Page 31 of The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
He opened his eyes, and she was on the phone. “Okay, we’ll wait for them.” She ended the call and slipped the phone back in her pocket. “Your mom is sending your dad and Hunter to help.”
The only thing clear was Winnie’s face. The rest of the world around him was a spinning blur. “I’ve told you that you’re beautiful, right?”
A tiny smile played on her lips. “More than once.”
“If you find a guy in San Antonio and he doesn’t tell you that every morning when you wake up, he’s not good enough for you.” He covered his mouth as he coughed again. This time he wasn’t sure what hurt more, the coughing or the idea that his time with her was temporary. “No one’s really good enough for you, so you remember that, okay? You need to remember that.”
Her eyes seemed a little glassy, and she blinked. “I will.”
“Make sure your fella knows that.” For the first time in a while, it felt like his heart had a clear connection to his mouth. Then again, he was sick. He was probably only thinking all this stuff and not saying it aloud. When he felt better, he’d have to remember to tell her.
Brushing her hair back from her cheek, he smiled. “I like how your heart shows in your eyes. It makes them greener, and they sparkle like stained glass when it’s in the sun.”
Before he could utter another word, his dad and Hunter were there. He could barely keep his eyes open at that point. “Hey, guys.”
“I knew he wasn’t feeling good. Hardheaded goat,” Hunter grumbled.
Those were the last words he heard before his eyes closed again and the world went dark.
Chapter 22
“He’s rarely sick. I think maybe three times in his life. I don’t know how many perfect attendance certificates he has from school. It was really annoying when I was growing up.” Carrie Anne stuck a honey stick in her tea and stirred it a little. “When he does catch something, it hits hard.”
Winnie sat in the kitchen with Molly, Carrie Anne, and Stephanie, waiting for Bear’s mom and dad to give them an update. They’d called the doctor in Caprock Canyon, and he’d arrived roughly thirty minutes ago.
“I’d bet money he’s been sick a few days and neglected to tell anyone,” Carrie Anne added.
That didn’t surprise Winnie at all. Bear struck her as a man who would bite off his own arm to do what needed to be done. His hands weren’t calloused because he let other people do things he felt responsible for. It was one of the characteristics she liked best about him and one of many reasons she was falling for him.
Stephanie nodded. “Yeah, if there’s one character trait these West men have, it’s stubbornness. It’s only the amount that’s different.”
Shrugging, Molly ran her finger over the rim of her coffee cup. “Yeah, I can’t disagree with that.”
The chatter turned to white noise as she reflected on the things Bear had said to her in the barn. Her heart made her eyes greener. Who talked like that these days? He’d said she was too good for anyone. What caught her the most was his comment about her fella. All she could think was that she didn’t want another fella. Her guy was standing in front of her.
It was a thought that nearly doubled her over as it socked her in the gut.Her guy. Not just good-looking either. His heart was the draw. Of course, it didn’t hurt that when he smiled, her knees went wobbly, but she was enamored with the whole package.
Her heart hurt, realizing she hadn’t noticed he’d been feeling bad. He would have noticed if the situation were reversed. She had no doubt about that. How had she been so oblivious that she missed that he was sick? Was she that self-absorbed that she couldn’t see he didn’t feel good?
Bear wasn’t feeling good and hadn’t said a word while she busied herself with planning her restaurant. After her conversation with her mom, she’d spent a good amount of her time on the phone, talking to the contractor, working through follow-up with suppliers she’d previously contacted, and pouring through pages of different cutlery, linens, and dining room furniture.
“Wow, something sure smells good,” Wyatt said as he walked into the kitchen holding Travis.
The interruption was probably for the best. Any more deep thinking, and there was a good chance she’d scrap her restaurant plans, and she knew it wouldn’t be right to do that to the people working on the project. They had families. They were planning on that money she’d be paying them.
“It’s Winnie’s chicken noodle soup,” Molly replied. “She’s making it for Bear, and we talked her into making extra.”
Gabby followed Wyatt in, carrying a couple of pies. “Wow, that smells terrific.”
“What’s that?” Molly asked, eyeing the pie.
Snickering, Gabby slid it onto the island. “New pie I’m testing. I roasted the pecans with maple syrup and a packet of mulling spices. It smelled good, and I think the flavor is amazing.”
“Has the doctor said anything yet?” Wyatt bent, setting Travis’s feet on the floor.
Winnie shook her head. “Not yet.”
“I met Hunter and Josiah outside as we got here, they finished with the horses, and they’re headed over to the cabins to let the ranch hands know what’s going on.”
