“Well, better now than later, I guess.”
He walked to Reagan, giving her a one-arm hug, and then did the same to Winnie. “We appreciate the two of you doing this.”
Winnie really loved this family. She could see King in Bear. The way his dad treated Caroline was sweet and loving. It was like they were kids most of the time.
“You’re welcome,” Winnie said. “I’m just sorry the house smells like burned bread.”
“Aw, it’ll clear out soon enough.” He set his mug down. “You two go have some coffee and relax. I’ll clean up.”
Reagan smiled. “Oh, you don’t have to do that.”
“I know, and I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t want to. Now shoo. I’ve got this.”
Grabbing a cup from the cabinet, Reagan filled it with coffee and handed it to Winnie. “Want to sit outside a little while? Enjoy the snow?”
“Sure.”
“Are you going to have some coffee, Reagan?” asked King.
Waving him off, she said, “No, I’m good.”
A tiny smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “All right.”
On the way out, they put on their coats and then parked themselves each in a chair on the front porch. The smell of snow in the air coupled with the hot coffee was heavenly.
“This is nice.” Winnie looked at Reagan. “And it was fun cooking with you.”
“You are seriously talented, girl. That idea to add the little bit of orange peel was brilliant. I would never have thought of that because I don’t even really taste the orange in it, but that’s exactly what was missing.”
“Well, your coffee could run circles around mine, and I thought mine was good.” Winnie chuckled and took a sip of her coffee. “So, so good.”
Reagan grinned and shrugged. “Thanks.”
As they drank their coffee, silence fell over them, and Winnie’s thoughts traveled to Bear yet again. She wished she could talk to someone. Her mom and dad had never whole-heartedly supported her desire for a restaurant. Besides, she already knew what her mom would say. Plus, she knew Reagan and Hunter’s history. If anyone could understand, it would be Reagan.
“Reagan, can I talk to you? Will you promise not to say anything to anyone?”
She pulled her knees to her chest and nodded. “Well, sure. I won’t tell a soul. What’s wrong?”
Winnie’s pulse jumped. Now that she’d asked, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to talk anymore. “Oh, never mind. It’s okay.”
Shaking her head, Reagan replied, “Uh, no, spill. It won’t go anywhere.”
“I am in love with Bear to the point that it hurts to even think of not being with him.”
Pulling her blanket tighter, Reagan shrugged. “Then be with him. Is someone saying you can’t?”
Before Winnie could chicken out, she closed her eyes and gave Reagan the whole story. From meeting Bear in Lubbock, to their long into-the-night talks, to flying into Amarillo. All of it and as fast as she could.
A snicker caught Winnie off guard, and her eyes popped open. “It’s not funny.”
“No, but I understand why you wanted to tell me. I’m what you call uniquely qualified to help with this.” She took a deep breath and smiled. “It’s really hard to believe he did that. He was positively furious when Carrie Anne put him on that dating website. Using it to hire a girlfriend? Wow.”
Now it was Winnie’s turn to laugh. He’d not told her that. “I can actually see her doing that.”
Reagan laughed a little harder. “They finally settled it last year in the middle of Christmas Day. She apologized, he forgave her, and then he told her to tell the family she was pregnant. It was a sweet moment.”
That sounded very Bearish. “He’s such a good man.”
“They all are, and they get it from their dad. I adore King. He knew we were faking the engagement and never said a word out loud about it. Even Caroline knew.” Reagan groaned. “And she nailed me on the way to Lubbock to shop. I’d never felt more like a deer in headlights in my life.”
“They’re pretty intuitive. Do you think they suspect me and Bear?”
Shaking her head, Reagan replied, “No, but you guys haven’t been faking anything.”
Winnie chewed her bottom lip. “I don’t think I have. We talked for hours on the phone before I came here, almost every night. I think I’ve loved him for a while now. I just haven’t wanted to admit it.”
Reagan twisted in the chair to face Winnie. “Hunter told me what happened to Bear. It was awful, and since then, he’s been shut off from the world.”
