Page 40 of The Fake Fiance's Billionaire Adversary
They were so cute. Reagan had never caught her parents being like that. Then again, her parents were always working, and now that she had a better look at the finances, they were probably always under stress from fear of the next big disaster.
Reagan rolled her lips in, trying not to laugh. Suddenly, she had a goal added to her list: to find herself sitting in the kitchen, enjoying the person she considered her best friend. What really kicked her in the stomach was that Hunter was the only person she could see filling that empty spot anymore.
She’d fallen in love with him. As ticked as she’d been, it was the absolute truest thing she’d ever felt. The realization was a lightning bolt hitting her heart so hard it nearly stopped. It made perfect sense, though. That’s why it had hurt her so badly that he didn’t trust her. Why she’d lashed out at him too. It was all an effort to protect herself.
“Do you mind making coffee, Reagan? You are absolutely not obligated if you don’t want to,” King said.
Lifting her gaze to his, she smiled. “No, I don’t mind. That’s what I came down for anyway.” Then a little thought danced through her head. What would it be like to call Hunter’s family hers? She shook the thought away. Good grief, talk about jumping the gun.
Caroline stood and stretched. “I think I’m going to run upstairs and shower really quick. I’m feeling sticky from last night.” She pushed on King’s back with her hand. “All that room, and you just had to spill cold hot chocolate on me. I cleaned it off, but I’m still feeling gross.”
King shrugged. “I didn’t anticipate you standing the very moment I decided to take our stuff to the sink. You headbutted me.”
“I should have made you coffee and made ya drink it.” She winked and kissed him on the cheek.
“Go take your shower, my love. I’ll have the cream and sugar on the counter for you when you get back.” He blew her a kiss as she sauntered out of the kitchen.
He turned to Reagan. “I give her grief, but, man, I love her. Just so happens, she’s one hot chick too. I’m pretty sure I’m the luckiest guy on the planet.”
Reagan loved the way they loved each other. It wasn’t stuffy or toned down when someone else was around. Plus, to her, it was the sweetest thing a man could say about his wife. Was it possible this was a glimpse for her future?
Inwardly, she groaned. Her brain had to give it a rest. While she got the coffee going, she said, “Last night was more fun than I’ve ever had on a Christmas Eve. I love your traditions.”
It had been the most fun and a challenge to find the smallest gift they could find to go under the tree. They’d told her about it on their trip to Amarillo on Black Friday, but she hadn’t truly understood they meant business.
She’d loved everything about the evening. The cinnamon rolls were soft and gooey and glazy. Hers were pretty good, but Bandit was a master. Everything added up to memories that lasted.
In all her life, she’d never experienced anything like it. The deep connections, the stories that never ran out, and the way they teased and picked on each other. If nothing else, at the end of the evening, she found herself wanting to find a way to return each Christmas.
Hunter’s dad leaned forward with his arms on the counter. “Caroline told me a few things about you. I’ve got plenty of time, and I’d love to hear it from you.” He smiled.
Now Reagan understood where Hunter got his charm. “Well, I grew up on Tybee Island.” While the coffee started brewing, she crossed her arms over her chest and leaned her hip against the edge of the counter.
It was hard not to compare her parents to Hunter’s, but they’d led such different lives. Her parents weren’t bad parents; they were busy parents. And now that she was running the bed and breakfast, it was easier to put herself in their shoes.
Before she knew it, she was drinking hot coffee and giving King an entire memoir’s worth of her life story. The neatest and best thing was that not once did he seem hurried or bored. Honestly, that was one of the things she liked about Hunter.
Cripes. Oh, she was done for. She wasn’t in love with Hunter; she was over-the-moon, hold-me-forever in love with him. It was the foot-pop moment inThe Princess Diaries. He was her…cowboy prince who made her feel whole.
“So, I guess my grands are gonna be all the way in Georgia, huh?”
Good thing she didn’t have coffee in her mouth or he’d have a face full. She wasnotprepared for that little gem of a question. “Uh.” Vocabulary gone. Hunter had infected her.
King chuckled. “I did the same thing to Israel. At least you managed to form some kind of a word.”
She shook her head. “Yep. Hunter doesn’t fall far from the tree.” And she was glad because when she was old and gray, she wanted her husband to look at her the way King had looked at Caroline.
Again, she caught herself wanting Hunter to fill all the niches of her life. Good grief, she needed to stop.
“There’s a rumor that my son roped you into pretending to be engaged to him.” He sat back and smiled. “My gut tells me my source is right, but I also see the way my boy looks at you. If that’s not smitten, I don’t know what is.” He waggled a finger at her. “And you, young lady, are just the kind of woman to keep him on his toes. So, I won’t dwell on the rumor.” He leaned forward. “I just hope the engagement is true someday.” He leaned back.
Suddenly, Reagan had a deep understanding of being blindsided. The kind where the car drives off with half the bumper and the victim is left holding their latte, wondering what just happened. Her mouth was dry and her mind devoid of any comeback that could be believed.
“Okay, I’m ready for some coffee. Sorry that took so long, but once I got in, I didn’t want to get out. Good thing Bear installed those tankless water heaters. I’d have had a mob after me,” Caroline said as she walked into the kitchen.
King gave Reagan a quick wink and kissed Caroline on the cheek as he stood. “Let me get that cream and sugar, darlin’. Time got away from me.” He placed his hand on her shoulder, and she smiled up at him.
“Thank you, sweetheart.” Caroline looked straight at Reagan. “That coffee smells delicious. I caught wind of it upstairs. I don’t think we’ll be alone down here for long.”
