Matched With Her Cowboy Billionaire Ex-Fiance Read online

  “I just need to talk to you for a minute. I’ll make it fast.” Raman fell into step beside her and then drew up short. “Hey, wait. I thought you were sick.” He didn’t ask the question she had to know was there. If she was sick, then where was she going so late in the afternoon? The doctor’s office would be closed. What was she doing?

  Taylor paused, sighing. The white fog of her breath puffing out in front of her and rising above her head, highlighted by the dark sky. After a minute, she turned, shaking her head and motioning her hands between Roman and herself. “I’m sick of the fighting. I’m sick of a lot of things. So, I asked Lily to go for me. Cari will be at the last one. Then I don’t have to see you with Olivia.” She pulled her jacket sleeve back and peeked at her watch. “I’m sorry. I really do need to get going.”

  Roman matched his steps with hers, walking alongside her as she clipped along at a fast pace, her cowboy boots slicking on the cement in the patches that were clear of snow and ice.

  “Be careful, the walkways haven’t been iced yet.” As Roman spoke Taylor slipped.

  Her feet flew out to the side and she threw her arms out to grab onto something. She grabbed onto Roman’s arm and hung on for dear life. Roman didn’t let her down. He clutched her around the back and held her for a minute, reveling in the feel of having her in his arms, if even for a moment.

  She pushed herself from him, straightening her jacket and brushing her hands down her sides. “Thank you.” She cleared her throat. “If you’d like to come with me, that’s fine, but I really can’t be late. I have to be there in ten minutes.” She carefully turned and started walking again, this time less briskly and more with her hands out at her sides.

  Roman didn’t hesitate. He matched her again, but this time, he took her hand and hooked it onto his forearm. He had no doubt he wouldn’t slip. He could handle ice and snow with his eyes closed.

  Taylor peeked at him from under her eyelashes but didn’t pull away. Roman would count it as a victory. No matter how small.

  “What did you want to talk about?” Taylor’s voice was small and unsure, but she asked anyway. “I really don’t want to fight, Roman.”

  “I don’t want to fight either. I was… I was thinking we could talk about the announcement of the contest. There are some logistics I’m a little confused about and I thought maybe you could help me figure them out.” He cleared his throat and watched the sidewalk where they stepped.

  “We’ll make the announcements at the Carnival. I think we usually do it right before the Santa event with the children. The suitor and the candidate will start the event with a kiss under the year’s best batch of mistletoe. Mrs. Cleptson is certain her bush will win this year. I’m not sure, though. Mr. Gentry has been working on his green thumb skills as well.” She spoke as if he wasn’t a suitor. As if her family and his family weren’t relying on the winnings to further their next year’s fiscal line.

  As if they hadn’t been engaged once upon a time.

  “Where are we going?” Roman looked up, staring at the high school gym Taylor was leading the way to.

  “We aren’t going anywhere. I’m going into the gym to help sort things that will be handed out around Clearwater County tomorrow. We run a clothing and coat drive all year to help with the foster children and orphans as well as the seniors and anyone else that might be in need. You’d be surprised how many veterans are left out in the cold as well.” She stopped under the door, glancing in and then seemingly relaxing as she waved at whoever she saw.

  She turned back to Roman and shook her head. “You don’t need to come in here. It’s not a big deal. I’ve been planning on this all year. It’s one of my favorite things to do. Was there anything else you wanted to cover?” She looked at him politely, her expression almost cold as she left out any personalizing touches that he’d loved when they were together and had hoped to see again.

  Maybe she really had moved on from him. Nothing else that she’d said or done pointed in that direction.

  He shook his head. “No. That was it. Thank you for your time.” He waited, watching as she went inside. He didn’t want to leave just yet. He wanted to follow Taylor inside, but he couldn’t think of any solid reason to be in there with her besides the fact that he wanted to be around her.

  A woman came out of the doors and moved to stick a piece of paper to the message board on the wall under the overhang of the roof.