“He said he wasn’t ready for a relationship. Should I tell him I love him? That I don’t want to leave him? That I choose him?”
“No.”
Tilting her head, Winnie asked, “Why?”
It took a moment before Reagan responded. “I think he’s using your dream as a way to protect himself. He probably doesn’t even realize it, but he needs to ask you to stay. He needs to be willing to risk his heart again.”
“That actually makes sense. Angela really hurt him.” Winnie wouldn’t divulge the extent. That part of the story wasn’t for repeating. “So, do I make a big push that I really want to go back?”
Reagan shook her head. “No, don’t make a big deal of it at all, or he really will think you want to go. Just keep going as you are and know that it could take him a while to wake up. You may have to return to San Antonio before he realizes it.”
“I think you might be right.” It hurt acknowledging it. “What if he never does?”
“Then you move on because he’ll never fully love you like he should.”
Move on? Just the idea crushed Winnie. How could she move on from Bear? The way he kissed her, how safe she felt in his arms, the way he cared for her. There wasn’t another man who could ever take his place.
Reagan covered Winnie’s hand with her own. “I know what you’re thinking, but it would be better to find someone willing to risk it all for you than a man who’s still holding on to someone else.”
Yeah, Winnie had to admit Reagan was right. She didn’t want Bear hanging on to the past while trying to build a future with her. They both needed to be walking in the same direction.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She grinned. “For what it’s worth, you’d be an awesome sister-in-law.”
Winnie gripped Reagan’s hand and squeezed it. “I feel the same way.”
Now, she only had to hope Bear would ask her to stay. She loved him, wanted him. But he had to want her too. Winnie wasn’t going to settle for anything less than all of him.
Chapter 27
The cinnamon rolls turned out just as good or even better than Bandit’s. Winnie and Reagan teaming up had delivered the softest, tastiest rolls Bear had tried in a long time, and that was saying something since he’d never thought anyone could beat his best friend.
At some point during their Christmas Eve tradition, someone had hung mistletoe in almost every doorway. It was a rotten trick because he loved kissing Winnie, and that was making it harder and harder to picture his life without her.
With kids in the mix, the traditions grew longer each year. This year was the liveliest Bear had ever seen. Bouncing Travis on his knee, he pointed to a spot on the tree. “That small one next to the popsicle-stick picture frame is for Winnie.”
His mom plucked it from the tree, crossed the room, and handed it to Winnie.
“What could you have gotten me that fits in this tiny little box?” Winnie asked.
He’d purposefully been careful about the box. No velveteen or anything that remotely looked like a ring box. He didn’t need anyone getting the wrong idea. Not that he hadn’t considered it, but she needed to go home.
She swiftly peeled the wrapping paper off and lifted the top off the box. “A gift card for a new knife set?”
“I know the set you got when you arrived wasn’t the best. You were trying to save money. This way you can pick the best. The research I did sa
id you need to handle them to know how they feel, and that store has the most knives in stock that will allow you to do that.”
The store was in Houston, but Bear figured since her family lived there, it wouldn’t be a chore to visit and pick out her knives.
Leaning over, she kissed him. “Thank you. This is really sweet.”
“You’re welcome.” He smiled.
Reagan stood and retrieved a small gift, handing it to Bear’s dad. “It’s been done before, but I think you’ll like it.”
His dad lifted an eyebrow and slowly tore the paper off. “What could—” His mouth dropped open, and he tilted it so Bear’s mom could see it.
She squealed and touched her hands to her cheeks. “Really?”
The cheesy grin Hunter flashed her gave the gift away. Another baby was coming.
Envy bubbled in Bear’s chest, but he pushed it away. Taking happiness from someone else wouldn’t make him happier.
Bear’s mom stood and hugged Reagan. “Oh, sweetie, I’m thrilled for you.”
“I’m six months.” Reagan brushed tears away. “Because of my endometriosis, we wanted to wait to announce it until I was a little further along. I’m seeing a high-risk specialist, and she’s pretty confident I’ll carry to term now.”
