Page 43 of The Fake Fiance's Billionaire Adversary
Once that was taken care of, Hunter had contacted the bank about the bed and breakfast. His plan was to have the house completely done before they returned to the island. He’d wanted to surprise her and then tell her he loved her. To his thinking, it would show he wanted her more than he wanted anything. Once he did that, he would offer to take care of the note as well.
“Reagan, is this about the money issue again? I’m sorry I hurt you when you admitted to knowing about the lottery. I should’ve…I should have handled it better. I know you well enough to know you’d never have been that kind of person.” More than anything, he wished he could walk back in time and do things so much different. She’d said she’d forgiven him, but maybe it hadn’t been as easy as she’d thought.
She turned to him, shot him a smile, and kissed his cheek. “I appreciate the apology, but nothing’s wrong.”
It all felt off. Reagan was warm and gentle and caring, and what he saw was an imitation of the woman he knew she was. “Really? Because if I’ve done something else, just tell me. Whatever it is, we can work it out.”
Her body softened against him. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just worried about returning to the island. I know I have a lot of work to do to get the word out that The Sandy Pelican is ready for reservations.”
Yeah, he could see that being something to plague her mind. He started to speak, but she touched his lips with her fingers. “It’s okay. Everything is fine. Let’s just watch the fireworks. I think I need another piece of cake, though. Want me to get you one while I’m up?”
“No, I’m okay for now.”
She stood, bent down, and gave him a small kiss on the lips. “I’ll be right back.”
Hunter watched her walk away, and in his gut, he knew something was wrong. But maybe he was just reading into it. The last couple of months had been a roller coaster. Being gone so long would be a little nerve-wracking.
For a second, he wondered if he should just tell her what he’d planned, but he really wanted it to be something between the two of them. He’d always been taught that talk was cheap, and he wanted her to see that he had action to back up what he was saying.
He loved her. He loved the things that mattered to her. More than anything, he wanted her to feel like she had a choice in whether she kept The Sandy Pelican or not. With it paid off, she’d be given the chance to do that. A choice she should have had from the very beginning.
To him, loving her was standing beside her, holding her hand, and, hopefully, deciding together where they wanted to be. He just needed to relax. When they got back to Tybee, everything would be okay.
Chapter 22
Numbness had turned to anger, and anger had turned to fury. The return trip to Tybee Island was almost more than Reagan could handle. Being in the same airspace with Hunter was making her physically ill. He’d yet to break character, though, and she was just waiting for him to show his true colors.
Cutting the engine to the truck when they finally reached the bed and breakfast, he turned to her and smiled. “I’d missed my family, but I have to admit, it’s good to be back. I never thought I’d think of a little island in Georgia as home.”
She nodded as she looked her home over. It looked nearly brand new. It was gorgeous, and had she not overheard him saying he wanted to buy the place, she’d have thought he’d done it for her. “Yep. It’s good to be back.”
“I know you keep saying nothing is wrong, but I’m getting the distinct feeling I’ve done something, and I don’t know what it is. But—”
Still going. She’d have thought the act would be old by now. She opened the door and hopped out. He could keep playing, but she’d run out of patience at this point. Pulling open the back door, she grabbed her luggage. Before she could shut it, he was out of the truck and rounding the back.
“Reagan, what is going on? What have I done to make you so mad?”
She slammed the back door closed and stared up at him, mystified that he could still be acting like nothing was wrong. The only thing she could figure was that he’d planned to whammy her good after they got back.
Grabbing the handle of her luggage, she began walking away from him, but he hurried and stepped in front of her. “What did I do?”
She let go of the handle and crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m just some stupid, easily fooled…” She stopped as tears blurred her vision. She loved this man, and no matter what he’d done to her, her heart just couldn’t believe he’d betray her like he was. “I heard you talking to someone. You were getting The Sandy Pelican all jazzed up…so you could buy it.”
“That’s not—”
“It’s exactly in line with what you said the last time you offered to buy the place. ‘I’ll just wait you out and let the bank foreclose on you.’ Then you’d just slide on in and take it.”
He raked his hand through his hair, set his hands on his hips, and cast his gaze to the ground. Like he had a reason to be frustrated and upset. She wasn’t trying to rip his business away from him.
Lifting his gaze to hers, he asked, “Do you really believe that? After everything, you think I’m like that?”
“I heard you, Hunter, and it’s not exactly a secret that you wanted to buy the place. That hurricane just gave you the excuse to fix it up and ‘charm me out of it.’ I know I can’t last until the tourism starts back up. We both know it’ll take a while for the island bounce back.”
His eyebrows knitted together, and he nodded. “Well, I guess you have me all figured out, then.”
Man, he was good. For a split-second, she caught herself doubting what she’d heard, but there was no misunderstanding it. He’d said he was buying the place. Those were his words. He’d charmed her out of it.
“I guess I do. Unless you have a different explanation.”
