Matched With Her Cowboy Billionaire Ex-Fiance Read online

  Roman tucked his chin and jerked his head back. “I don’t…” He shook his head and sighed. “Okay, so what if I do? I can’t lose the contest without her thinking I threw it.” He pressed his fingers into his eyes and rubbed. “I think I already lost, though. Olivia told me she doesn’t want to be with me. So, there’s that. Good thing I wasn’t emotionally invested.”

  “What did it feel like when she told you?” Austin narrowed his eyes, his lips pressed together as if Roman’s answer would be life-changing for Austin.

  “Well, the truth is it sucked. I didn’t know how to handle it from a pride angle. I had to remind myself that I wasn’t interested in her that way anyway. We’re just friends. So, it’s fine.” Roman chuckled. “But that didn’t mean I enjoyed the rejection.”

  Austin nodded, leaning back again and tapping his fingers on the lounge armrests. “Yeah, that makes sense, I guess.”

  “Okay, so what do I do? I’ve lost and I feel bad for what this means for our family. On the plus side, Olivia is still going to recommend us for those high price-tagged clients. We can still get the jobs. We’ll still get the publicity. I have something planned, but… if she moves, it won’t work.” Where was she going?

  He stared at Austin as he considered just what his brother was telling him. Taylor was selling her house. She was leaving.

  She wouldn’t be in Mistletoe anymore and Roman had gone all over the world looking for the way he felt when he was home. Taylor was part of home and he wasn’t ready to lose her.

  “How certain are you that she’s selling it? I didn’t see a sign in her yard.” But he honestly hadn’t been by since the night before. Maybe she’d gotten the sign up since.

  “I’m certain. I just bought her place.” He shrugged and rolled from the chair. “Sorry, man, I wasn’t sure what to do. My realtor had some more people lined up and I’ve been looking for rental properties around the area. It was a win-win, plus, I didn’t want anyone to know she was leaving. The house was floating anyway.” Austin paused before leaving, turning to tap the side of his head as he put his hat back on. “Don’t worry about the contest. We really just want to see you happy. Olivia Jensen would not have made you happy. Great legs or not.”

  Everyone else seemed to understand that but Roman. Not that he was fighting it, but he honestly hadn’t been worried about the fact that he was trying to win a matching contest by pitting himself as the suitor to someone he didn’t care about that way. He’d just planned on dating her the required time frame and then moving on.

  His plan hadn’t been fair to either of them.

  As Austin strolled from the bookstore, Roman nodded. He didn’t have to wait around to lose the contest. He knew he’d already lost. So why wait until Taylor was gone and he’d literally lost everything in his life that he hadn’t known he wanted more than anything else?

  It wasn’t an option. She couldn’t leave. Unless it was with him.

  He jumped from his seat, grabbing his hat as he stormed from the bookstore. She couldn’t leave. There was no way he could let that happen.

  The weather had calmed down to be relieved of the wind that had blown throughout that morning.

  Roman blinked as he tried to see past large snowflakes drifting silently to the dark pavement.

  He didn’t have to go far to get to Taylor’s house to check on the presence of a sign. What if he confronted her and she was never planning on leaving? What if Austin was wrong or up to something? Austin had said he’d bought her house. Was that true?

  Did it matter? Did Roman really care what the catalyst was? He just wanted to be with Taylor. They didn’t have long before they had to reveal for the contest and he wanted to be in a position where he knew what her reply would be when he made an announcement of his own.

  He strode up the walkway, grateful to see she’d put some salt down on the icy cement.

  This time, he didn’t hesitate as he reached the top. He knocked and waited. Then knocked again. Taking a minute as he waited and then again, he struck her door with his fist.

  But still nothing.

  Wrenching his arm out to see his watch, Roman blinked at the time. It wasn’t even fully afternoon yet.

  She might still be at her office.

