Page 37 of The Fake Fiance's Billionaire Adversary
Shrugging, Reagan struggled to find the answer to the question. “I honestly don’t know.”
Nodding, Carrie Anne said, “I’m not saying you need to give up or anything, but maybe you should stop putting it first and yourself second.”
Reagan blinked. How would she even do that? The concept was completely foreign. Hunter’s sister was right, though. That bed and breakfast was always front and center, and she was the participation trophy no one wanted. That wasn’t how it was supposed to be.
“Thank you,” Reagan said. “What’s funny is my two friends back home, Naomi and Kaylee, tried to get me to see that when I first mentioned I was going to take over for Mom and Dad. I’ve been so attached to that place. When someone was talking about it, they were talking about me. But I’m just me and nothing else.”
Carrie Anne hugged her. “I think you’re pretty awesome. Running a bed and breakfast has to be a lot of work.” She pulled back. “I know I couldn’t do it.”
“I couldn’t teach, so I think we’re even.” Reagan smiled, glad Carrie Anne was off for Christmas break. It hadn’t occurred to Reagan how much she needed someone to talk to. Of course, she could have called Naomi or Kaylee, but to tell the truth, until this moment, she didn’t know how she felt. Not really.
“You know, I’m gonna like having you as a sister.” Carrie Anne dropped her arms. “I know you and Hunter have been frosty the last couple of weeks, but couples argue. I’m sure he did something moronic. Anyone tell you about Wyatt and how he and Gabby got together?”
“No.” Reagan shook her head.
Hunter’s sister hooked her arm in Reagan’s, and they began walking again as she told the story. She’d been missing out on things like this. Everything revolved around the business, and at some point, she’d taken a back seat. She didn’t even know when it had happened. Maybe that first day in the kitchen cooking? Could it have been before that?
All this time, she’d called herself a failure. Allowed all the negative things said to etch themselves onto her. She wasn’t The Sandy Pelican. She was Reagan Loveless, and she was worth more than a beachfront bed and breakfast.
In a way, Hunter had been telling her the same thing. If nothing else, she’d thank him for that. That didn’t mean she wasn’t still upset with him, but he deserved thanks where it was due. The fate of the business was on shaky ground, but for the first time in her life, she was standing on solid rock.
Chapter 17
Normally, Christmas Eve would be relaxing for Hunter. The scent of spiced cider and fresh pine floating in the air along with the smell of Bandit’s cinnamon rolls baking, fire flickering in the fireplace, everyone sitting around the tree, and the hum of conversation. That’s what made it Christmas Eve.
A couple of years ago, the occasional beverage dumped in a lap would have been par for the course too, but now that Bear had the ranch house, there was elbow room for everyone.
Just before the festivities started, he leaned against the wall next to the stairs, waiting for Reagan to come down. She’d gone for a walk with his sister, and whatever they’d talked about had helped her, which made him especially grateful to Carrie Anne.
A deep breath caught his attention, and he looked up. Reagan stood on the second landing, staring at him. Whatever she was thinking was a mystery because her face was masked.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hi.”
She slowly descended the steps and stopped before reaching the bottom landing. “I love your sister.”
He smiled. “She has her moments.”
“I guess it’s time to be engaged again?” The way her mouth turned down was an arrow to his heart.
He’d struggled with whether to tell her his mom knew. In the end, he’d decided not just yet. He was afraid she’d get on the next plane headed to Tybee, and he was desperate to right things between them. If he was wrong, he’d deal with the consequences.
Hunter held his hand out to her. His mom said he needed to show Reagan he was with her, and he’d taken that to heart. With that in mind, he was approaching the evening with a different attitude. “I guess it is.”
She walked down the last two steps and slipped her hand into his. For a second, her entire demeanor was rigid and guarded.
“Reagan,—”
Holding her hand up, she stopped him. “I’m agreeing to a truce.” She softened, and her gaze went to the floor. “I’m also big enough to offer thanks when and where it’s warranted. I’m not The Sandy Pelican. We are two entirely different entities, and Carrie Anne helped me see that earlier.”
“Good.”
“But you started it. For that, I’m grateful.” She lifted her gaze to his. “I’m not necessarily giving up at this point, but I know there’s more than one way now. I have a right to choose which direction I go.”
The light in her eyes was worth everything. “I don’t think I had anything to do with that revelation, but I’m happy for the truce.”
“And I want to say thank you for the roof, and all the other little things you managed to sneak in.” She pointed a finger at him. “You thought I wouldn’t get wind, but you were wrong. I’ll be paying those back too.”
