny pulled a folded piece of paper out of the envelope and unfolded it. “Dear Cal, you don’t know me, but I’m Gwen, Carrie’s best friend. I‘m not positive exactly what happened with you two in Soda Spurs, but she loves you. Please don’t let her marry Philippe. It will be the worst mistake of her life. I’ve enclosed the invitation, so you know how much time you have. Gwen.”

  Ginny refolded the letter and tucked it and the invitation back in the envelope. “What are you still doing here, Cal?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean the woman you love loves you and is about to marry another man. Her best friend is begging you to come and break up the wedding, and you’re still here. Why?”

  Cal shook his head. “Carrie left. She left me for him. I can’t break that up. What if her friend is wrong?”

  Ginny leaned back and crossed her arms. “I understand women are hard for men to figure out but let me let you in on a little secret. The best friend always knows best. This Carrie is probably fighting her feelings the same way you tried to and succeeding about as well I’d guess. I guarantee it will not be a wasted trip if you go out there.”

  Could he do that? Show up and break up a wedding? “I don’t know, Ginny. Money is tight; I’m not sure I even have the money to get there. I’m about to have to sell half my herd to make my payments to the bank.”

  Ginny’s eyes lit up. “Actually, you have the money to get there.” She leaned down and pulled an envelope out of her purse and handed it to him.

  “What is this?” he asked as he took the envelope. He folded back the lip and blinked at the check inside. It was made out to him for a thousand dollars.

  A smile stole across Ginny’s mouth. “I put up some of your wood carvings online. They sold like hotcakes. People love them, Cal.”

  Confusion clouded Cal’s mind. People liked his carvings? Enough to buy them? “They sold, really?” His carvings were a hobby, not something he had ever considered doing for money.

  “Of course they did.” Ginny looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “You are really talented, Cal. Anyway, that should be enough to cover a plane ticket. Then if you can get me some more carvings, I’ll upload pictures of them. I bet if you could do a new piece a week then you could pay off your loan in no time.”

  Cal stared at the amazing woman across from him. A part of him wished he had developed feelings for her because she deserved someone amazing. “Why are you doing this for me, Ginny?”

  Ginny shrugged. “While I wish there had been more between us, Cal, you are still my friend. Friends help friends. Now, go home, buy a ticket, pack, and go get your woman.”

  A surge of adrenaline flooded Cal. Maybe he could do this. He splayed his hands on the table top. “Okay, Ginny, I will.”

  * * *

  Carrie zipped up the dress on the mannequin and stepped back to admire it. The dress hung perfectly with the trim barely gracing the floor, and the train pooled out in a perfect circle. It was beautiful to say the least.

  “Carrie, it’s breathtaking, but are you sure you want to get married so quickly?” Gwen folded her arms across her chest and sent Carrie a narrowed stare.

  “Of course I want to get married.” Carrie leaned closer and snipped a spare thread.

  “Okay, let me rephrase that. I understand you want to get married, but so quickly? Have you forgotten about the misgivings you told me about?” Gwen stepped in front of the dress to capture Carrie’s undivided attention.

  Carrie bit her lip. Yes, there had been a few misgivings with Philippe since they got back - the first being that he wanted to rush the wedding. Then there had been the devotional disaster. Though he had
read them with her, there had been none of the connection she felt when she had done the same thing with Cal. Of course, it probably helped that Cal was much more knowledgeable in the word than Philippe was, so reading with him became a learning experience for her instead of just two people reading the Bible.

  “I’m over those. Philippe is a great guy.”

  “He is.” Gwen took Carrie’s hand, “but he’s not Cal. Are you sure you’re over him?”

  “What do you mean?” Carrie turned away to avoid Gwen’s questioning eyes. “Lace, it needs just a little more lace.”

  “It doesn’t need anything, Carrie,” Gwen said coming up beside her. “I know you felt something for Cal when you were down there because you were different when you got back, and I saw that the way you looked at Philippe had changed. Are you sure you don’t want to see him one more time before you go through with this marriage just to make sure?”

  A giant sigh billowed out of Carrie’s lips, and tears burned her eyes. “I already did, Gwen.” She crossed to her desk and pulled a letter out of the drawer. It was thick and marked with the words ‘Photos! Do Not Bend!’

  “What is this?” Gwen asked as she took the envelope.

  “It’s from Dixie, the lady who ran the inn. I wrote to her saying I was interested if there were any properties for sale-”

  “Wait, you’re going back?”

  Carrie shook her head annoyed at Gwen’s interruption. “No, I was thinking about opening a boutique there and finding someone to run it. You should see their clothing selection. It’s awful.”

  “You never told me you were thinking about that.”

  Was that hurt she heard in Gwen’s voice? “I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t want anyone to talk me out of it. Anyway, Dixie wrote me back that there’s a shop for sale, but then she told me Cal was seeing someone else. She enclosed a few pictures.”