  He turned from her house and walked the short distance to the Dean family offices. He didn’t need to walk all over Mistletoe, but he’d do whatever he needed to do for Taylor. As he got closer to the front of the office, it suddenly occurred to him that Taylor might be one of the people out delivering the donations. If she was, he’d wasted all that time looking for her only to have to call her anyway.

  He opened the door to the offices and went inside, ignoring the curious glances he got from the three beautiful women sitting in the reception area. He ignored them as he started walking down the hall. The place was a home at one time that had been turned into an office building.

  “Taylor? Are you in here?” Roman came to the kitchen and looked around.

  Taylor’s sister Lily turned in surprise from the microwave and shook her head. “She’s not in here. Her office is closer to the back. You okay?”

  “Did you know about her moving?” Roman arched his eyebrows and stared challengingly at Lily. Did she know?

  Her lips parted and she shook her head. “Moving? No. I… I had no idea. She’s back there. You better get going before she starts wondering what’s going on with the loud manly voice in an office full of women.”

  Roman turned and strode from the room, heading in the direction Lily had indicated.

  His cowboy boots left a solid sound to echo off the walls as he walked on the wooden floors. The last door on the left was full of light and bright colors. He didn’t knock as he walked into the office and stared at Taylor as she typed onto a white Apple laptop.

  She glanced up, her eyes going wide as she recognized Roman. Moving from the desk, she quirked an eyebrow and motioned toward the chair across from her femininely decorated desk with a small vase of red and green flowers, a pen holder, and what looked like a chocolates dish.

  Roman sank onto the plush office chair she motioned toward, but he didn’t look away. He couldn’t.

  The very real possibility that she could be leaving left him feeling sick and more than a little unsettled.

  “What’s wrong? You look like you don’t feel well.” Taylor leaned forward, grabbing at something under her desk and then sitting upright to hand him a small wastebasket.

  Roman shook his head, waiting for her to set the can down before speaking. He looked at her, wincing when she took so long to look him in the eye.

  She hesitantly raised her gaze to his and Roman’s whisper filled the space between them. “Why?”

  At least Taylor didn’t do him the disservice of pretending to not know what he was talking about. She closed her eyes and scooted her chair closer to the desk, leaning forward to rest her elbows on the top and then to rest her forehead in her hands. “Ugh. I was supposed to be floating. No one is supposed to know.” She took a deep breath and dropped her hands to the surface of the desk. Her chest rose and fell as she studied him. “Why do you need to know? It really doesn’t have anything to do with you.”

  But it did.

  “Are you kidding? It has everything to do with me. How can you say that?” Roman couldn’t stop staring at her, as if he could change her mind just by watching her. Could he get his thoughts to cross to her through the short distance between them?

  “We only have a couple weeks to the reveal. We’re almost there. You’ll probably win and then… what? You’re just going to leave? I don’t understand.” Roman shook his head. He couldn’t explain why he was so upset. No, he could, but his pride held his tongue silent.

  “I’m not going to win and you know it. Stephen won’t even talk to me, now. I don’t know how to deal with you. I mean, you’re everywhere, you know? I can’t escape you. I can’t escape what happened or the comments from people when they see me, knowing you’re here.” She didn’t
look upset as she smiled sweetly from her spot behind the desk.

  “Why aren’t you bothered by this? Your words are saying one thing while your expression and tone are saying something completely different. I don’t understand either.” Roman leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “Why are you doing this?”

  That’s all he needed to know. Maybe if she had a good reason, he could accept it and move on. He doubted it, but maybe? Most likely not.

  Taylor blinked; her eyes bright with suddenly unshed tears. “I need to do this, Roman. I need this.”

  Roman stared at her, disbelief holding him hostage. He finally swallowed, his words husky. “Be honest. Is it me?” He could take it if it was something he had control over.