  Roman reached out, stopping the woman as she passed by. “Excuse me. I heard you’re doing a coat drive? Is there anything you guys are short on?”

  The woman glanced at him, startled. “Roman Wilson? It’s been a long time. Carli, Carli Divers. We graduated together.” She waited for him to nod in recognition before she rushed on, folding her arms and nodding her head toward the recently hung sign. “I was just putting up a notice that we’re short almost two hundred coats, about the same amount of gloves for youth and seniors and I can’t even tell you how many other warming accessories. Kids love hats, but we just didn’t get that many this year. Normally, the Mistletoe Mothers of Montana group makes a plethora of hats and scarves, but this year a few of them were dealing with their own family losses and health concerns.”

  She rubbed her upper arms. “We’ll just do the best we can. If you want to buy a couple coats or something, we won’t turn them down.” She grinned, reaching out to pat his shoulder. “It was nice seeing you, Roman. I need to get back inside.” She waved as she turned to go back in the gym.$$

  Roman didn’t answer as he turned back to the flier. The number was easy to read. The instructions clear.

  He pulled out his cell phone. “Seth, I need you to overnight double the amount of items I’m going to send you a picture of in a second. The address you’ll send them to is on the bottom of the picture. I also want a thousand turkey dinners with all the trimmings to the same address. I don’t care if it’s late at night. Make some calls and make it happen. I want it sitting by the doors in six hours.”

  He hung up and snapped a picture with his cell, texting it to his assistant. He had no doubt it would happen. Money could get a lot of things. Limitless money got even more.

  Chapter 27

  Taylor

  Taylor’s cell rang at six AM the next morning. She blinked, staring at the ceiling in an attempt to figure out why she was awake so early. The phone jangled again, pulling her further from her stupor.

  Rolling over, she blinked at Carli’s number on the face of her phone. She swiped the screen and then pulled the phone to her ear. “Carli? Is everything okay?”

  Carli’s sobs broke through over the line, making Taylor sit straight up in bed. She leaned forward, shoving the blankets off her and leaping from bed. “What’s going on? Oh, my word, what happened? Did the donations get stolen? Did someone hurt you?” A slew of possibilities ran through Taylor’s mind as she scrambled to find a pair of jeans. She wasn’t sure what was going on, but she was bound and determined to get wherever Carli was and help her with whatever she needed.

  Carli sniffed as her sobs subsided. “No, I’m just overwhelmed.”

  “It’s okay. We’re going to get the stuff out that we have and then we’ll continue driving for more. It’s okay. We’ll get enough.” Taylor wasn’t sure how, but they hadn’t fallen short in the history of the Keep Clearwater County Warm drive.

  “Wait, you don’t know, do you?” Carli’s astonishment confused Taylor.

  “Know what?” She pulled a t-shirt on over her head and then put the phone back to her ear.

  “Last night, after you left, I was locking up and two freight trucks pulled up to the school.” Carli paused to take a breath. “One had twice the amount of what we needed in the form of new coats, new gloves of all sizes, new hats, new boots, and even eight hundred children’s snow pants. There was a large supply of men’s insulated work gloves, insulated work pants, and Carhart insulated coats. In the other truck…”

  Carli’s sobs started anew. “I’m sorry. I’m just so tou
ched and overwhelmed by his generosity. The other truck had enough complete dinners that we surpassed our quota and we get to donate outside Clearwater this year. I… I just don’t know what to say.”

  Taylor sank to the end of her bed, staring at the carpet in the nightlight lit morning. She almost didn’t dare ask, but she couldn’t stop herself. “Who was that generous?” But she knew, didn’t she. He was the only one who would pull something like that off. The only one with that kind of resources.

  “Roman Wilson. I can’t believe it. He won’t answer my calls or anything. I just want to thank him.” Carli sniffed.

  Taylor shook her head. Roman had always been generous but he’d hated when people acknowledged it. He didn’t want recognition. He said it made him feel weird. “He knows. I’ll let him know the next time I see him. Go get some sleep and look forward to the delivery of the gifts, now.” That was the best part. Handing out the coats and other stuff.

