Page 4 of The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
They’d agreed to meet in Lubbock at a small diner where they could talk face to face. That gave him time to do a background check on her and speak to her boss. He’d used the excuse that she’d applied to cater an event. A random stranger didn’t need to know his business.
Tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, Winifred shrugged. “I guess we should find a table and talk.”
“I guess so.” For a second, he’d let himself wonder what it would be like to really have someone next to him during the holidays, or longer.
Just as quickly as his hopes lifted, they found the ground even faster. He wasn’t meeting her with the intention of dating her. His heart wasn’t yet mended from the last woman he’d dated. His family thought he should move on, but they didn’t understand just how deep Angela’s claws had dug into him. She’d upended Bear, and he’d yet to divulge to his family just how much. He was too embarrassed to confess what he’d done.
Winnie was probably sweet, but his interests were strictly platonic. They were both getting something out of this deal, and his heart wasn’t part of it. She’d get a nice sum of money, and he’d get a girlfriend with no strings attached and an expiration date.
Chapter 4
Good gracious. Winifred Fordham was shocked she’d been able to wrangle her tongue into an actual greeting. Bear West may as well have walked off aCowboy Monthlymagazine shoot. He was tall and broad-shouldered with thick, dark hair and deep blue eyes that would make a clear Texas sky jealous.
In the picture he’d sent her, he’d sported a beard. Now, he was clean-shaven, and when he smiled, there was a dimple. Winnie was sure she’d never seen a man so good-looking. Then she’d shaken his hand and nearly been blasted out of her tennis shoes. The jolt of electricity had carved a trail up her arm and down her spine.
With a long sigh, Bear set his menu down and leaned forward with his arms on the table. “Can we just talk a minute?”
It had been a strange thing to accidentally find Bear on the Mr. Matchmaker site. Never in her life had she expected to run across a man looking for a fake girlfriend. And never in a million years had she expected to be chosen.
“Sure,” she said, laying her menu down as well.
She’d done a background check on him before she’d agreed to meet him. Everything he’d posted in his biography was true. He grew up in Caprock Canyon, and a few years ago, he’d purchased the ranch not far from the town. Based on how calloused his hands were, there was little doubt in her mind that he worked hard.
They’d both agreed to leave some of the details for their meetup. Mostly because they wanted to see how well they’d…fit? They could know everything about the other, but with no chemistry, it wouldn’t work. His family would have to believe they were dating.
“I feel all sorts of weird doing this.” He sat back and raked his hand through his hair. “Just all sorts of weird.”
She cast her gaze to the table. If it wasn’t for losing the startup money her dad had given her, she wouldn’t have even considered doing something like this. Bear didn’t need to know that, though. “Yeah, me too, but I made a deal with my dad. He gave me one year to pursue my dream of opening up my own restaurant.” Lifting her gaze to his, she continued, “If I don’t, I’ll have to hang up my apron and join him at his law firm.”
“I guess that begs the question, can you cook?” he asked.
“I can. I was all set to open my restaurant when my partner decided to take our money and run off with her boyfriend.”
Winnie’s best friend in the whole world, Tammy Butters. It had cut Winnie in pieces when she found all the money missing and a note that wished her well. How was she going to be well when Tammy knew the deal Winnie had made with her father? Especially since she’d taken every penny that was left.
“Yeah,” he said softly. “Betrayal is a hard thing to get over.”
There was no doubt in Winnie’s mind that he understood based on his pained expression. Most people had an inkling of the hurt, but no one really knew how life-altering it was unless they’d been through it. Someone Winnie trusted with her life had taken her dreams and thrown her away.
“Yeah, but we don’t have to let it win. I’m not going to quit until I have to. I’m a great chef.” The conviction in her own voice caught her off guard a little, but she felt she needed to give it a little oomph. Otherwise, Bear might change his mind, and she needed that money.
Bear grinned. “I’ll be honest. I checked you out before scheduling this. Chef Natalie Hallstatt said you were gifted.”
“Then why did you ask me if I could cook?”
Shrugging, he said, “Mostly, I wanted to know if you knew it.” A smile deepened the dimple on his cheek.
“Natalie was a great teacher. I took culinary classes on the side while I went to law school. I was supposed to follow in my dad’s footsteps and become a lawyer, but the idea made me miserable. I didn’t want to do it. She had faith in me when I didn’t.” She’d been a sympathetic ear when Winnie called her about what Tammy did. Natalie had even offered to go in with her if Winnie wanted. Her teacher had looked into expanding into San Antonio. Winnie had appreciated the kindness, but she’d declined.
Bear nodded. “I understand that.”
“It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, but I do have a question.” One she hoped he’d answer.
He held her gaze. “Shoot.”
“You’re…” Her cheeks warmed as she rethought her question.
“I’m…what?” He leaned forward with his arms on the table.
