Page 47 of The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
“I’m gonna go find Reagan. See you guys in a bit.”
So far, Winnie had yet to shed tears, but she had a suspicion that they’d flow freely once she got on the plane. Leaving a man she desperately and hopelessly loved hurt her in ways she’d yet to ever experience.
In that moment, as she watched Bear, she decided that however things played out, the one thing she wanted most was to be held by him one more time.
Wrapping her arms around his chest, she laid her head against him and took a deep breath. “Thank you for inviting me to spend Christmas here. I’ve really had a great time.”
He squeezed her a little. “I’m glad you came. It wouldn’t have been as wonderful if you weren’t here. You made the holidays bearable.” He laughed.
“I’m going to miss you.” She’d never spoken truer words. “You’ll have to come visit me in San Antonio after the restaurant opens.”
Nodding, he said, “I definitely will. The people of San Antonio won’t know what hit them. You’re going to blow them away and be incredibly successful.”
Bear was complimenting her, but it felt like daggers to her heart. She kissed him and silently hoped that one day he’d break free and be truly happy. He was a good man, and when he did finally decide to give his whole heart to someone, they were going to be loved like no one else.
Maybe it would even be her, but if not, whoever she was, Winnie hoped she’d love Bear in return as much as Winnie did. He deserved nothing less.
Chapter 30
The ride to the airport was spent in uncomfortable silence. Bear’s entire essence was in turmoil. He’d pulled away from Winnie after his talk with Bandit. Not because he didn’t love her, but because he knew she deserved better than his scraps. It wasn’t fair to her that he was still afraid.
Standing back from the ticket counter, he waited as she checked her luggage in and got her boarding ticket. His head was screaming so loud he could barely hear the noise of the crowded airport.
Slinging her backpack over her shoulder, Winnie approached him and stopped about a foot away. “All checked in.”
“Did you tell them they lost your luggage last time and they need to be extra careful this time?”
“No, she’s just an employee. Besides, I replaced the stuff with nicer clothes, and this great guy bought me new knives. I’ll miss my old ones, but I’ll treasure these just as much.” She smiled.
He gathered her into a hug and held on, soaking her up. Her arms circled his chest, and she lightly squeezed him. Heartbeat after strangled heartbeat passed until he dropped his arms and stepped back. “Have a good flight.”
“Thanks.”
It was a war of words between his head and his heart as he watched her wind her way through the line to security. When she disappeared from sight, he strode out of the airport and stopped outside, bracing his hand against the wall. His chest felt like it was going to implode.
“There’s only one thing on this earth that will make a man look like the world is ending, and that’s a woman,” an elderly male voice broke through the collision going on inside of him.
Bear looked up.
The man wagged his finger at him. “Go get her before you regret it. Because you will, and you know you will. Go.”
Nodding, Bear pushed off the wall and briskly walked to the ticket counter. The only way to get to her was to buy a ticket.
The woman at the counter smiled. “Reservation number?”
“I don’t have one. I just need a ticket. It doesn’t matter where. I just need to talk to someone.”
“Okay,” she said, her fingernails tapping against the keyboard. “I’ve got Amarillo to Vegas, leaving in two hours.”
Of all the destinations. “I’ll take it.”
The woman’s eyebrows furrowed. “You don’t even know the price.”
“There isn’t one. She’s priceless.” He pulled out his wallet and slapped his card down.
“Ohhh.”
A few moments later, he was weaving through the security line. If he’d known he was buying a plane ticket, he would have worn something besides boots. By the time he passed the security checkpoint, Winnie’s flight was being announced. Grabbing his boots, he took off at a run, hoping he wasn’t too late.