  Taylor shook her head, her lips pressed together as she flattened her palms on the desk. “No. Actually, as cliché as it sounds it’s me. I actually am paying attention now and I can say that paying attention to myself… I finally can say that I’ve been lonely. So lonely. I thought it was just the pain of you leaving, but it’s everything. I can’t find anyone here because you’re everywhere. You left, but your memory is everywhere I go. I can’t go anywhere and not see you in my mind’s eye or hear about you in any conversation. I’m just…” She swiped at her cheeks and lifted her chin. “I’m doing this for me. I need to recover. There is no us. There hasn’t been for a long time and I need to stop thinking there’s a possibility we will be again.” She smiled tightly at him and then looked pointedly at the door before looking back at him.

  “What about the contest?” Roman couldn’t believe how lame the question sounded as he struggled to find a reason for her to stay around as long as possible.

  She sighed and then stood, walking to stand beside her office door. “I’m staying through the contest and planning on leaving the day after. It’s not a big deal. Trust me. You’ll be fine wherever you end up. No one will even miss me. If you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.” She smiled politely at him but avoided looking directly at him.

  Roman couldn’t argue with that. Not right then. He also couldn’t stand there when she’d distinctly told him to leave. His breeding prevented him from forcing the issue while trying to hold onto his manners.

  As he strode from the house, he decided right then and there that no matter what it took, he wasn’t going to let her go without a fight.

  A fight he could accept rejection after because at least he could say he tried his best.

  Chapter 30

  Taylor

  Between packing and looking over reports of the contestant dates from her sisters, Taylor couldn’t believe how fast the time had passed to the reveal.

  She nervously paced back and forth in the staging area behind the presentation set in the center of town.

  She’d walked through the throng of people standing around with their complimentary cups of cocoa and sugar cookies. Christmas Eve had come on with a vengeance and Taylor had barely been able to get presents for her family in the rush to finish the contest strong.

  Even if she stayed, she wouldn’t do the contest again. There was too much she couldn’t control. One thing she’d learned about herself since Roman had arrived was that she needed at least a modicum of control. She had to be able to say what was going to happen in some instances. Not all, but some.

  That shouldn’t be too much to expect or want.

  There was a general excitement in the air that was definitely contagious. The town as a whole made the Christmas Carnival a part of their individual family traditions.

  Taylor brushed her hands down the front of her red blouse and took a steadying breath. She’d tried to look her best without looking like she was trying to upstage Olivia. It was Olivia’s night as she was matched to someone who should make her happy and be her happily-ever-after. If she picked who Taylor had matched her with, Taylor had no doubt she would be happy.

  She moved toward the corner as more people arrived. It didn’t matter how much she had relaxed on the scheduling. The part of her that demanded she was early to everything would never die.

  She rolled her head on her shoulders, staring at the fake holly and mistletoe pinned here and there for a random effect that was more jarring than it was anything else.

  Taylor would have to recommend her sister Tanya for the decorating committee the next year. If anyone could turn a mess into a crowning masterpiece, it was Tanya.

  Roman suddenly stood at Taylor’s elbow.

  She jumped when she realized he was there. “Roman, you scared me.” She shook her head and moved back a couple inches. More space between them could only be beneficial to her heart.

  “Taylor, we need to talk.” Roman kept his voice down but not the need in his tone.

  She shook her head, spying Mr. Gentry motioning for them to join him past Roman’s shoulder. “Look, now isn’t the time. Mr. Gentry is ready for us. Good luck.” She smiled and brushed by him. She didn’t want to stick around when they were only bound to get in a fight. That would never do – not for her and not for the publicity of the contest or the town. Let alone the families.

  “Wait, no. I don’t want to fight. I need to talk to you. It’s important.” Roman grabbed at her arm, pulling her to a stop.

  Taylor glanced around, trying to gauge who was around to see her reaction. She clenched her teeth together and shook her head, pulling her arm from his. He had no idea how long she’d waited for him to come back. He was back and her heart wanted him like he’d never left. She couldn’t have that. She couldn’t love him when it wasn’t returned. Not any longer.