  “Okay, I’ll see you in a couple hours. Thanks again. I’m just so excited.” She started sobbing again and Taylor was able to recognize her tears for what they were – gratitude and happiness.

  Taylor glanced back at her bed and chewed on her lower lip. Did she go back to bed? She had so much to do. She might as well stay up and get some things done.

  She stood from the bed, going into the kitchen to grab an empty cardboard box and then turning back to her room. Packing the majority of her clothes was a good place to start. Carli had let her take a few of the boxes home the night before and she hadn’t asked why. She’d been too distracted to bother with much else.

  After she finished the contest, more than likely lost, Taylor had nothing else in Mistletoe for her. She didn’t want to be around Roman, constantly pretending things were okay, watching him with Olivia or anyone else he ended up with.

  No. Taylor needed to go. She needed to move on from Mistletoe and everything holding her back.

  She wasn’t sure what else to do. She’d tried changing herself to find love and that had backfired. She’d tried staying in a town that knew too much about her, including the ways she’d failed in love and life.

  What she needed to do was follow Roman’s example. She needed to travel, find a new place to lay down roots. She could be happy anywhere as long as she had a plan. As long as she made up her mind to be happy. She didn’t need a man or to be scheduled to the minute, but she needed to be happy with herself and not longing for a man who obviously didn’t want her.

  That was fine. At least she knew where she stood.

  The fact that her dad and Elizabeth had decided to say Roman was Taylor’s perfect match didn’t make Taylor mad. Instead, it made her sad. All of her matchmaking instincts told her she’d be more than happy with Roman. She’d thrive. He’d push her in ways she’d never been challenged.

  But she couldn’t be with him. He wasn’t the commitment type. No matter what he said, he wasn’t going to commit to her. He’d make an engagement; they’d set a date and then he wouldn’t show up. History would repeat itself and people would know how stupidly in love with Roman Taylor had always been.

  She couldn’t do that again.

  She wouldn’t.

  Pulling out her phone, Taylor swiped the email icon. When a new email draft showed up on the screen, she composed a message to go to her mother.

  Mom,

  I’m headed east in January. Is there any way you might have some work for me? I have a complete professional resume and a lot of experience under my belt.

  Let me know.

  Thanks

  Taylor

  She didn’t think twice as she hit send. She couldn’t overthink things. She never heard from her mother willingly. Not without one of the girls reaching out first.

  She didn’t want anyone to know things weren’t going well or that she was moving. She’d wait to list the house, but she spoke with the realtor the day before and opted to do a float listing for the next few weeks, at least until the contest was over.

  The realtor had explained that she wouldn’t list the house officially until she was ready, but she would let anyone know who the house might be a perfect fit for and potentially sell the house before she had to even list it.

  Nothing could have been more perfect for Taylor.

  Telling her sisters wasn’t her idea of fun. She’d wait until after Christmas to spring it on them. Nothing would be worse than the lectures and mushy goodbyes that would make Christmas a disaster.

  No. What she needed to do was finish her work. Wrap up any clients or cases and then get out of Mistletoe. She didn’t need anything else to be more complicated than it had already become. Least of all her longing for Roman and everything mixed up there.

  Chapter 28

  Austin

  Austin’s phone buzzed on the desk beside his spreadsheet. The special vibration pattern told him the text was from Samantha.

  His heart leapt into his chest. After all that time of being best-friends, he still couldn’t believe the nerves he had when she reached out to him.

  Which was all the time.

  He wiped his hands down the tops of his jeans and licked his lips. He couldn’t answer her immediately. He had to play it cool. That’s what you did when you had made the friend zone your home, even though everything inside of you longed to be something more.

  Austin tapped his forefinger on his thigh and stared at the phone. He couldn’t answer. Not yet. He couldn’t even read it yet or he’d immediately shoot off a reply.