“Daddy and I will be there in February to help, okay?” She hugged Reagan again. “Do you know if it’s a boy or girl, or are you waiting to find out?”
“Girl. Joanna Kathleen. Her middle name is my grandma’s middle name.” She looked over her shoulder at Hunter. “We thought naming her Joanna in memory of Grandma Jo was appropriate since I’m wearing one of her rings.”
His mom kissed Reagan on the cheek. “I love it.”
His dad stood, smiling as he hugged Reagan. “I had a suspicion you were.”
Reagan’s mouth dropped open. “What? How?”
“You haven’t been drinking coffee.”
“That’s what tipped you off?”
He nodded. “I’m old, but I’m still keen enough to pick up on things like that.” He hugged her again. “Congratulations, sweetheart. You’re going to be a fantastic momma.”
Bear continued to hold Travis, and the overwhelming need to have what his siblings had dug its way into his chest. He wanted love and a family.
The thought to ask Winnie to stay floated to mind, this time stronger than it had ever felt.
Then he looked at her, and his heart folded in on itself like it was origami paper. What if he asked and she said no? Could he handle that? He wanted to emphatically say yes, but he couldn’t. He didn’t want to be hurt like that again, and it would be a heap worse this time. She dreamed of being a chef. Had the location, contractors, all of it. Why would she give all that up for him? No, he couldn’t risk that. Besides, he wanted her to have the things she dreamed of, even if that dream didn’t include him.
Hunter stopped in front of Bear and handed him a gift before leaving the room. “From Winnie.”
Bear side-eyed her and smiled. “Now what on earth could you have gotten me?”
She shrugged. “Guess you’ll have to open it and find out.”
He put his cheek next to Travis’s. “You want to help Uncle Bear open it?”
His nephew giggled, touched Bear’s face, and said, “Hep.” It was two-year-old for yes. Travis pulled at the paper, and with Bear’s help, they unwrapped it. Puppy-training lessons?
“Winnie.” His heart swelled. “You didn’t.”
“I had a little help from Hunter.” She smiled as she looked at Bear’s brother. “I would have picked the cutest one and not thought about behavior or anything.”
He’d only mentioned in passing that he wanted a dog. That he’d get one when the ranch was running smoothly, but he’d not had the time to even think about getting one.
Hunter returned, and a squirming Australian Shepherd was in his arms. The puppy licked Hunter on the face, and Hunter tried to stop him. “He comes from quality, competitive herding lines. He’s food-motivated, and I’ve already got him to sit a little. We asked Captain’s breeder to find us a good one.”
Bear took the puppy as Hunter took Travis. “Hey, little fella.”
The puppy licked his face, and his whole body moved as he wagged his tail.
“He’s cute.” Putting his arm around Winnie, Bear kissed her. “Thank you. And thank you, Hunter, for helping her.”
“Reagan helped with the temperament testing. She hired a professional trainer to do it.”
“When did you manage to get him?” Bear asked.
“Josiah picked him up at the airport yesterday.”
Molly sucked in a sharp breath. “Is that where you went?”
Shrugging, Josiah said, “I had to keep it a secret because I was picking up your present.”
“My present?”
A grin spread on his face. “Tomorrow.”
She narrowed one eye. “Josiah.”
“Just wait until tomorrow.” He picked Ellie up and set her on her feet. “We’re not telling mommy, are we?” He raspberried her neck, and she giggled, grabbing his cheeks and babbling.
The only thing missing for Bear was his best friend. He leaned over. “Would you mind taking…I don’t have a name for him yet. I want to call Bandit, wish him a Merry Christmas, and just talk a minute.”
Taking the puppy, Winnie nodded. “He probably needs to use the restroom. I’ll do that while you call Bandit. Take your time.”
“Thank you, sweetheart.”
Standing, he wove his way through the living room and into his room before dialing Bandit’s number. It rang a few times before he picked up, and when he did, it was noisy.
“H-h-hey, Bear.”
“I hope I’m not interrupting, but I wanted to call and wish you a Merry Christmas. You doing okay?”
“Yeah. I’m good. H-h-how about you?”
