Faked (Ward Family #2)(69)

"Is Bauer here?" Richard asked.

Somehow, I kept my smile in place. "I'm not sure."

His eyes searched my face until he nodded. "Ahh."

"Another deception, I'm afraid."

Richard hummed. "Oh, I'm not sure I believe that. Bauer Davis strikes me as the type of man who wouldn't be able to pretend anything."

I sighed. "Maybe he wasn't. But ... either way, it wasn't real yet. When we were there."

"But it became real?" he asked gently.

I nodded. "It did. And now"—I shrugged—"it's hard to think about him." I laughed under my breath. "I'm sorry, I'm sure you don't want to hear about my relationship drama."

He waved it off. "I liked you two. And if you remember, we started this whole thing because you told me what was on your mind."

"True," I conceded.

"I think Bauer has had a hard time of things," Richard said. "He reminds me a lot of myself when I was younger. Maybe that's why I like him so much."

"Stubborn as all hell?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yup. Anyone who's reached success has to be stubborn. Tenacious. Refuse to back down. And I like that fire in him. But it makes it hard to let anyone in when you look at every part of your life that way."

The truth of it made me sigh heavily. "I have my work cut out for me, don't I?"

Richard gave me a kind smile. "I know I said it the first time I met you, Claire Ward, but I'll say it again. I wish I'd had someone like you on my side when I was younger." He patted my arm. "I laid down all my chips in order to grow my fortune. And I've been successful in that, but that money doesn't keep you warm at night, and there are many days when I'm forced to admit that for a long time, I believed the lie that I was better off by myself."

"But how can someone else force you to confront that truth?" I asked. "It's easy for you to say that, but I can't make Bauer open himself to me."

Now, his smile was rueful. "Not from here, you can't."

I slid my hands into my hair and shook my head. "Everyone makes it sound so simple."

"Love is always a risk, Claire. Always. Every day, even when you're together, because the day you stop choosing your partner is the day you risk losing them. That's the truth in love and relationships and business and life. It translates across every line. We make choices in what matters to us, but not everyone is brave enough to take that step without knowing we have someone ready to take it with us."

"Richard," I said slowly, "I think you are the most relationship smart single man I've ever met." He laughed, but I saw the blush cover his cheeks. Impulsively, I went up on tiptoe to give him a soft kiss on the cheek. "Thank you. I needed to hear that."

"You're welcome, Claire." He tucked his hands back into his pockets. "Now what?"

I exhaled slowly. "Well, now I think I need to steal my sister's car and drive up to Whistler."

Richard looked over my shoulder and grinned. "Or maybe you should hold off on grand theft auto for now."

When I turned around slowly, it didn't take me long to see him.

Bauer hadn't seen me yet, and my heart clenched painfully when I saw him reach up and tug nervously on the tie he was wearing. He hated dressing up and coming to this place would be hard for him, but I knew, seeing him framed in the entrance, that he was here for me.

My smile was endless, and my heart soared even further than that to a place I wasn't even sure had a name. That was how far it was beyond any definition I could think of.

The only thing that could've tugged my attention away from Bauer was my sister hustling to my side with a devious grin on her face.

"You little sneak," I murmured.

"Guess who's happy about wearing a dress now?"

"You did this?"

Lia shrugged. "I kinda owed you. Finn helped."

I gave her a quick squeeze. "Thank you."

"Go get him, C." Her eyes were bright with tears, and I felt her happiness for me like a sweet wave.

No one paid me much attention as I crossed the room toward Bauer, who still hadn't quite walked inside. Because he wanted to know I was there, waiting.

His gaze scanned the room, then came to rest on me.

Bauer's chest expanded on a deep breath, and his eyes warmed in his handsome face. His dark hair was slicked back neatly, and he'd shaved. The white shirt covering his chest was starched and neat, the tie a color of blue that matched my eyes.

I loved him.

And I knew without a single word exchanged that he loved me too. He never would've shown up if he didn't.

Bauer strode into the room, and I finally noticed that clutched in his other hand was a basket with a long handle.

"Hi," I said quietly when he stopped in front of me.

But for a moment, he was quiet, just drinking me in. His hand came up slowly, and he slid his thumb along my cheekbone.

"I'm the biggest idiot in the entire world."

My laughter was loud, and Bauer smiled as I nuzzled my face into his palm. "No, you're not," I argued. "You were surprised and out of your element, and you should have heard it from me."

"Don't let me off the hook, princess." He dropped his hand, but his eyes were still fixed on my lips. "I'm so sorry for what I said to you, and I plan on apologizing to Logan and Paige for walking out of their house. I have no excuse."