Page 22 of The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
“I’ll still provide the other half of the money. After enjoying your food today, I’ll consider it an investment for a friend.”
What he thought would give her peace made her expression even more like a raging war. That’s not what he wanted at all. He was sincere when he offered the rest of the money. It was only fair since he was altering the agreement. He’s the one who initiated it. If she was agreeable, couldn’t he change it?
He tried to explain. “I’m the one changing things. Not you. Now that I’ve gotten to know you, I realize I’ve put you in a bind. You’re honest and sweet. You would have never lied to my family or me. It’s just not in you.”
“I wouldn’t, but…you run this ranch. That much money is a huge amount. I don’t want to put you in a bind either.”
“I’m a billionaire, Winnie.” It had left his mouth before he could rope it back, but of the things he was worried about telling her, that one wasn’t nearly as closely guarded as the other. “I’m not hurting for money.”
She blinked a few times, her mouth opening and closing at almost the same rate. “A bi…a billionaire?” She tilted her head like the word was foreign to her tongue.
“I am. A few years ago now, we won the lottery. That one that kept rolling over until it was in the billions? Well, my brothers, sister, and I won it.”
“Oh, my. I don’t think I’d want to win that kind of money,” she mused as she looked down. “I can’t imagine the stress and frustration that comes with it. Sometimes money only makes things worse.”
Truer words had never been spoken. “You’re right about that. I told you so you wouldn’t worry about it.” He paused a second. “I’m okay if you just want to come clean, too. I don’t want to be the cause of any grief to you.”
“I like you, Bear. I wouldn’t have to—”
“I like you too, and this way we can enjoy the holidays. You can go back to San Antonio, and I can stay here. We’d know the whole time where everything stood, so there’d be no hard feelings.” No hard feelings, but they’d definitely be hurt.
Winnie lifted her head, and their eyes locked. When she remained quiet, he wondered if maybe he needed to reassure her a little more. “I’mreallynot ready for a full-time girlfriend yet.” Surely, that would give her what she needed. She wasn’t the sort of woman to hurt people, and this was him solidifying that he’d be okay when she left. It would break his heart, but in the best way possible. He’d be setting her free to be happy, even if that meant he wasn’t in the picture.
Slowly, she nodded, and a tiny smile quirked on her lips. She stuck out her hand. “I can handle that deal.”
There was something different in her touch this time. It didn’t set his nerves aflame; it was a slow burn, like grass in the spring. The fire would char the dead, making way for new growth. Something he’d needed the last few years.
At least now he wouldn’t be lying to his family. Not that he was going to tell them he had been in the first place. There was no sense in making a ruckus when he could legitimately call her his girlfriend. They didn’t need to know it would end when he took her to the airport. And it was a fact he was going to tuck into the back of his mind for the duration of her stay.
The little taste of happiness he’d had the last few days had taught him life alone wasn’t possible anymore. He’d mourn the loss of Winnie for a bit, pick up the pieces of his heart, and find someone to love.
Chapter 16
Tuesday morning, the rattling of Winnie’s phone pulled her from a miserable nightmare. For once, she was thankful for being woken up. She grabbed her phone and put it to her ear. “Hello?”
“Winnie, it’s Mom.”
Sitting up, Winnie palmed her forehead. “What’s up, Mom?” She pulled the phone away just long enough to read the time. Three in the morning?
It was only thirty minutes ago that she’d fallen asleep. In the few days following her talk with Bear, she’d done nothing but dream about him. Making that deal with him tonotpretend to be dating but to actuallydate? It had mixed her up in ways she never thought possible. She’d laugh, cried, and been tempted to pull her hair out.
The confession that she felt guilty lying to his family hadn’t been an attempt to change their deal. On the contrary, it had been a wish that she was a real member of the West-Fredericks family. They’d embraced her like she was a long-lost member, and she loved the feeling of belonging when she was around them.
Getting to know them made it easier to understand Bear’s desire to have someone during the holidays. His siblings were so happy with their spouses and children, and there he was, an outsider in his own home. If she’d been in his shoes, she may have done the same thing.
Then he’d suggested they stop pretending. For a moment, she’d been confused. The only reason she was at the ranch was to pretend to be dating, and when he’d clarified his suggestion, her heart had sunk—until he reminded her why their relationship couldn’t continue. That she had a restaurant in San Antonio, and he couldn’t leave his ranch. If there was one thing she understood, it was having a dream.
His wealth was merely a blip in their conversation. She didn’t care about his money, and she’d struggled just managing the startup funds her father had given her. Adding that many more zeros would’ve only made it harder.
When she’d tried to tell him she liked him, that she didn’t need to pretend, he’d interrupted her, telling her they could enjoy the holidays and, at the end, part with no hard feelings. Her head and heart were in a battle. Her dream of owning a restaurant was in direct conflict with wanting Bear.
Then he’d said he couldn’t handle a full-time girlfriend, and the battle turned into a war. What did she really want? With no clear winner, she’d opted for the safe route. She’d spend the holidays with Bear, soak him up, and leave with her heart still intact. That was as close to having both him and her dream as she could get.
Maybe she would have felt better if he’d kissed her a few times since then, but for some reason, he’d held back after their handshake. She took that to mean he was giving her time to get used to the idea, maybe. Or the most logical reason was that he didn’t want to hurt her. She’d been half joking when she told him she’d punch Angela’s lights out, but now, Winnie would sock her in the nose and that woman would be lucky if a surgeon could fix it. Bear was Prince Charming…he even had a horse.
The sound of her mom sniffling quickly pulled her from her thoughts.
“Mom?”