It struck Bear as interesting that Bandit wasn’t stuttering as much. Most of the time, it correlated to how nervous he was. Whatever was going on must be okay.
Bear crossed the room and sat in his recliner. “I’m okay too. It’s getting a little crowded around here. A few more kids, and we’ll be back to spilling drinks in laps and elbowing ribs in no time.”
Bandit laughed. “I kinda missed that.”
“Me too. Reagan’s six months along.”
“Give her a hug and a k-k-kiss from me. Tell her I think she’ll be a great mom. I miss everyone.”
“We’ve missed you this year. It sure isn’t the same.”
“Yeah, a-a-ain’t no one roping me into doing things.”
Chuckling, Bear shook his head. “That’s for sure.”
The line was quiet a moment, and Bear debated whether to tell Bandit what he was in the middle of. “You got a second?”
“I have more than one for you.” Bandit paused. “W-w-what’s going on?”
Bear sat forward, raked his hand through his hair, and spilled his guts. By the time he was done with his tale, he felt a hundred pounds lighter. He didn’t realize how much he needed to tell someone.
Bandit whistled. “S-s-sounds like quite the predicament. Do you th-th-think she has feelings for you?”
With the way Winnie kissed Bear? He thought she did, maybe. “I don’t know. I mean, it seems so, but she’s got this dream. Remember when I told Angela about mine? I don’t want to do that to her.”
“Maybe it wouldn’t be the same. You should probably talk to her.”
That was the easy way to do things, and again, putting his heart out there, risking a no…his chest tightened to the point he couldn’t breathe just thinking about it. “I know I should, but…I can’t. I just can’t, and I don’t know how to climb over that mountain.”
Bandit was quiet a moment. “Well, until y-y-you can, you need to let her go. It’s not fair to her to ask her to choose you when you don’t trust her enough to even ask. I’ll say this, though…if you do l-l-love her, figure it out quick because if she’s half the woman you think she is, s
he’s worth the risk.”
That was a lot to chew. Bear sighed. “Yeah, seems I’ve got plenty to think on.”
“Sounds like it.” Someone in the background called Bandit’s name. “Uh, hey, I don’t m-m-mean to cut this short, but my grandfather has people over. I need to go.”
“It’s all right. Thanks for the advice.”
They exchanged goodbyes and ended the call. Bear sat there a second, mulling over his conversation with his best friend. There was plenty of wisdom in what he was saying. Bear just needed to figure out how to apply it. If he could.
He stood, slipping his phone back into his pocket, and walked to the door. Just as he stepped out, Winnie was turning the corner. He could just as easily see her holding a baby instead of a puppy. The thought made him ache. If he couldn’t even trust her with his heart, he had no business even thinking about things like that.
“Hey, he did great,” she said, handing the puppy to Bear. “He’s a funny little thing. Full of vim and vigor too. Little guy loves to run.”
Bear scratched the puppy behind the ear. “I just have to figure out a name.”
“You have a horse named Spur. You could name him Boots.” She grinned. “You don’t have to. It’s just a silly suggestion.”
“Actually, I like that.” He looked down at the puppy. “What do you think of Boots?”
The puppy yipped at him and licked his face.
Winnie shrugged. “Seems like a yes to me.”
Bear nodded, putting his arm around her, and kissed her. “Then I guess he’s got a name.”
“This has been more fun than I’ve ever had. The smallest gift tradition is just cute and fun. Although, the puppy wasn’t exactly the smallest gift because of flight availability and Josiah’s trip to Amarillo.” She snuggled against Bear. “Plus, hiding a puppy for a day was hard enough.”
“He’s perfect. Thank you.” He smiled. “Ready to rejoin the madness?”
“Yeah.”
As they walked together, Bear pushed away the doubts and fears. In a little more than week, he’d be saying goodbye to her, and he wanted to treasure his time with her without those things hanging over them.
Maybe by then, he would have enough time to think about Bandit’s words and find the courage to give her his heart.
The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match (Caprock Canyon Romance Book 4) Page 12