Page 6 of The Fake Girlfriend's Billionaire Match
“Well, he had that right. This is a terrible picture.” Her mom paused, her humor fading. “And you’re sure he’s not expecting—”
“Mom! No!” Winnie paused, recalling the hurt in his eyes and the soft way he spoke. “Actually, he seems like a really nice man. I think he’s been hurt and that’s why he’s doing this.”
Her mom groaned. “Oh, Winnie, you and stray animals. I swear, honey, you can’t save every broken thing you find. Tammy should have taught you that.”
Winnie’s chest tightened as the words hit her heart. “I know that,” she replied softly. “I just need the money, and that’s all. It’s basically six weeks, and then I’ll have the money to get things going.”
They’d found the perfect rental location in San Antonio for the restaurant just a few days before Tammy ran off. As soon as Winnie realized what her friend had done, she’d contacted the landlord and told him. He’d offered to give her a little time to secure funding again.
It was prime real estate. Down in the heart of San Antonio where there was tons of foot traffic. They’d lucked out when the previous restaurant had folded. It was a risk to open a new restaurant so soon after one failed, but she was banking on her ability to wow people with her food.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt. You give your heart to people so easily, and they take advantage of it. Just don’t…” She took a deep breath. “Just don’t get too involved. Let whatever problems he has be his.”
When Winnie didn’t reply, her mom continued, “You have a big, generous, trusting heart. It’s one of your best qualities, but it’s also your worst. It hurts me when you get hurt.”
“I won’t. All I need to do is pretend to be his girlfriend.” And that was all she was doing. “I’m not giving up on my dream, and a relationship would only be a distraction at this point.”
The line was quiet a few moments. “I don’t like this, but I’ll treat it like drinking. I’m a phone call away, Winnie. If something happens, I’ll drop what I’m doing, no matter what time it is or where you are, and come get you. I’d rather you be a horrible lawyer than a dead chef.”
Smiling, Winnie nodded. Her mom may not agree with her, but if it came to needing rescue, Winnie could count on her. “Thanks, Mom.”
“I love you to pieces, little girl. And before you say anything, you’ll always be my little girl. So just deal.” Her mom ended the sentence by blowing her a raspberry.
This was why Winnie called her mom. They could disagree, argue, whatever, and in the end, they were still friends. Her dad, on the other hand, while she loved him, was a hard person to please. The driving force behind her determination to succeed was so he’d finally recognize that she could manage her own life without his interference. If she failed, he’d never let her live it down.
Now, all she needed to do was keep her end of the bargain—keep Bear’s family from suspecting they were faking it. If she managed that, she’d have the money, her restaurant, and, hopefully, her dad’s respect. If she could just get that, her life would be perfect.
Chapter 6
It was a little after lunch as Bear searched the crowd pouring out of the exit door from the lobby of the Amarillo airport. The number of people didn’t surprise him since it was the Monday before Thanksgiving. Instead of coming into Lubbock, Winnie had chosen something closer since she was flying back from Houston after visiting her parents.
“She’s got dark red hair,” Bear said just loud enough for Carrie Anne to hear him. “She’s almost my height too.” He’d thought of that often since their meeting in Lubbock. If he kissed her, he wouldn’t have to touch his toes to do it.
“I’m so excited to meet her,” his sister replied, patting him on the shoulder. “She sounds amazing and so sweet for offering to cook for us since Bandit’s out of town.”
Since his meeting with Winnie in Lubbock, Bear had dropped hints that he was seeing someone and that she would be staying at the ranch during the holidays. What he hadn’t anticipated was Carrie Anne riding with him to pick Winnie up. He should have, but he’d underestimated his sister’s excitement.
It was already nerve-wracking to see Winnie again, but now he’d have an audience. He hoped Winnie had checked her text messages; otherwise, she was going to be blindsided, and he didn’t want that.
Just then, he spotted Winnie with a backpack hanging on one shoulder, and he had the craziest sensation. An odd peace settled over him as her gaze met his. A gut feeling told him he’d met the woman he was supposed to marry.
Inwardly, he scoffed at himself. Marry her? Not a chance. He’d just met her. Sure, they’d been talking a little since their meeting in Lubbock, chatting online at night or on the phone, learning about each other so the relationship would come across as authentic. A couple of times, the conversation had drifted to deeper topics, but he’d steer it back to the surface. It had been tempting to confess his deepest thoughts, but after Angela, he’d learned that they’d just be used against him.
There was no way he was letting his feelings get out of control this time. Those foolish notions had died with his ex. Not that he wouldn’t one day find someone, but he wouldn’t be using a matchmaker site to do it, and it wouldn’t be the first woman he met. Plus, Winnie lived in San Antonio. Distance was the biggest killer of relationships.
“Oh, she’s so pretty, Bear.” Carrie Anne beamed at him. “I love her hair.”
“Yeah, me too,” he replied. It was just as beautiful this time. Well, all of her was beautiful. Her choice of clothing was consistent. Jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. Simple, down-to-earth, and completely opposite Angela, which was definitely a plus.
A smile lifted Winnie’s lips as she stopped in front of him, and he gathered her into a hug. “Winnie, this is my sister, Carrie Anne.”
Of course, his sister hugged her. “It’s so good to meet you. Bear has hardly told us anything.”
“Men.” Winnie laughed. “It’s nice to meet you too.”
Carrie Anne released her. “Thank you so much for volunteering to cook for us. I can’t tell you how wonderful that is. Our sister-in-law will probably want to help, just a heads-up.”
Shrugging, Winnie smiled. “I never turn down help.”