  Roman dropped his hand to his side. His jaw ticked and he nodded tightly. “Okay. Good luck.”

  Taylor’s throat constricted as she realized it was probably going to be the last time she saw him alone. She planned on leaving the next morning and she just didn’t want to hang around for uncomfortable goodbyes. She’d already told her family she wouldn’t be there for the holiday dinner. She’d ignored the texts and phone calls immediately after.

  None of it mattered. All that mattered was getting out of there in one piece.

  She followed Stephen who still wouldn’t look at her onto the stage and to their assigned spots. Roman sat on the opposite side and watched Taylor. She could feel his gaze on her like a heat-laser. She tried to breathe normally, but nothing was working. She had to win and yet that possibility was out of reality. What woman in her right mind would choose anyone over Roman Wilson?

  She certainly wouldn’t.

  Mr. Gentry breezed through the introduction and the welcome to the crowd. Then he announced Olivia to make the announcement on who her match was.

  The crowd fell silent. Everyone, even the children, knew this was a big moment for the town. News reporters stood along the back perimeter of the crowd videoing the event with bright lights shining toward the stage.

  Olivia stood, wearing a becoming white dress with a pattern of red and green poinsettias splashed across the material. Her hair had been twisted into a bun which enhanced the elegance of her neck. She stood demurely at the microphone and podium and looked at the crowd. “I was told to be very brief because Santa is almost here.” She giggled and the rest of the crowd laughed, completely enchanted by the woman before them.

  Taylor couldn’t help but be won over as well. Olivia and Roman deserved each other. She dug her fingernails into the soft flesh of her palms as she waited for the announcement that she’d lost. She even plastered a practiced smile on her lips so the world wouldn’t see how disappointed she was.

  “Roman was exceptionally attentive and sweet and as a suitor he was definitely a great candidate.” Olivia paused and Taylor lowered her eyes to her lap. Yep, here it came. Taylor had lost. Sorry, Stephen.

  “But my match was in Stephen. There’s just something about him that I don’t want to escape. I’m not sure how Taylor Dean did it, but she found me my match when I’m from all the way on the other side of the world.” Olivia moved from the podium and stood before Taylor.


  Snapping her eyes open, Taylor stood, confused as she looked around the applauding crowd. What was going on?

  Olivia hugged her and pulled away, her happiness genuine. “Thank you so much, Taylor. He really is everything I could want in a match.” She beamed and turned toward Stephen who reached up and cradled her face in his hands. He kissed her slow and long and the crowd ate it up.

  Taylor stepped back unsure what exactly was happening.

  A tap on the microphone slowly broke through the crowd’s enthusiasm. Then Roman’s voice pulled the sound to a halt. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ve had one great match tonight. I’d like to announce another. You get the pleasure of two happy-ever-afters.”

  Taylor leaned to the side to see around Mr. Gentry’s surprised form as well. What in the world was Roman talking about?

  “I was dumb eighteen years ago, scared and confused. Rather than walk into the future with the woman of my dreams, I ran away and made my life a nightmare. I came home to escape the loneliness I’d faced and rediscovered Taylor.” He detached the microphone from the podium and moved around the groups to see Taylor more clearly.

  Heat flooded her face. What was he doing? That was totally inappropriate to do on Matching Day. Not to mention everyone else didn’t need to know their business any more than they already did.

  “Taylor Dean.” Roman lowered himself onto one knee and dug into his jacket pocket to pull out a box.

  Taylor shook her head, holding out her hands. “No, I’ve – no, we’ve done the engaged thing. You ran. I’m not doing that again. I can’t.” She blinked back tears that seemed to be ever-present with Roman. “I’m not getting stood up again.” She folded her arms and looked away from him. Seeing him kneeling on the ground just brought back a rush of emotions that she’d thought she’d buried from the last time he’d proposed. She had to avert her eyes from the watching crowd.