  He knew his weaknesses. He wasn’t dumb. And Samantha was the center of most of his weaknesses. Much to Austin’s dismay.

  Another text from her pushed him. Okay, it’s okay. It must be urgent. He could answer and be justified this time.

  He snatched up the phone and swiped the screen, hunched over the phone like it was his life line.

  Samantha: I just had a piece of property come up in town. You said you were looking for some rental possibilities. This is a cute little place on Showalter. I think you know it. Taylor Dean’s place?

  Samantha: I need you to let me know, crazy. I have two other people I’m supposed to let know about potentials. I’ll shoot you the MILs number. Let me know in 5.

  Wait. Samantha had said Taylor Dean was selling her place. That house had been her favorite and she’d been so excited when she signed the paperwork. Everyone had been so happy for her. Samantha had told Austin when the sale had taken place and he’d told his brothers.

  The Wilson boys loved Taylor. They’d been ready to take her in as their sister. It hadn’t only been jarring to her and her family when things hadn’t worked out. Only their father had seemed unsurprised at the incident.

  Austin: Give me ten minutes. I need to check with my broker.

  Samantha: Okay, I’ll give you ten. But only because it’s you. ??

  What he actually needed to do was talk to Roman. It’d be a great reason to actually call Samantha. If nothing else, maybe she could give him a private showing. He’d take whatever time with her he could get. He always wondered. What would she think if he told her they’d be a perfect match?

  Now wasn’t the time, but when would be and how long did he have until it was too late?

  Chapter 29

  Roman

  Roman left the office earlier that morning. His phone constantly buzzed with voicemails and missed calls from the people Carli had told about the donation. He hadn’t meant for anyone to know it was him. Probably pretty dumb to try to hide it, but he didn’t want the recognition. He just wanted to help where he could. He already felt awful that he wasn’t doing the contest the right way.

  Standing from the fake leather chair at the Saddle-Sore Book Nook, Roman waved at Austin who had tracked him down by text.

  The quiet bookstore with its attached espresso shop and dessert bar wasn’t yet teeming with people. Most everyone was out helping spread the donations. They’d be busy with that for at least another couple hours.

  Roman sank back into the over-stuf
fed seat and crossed his ankle over his knee. He waited for Austin to remove his hat and hook it on his knee while he leaned forward, snaking a sip of Roman’s hot chocolate. “Oh, that’s good. I need one of those.”

  Roman stretched his foot out, snagging his brother’s upper thigh and pushing him back into the seat. He cocked an eyebrow and tilted his head. “No. What you need to do is tell me what was so urgent you wouldn’t answer the phone and you couldn’t tell me about on text.”

  Austin’s text had been in all caps and ten exclamation points. Something about urgent news and he had to see Roman immediately. That kind of drama wasn’t something you pretended wasn’t there as soon as you saw the person you were alarming.

  Sitting back in chair, Austin nodded as Roman removed his foot and folded his arms over his chest. Austin swallowed, taking a deep breath. For all his large muscles and height, he seemed more nervous in that moment than Roman had seen anyone in a long time. “Look, I don’t know how you’re feeling about Taylor or anything, but from what I just found out, she’s…” He glanced around and leaned forward as if they were surrounded by prying ears. “Taylor just listed her house for sale. Sam – my realtor just let me know that Taylor isn’t looking for anything in the area, either.”

  Roman didn’t break eye contact with his brother as Austin’s words hit Roman smack in the chest. He blinked, sinking back in the chair and gripping the ends of the armrests with both hands. “She’s leaving?” How did he say that she couldn’t leave? He’d just gotten back. He was just starting to realize how much he’d missed her and how many of his decisions had been made based around the empty hole in his heart where she’d had a spot.

  “She’s leaving, and I’m not sure where.” Austin leaned forward. “The question is, what are you going to do about it? I know you still have feelings for her. That’s more than obvious.” For a quieter guy, Austin was observant. Roman would need to keep his eye on his younger brother.