Chapter 24
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
RACHEL
“I have to dress to impress,” I tell Paige as she’s driving us back to her condo after a long day at work. I’m tired but excited. I’m dying to get home so I can take a shower and wash the fried-food smell off my body, but traffic around the lake is a nightmare, and Paige is on edge because of it.
“Tourists are the worst,” she groans as she lays on the horn, startling the family darting in front of her car. She rolls down the window. “Use the crosswalk!” she shouts at them.
I watch her, shocked. I’ve never seen her act so outwardly rude toward someone before. She’s always sweetness and light. “Are you okay?”
A sigh leaves her, and she grips the steering wheel tightly. “Not particularly. I think I’m jealous, and I hate myself for it.”
I brace myself. “Jealous of what?”
“You going on a date with Wyatt. You already know how I feel.” Paige waves a dismissive hand. “Ignore me. I’m being rude.”
“You’re not being rude, you’re being real.” I pause for a moment, gathering my thoughts, and decide I need to be truthful with her just like she is with me. “I feel . . . bad.”
“Please, do not feel bad. I think it’s wonderful.
Wyatt deserves someone great, and so do you.
” She concentrates on driving for a while, and I remain quiet, staring out the window at all the houses we’re passing by.
We’re near the neighborhood where my family’s vacation home is, and I suddenly spot it, the burned-out second floor a reminder of my utter failure that day.
But if that fire hadn’t started, I would’ve never met Wyatt, and I wouldn’t be where I’m at now. Hashtag no regrets.
“Heard from the insurance agency yet?” It’s like Paige knows what I’m thinking about.
“No.” I shake my head. “They’re not contacting me anyway. My father is the one handling everything.”
“Has he reached out to you about any of it?”
“Not in a while.” I keep my voice light, not wanting to give away how much that bothers me. Because it does. Bother me.
It bothers me a lot.
Though I guess it’s a two-way street. I can contact him if I want to, but . . .
I don’t want to. So there.
“Oh.” She hesitates, like she’s nervous to keep talking about it. “I’m surprised he hasn’t at least texted you with an update.”
“I guess he’s still mad at me that I set the house on fire.” I release the breath I didn’t realize I was holding, my chest aching. “I’m just a constant, giant disappointment in my father’s eyes.”
The car goes quiet, and when I glance over at Paige, I see that her cheeks are red and her lips are twisted into a grimace. Like she’s fuming on my behalf. “Are you okay?” I ask her.
“No. No, I’m not. Your dad is such a . .
. jerk. He needs to open his eyes and see what a badass his daughter is!
Taking on the hungry customers at Mitchell’s every single day is no easy feat.
” We both laugh, but I’m also secretly touched at her compliment.
“Kelcey was right. The tourists are all feral, but you handle yourself well every time you talk to people. They adore you, and so do I. You did great today, Rachel. Don’t let your father make you feel bad.
He just hasn’t seen you in your element yet. ”
Will he ever? Doubtful.
“Can I be honest with you?” Paige asks.
“Of course.”
“I had low expectations for you working at Mitchell’s. I was worried you wouldn’t be able to handle the job, considering you’ve never worked anywhere before. But you’ve gone and exceeded all of my expectations and then some,” she admits.
“Gee, thanks.” We’re both laughing again, but I don’t take offense. I’m sure I was a whiny baby those first few days at work. In fact, I know I was.
“Your father has no idea what you’re capable of,” Paige points out. “You should be proud of yourself.”
My chest grows tight at her genuine words.
I have never felt more accepted in all my life than by Paige and everyone else at Mitchell’s.
By everyone in this town. And Wyatt. I feel like I belong here, which is weird because I never imagined that a small town in the middle of the Sierra National Forest would be where I fit in.
When I was a kid, I loved coming here in the summer, but I was just as eager to go home when vacation ended.
Now, I can barely stand the idea of leaving. Oh, I know I can’t live in Paige’s guest room forever, but I bet she’d let me stay for however long I’d like, as long as I keep paying her rent. The job at Mitchell’s is coming to an end here eventually because they shut down for the season in October.
Maybe I could stay here at least that long. Until October. Then I could go home. Autumn in New York is a truly beautiful thing, and I love the idea of returning right when the leaves turn and the air grows chilly . . .
“Look, I’ve been thinking about it, and I don’t know how to tell you this, so I’m just going to say it,” Paige says, knocking me from my thoughts.
We’re getting closer to her place, and I send her a look, only to see that her expression is dead serious. “What is it?”
“You need to be up-front with Wyatt. He’s been abandoned by a woman before, and that’s why he doesn’t really date. He wants to take care of Dottie, work, and that’s it.”
I mentally chew on her words for a moment. I’ve been wanting to know the story behind Dottie’s mom for a while now, and I keep forgetting to ask Paige about it. Well, here’s my chance. “What happened to her? Dottie’s mom? Did they get a divorce? Or did she . . . die?”
Just saying the word die out loud leaves me feeling hollow. How can I compete with a dead woman who was potentially the love of his life? I can’t. He’s probably still not over her. That’s why he’s remained single for so long—
“No, she didn’t die, but it’s almost like she did.
She ran out on both of them when Dottie was a baby.
They were high school sweethearts, and everyone thought they would be together forever, but she got pregnant a few years after they graduated, and I don’t know .
. . I guess she felt trapped by her life?
Wyatt was all in, but she wasn’t. When Dottie was around a year old, she took off, and she’s never come back. She just up and disappeared.”
“That’s terrible,” I murmur, relieved that he’s not a widower but still sad that the mother of Wyatt’s child left them. I don’t know what it’s like to be a mother, but I can’t imagine abandoning my baby like that.
“It was awful. But Wyatt never complained. Just carried on and became the best dad possible for his little girl. His entire family has stepped in and helped him out. Wyatt is a great guy. Like . . . a stellar guy. Any woman would be lucky to have him as hers, but, Rachel, I have to ask. What’s your plan?
You’re leaving at the end of summer, am I right? ”
“I don’t have a plan. Besides, we’re not even together.” I’m trying to defend myself, but Paige shakes her head, pulling onto the side street where her condo complex is.
“It’s obvious you two want to be. This is the first time I’ve seen Wyatt publicly declare interest for another woman since Cheryl left him.”
Cheryl. I hate her.
“Which means he’s serious about you, Rachel.”
“We barely know each other,” I protest, my voice weak.
“It doesn’t matter. He wants to get to know you, and that’s a big deal for him.
I’d hate to see you break his heart. I don’t know if he could go through something like that again.
” Paige pulls into the complex parking lot and parks the car in her designated spot.
The moment the engine is off, she turns to look at me, that serious expression still on her face.
“If you’re leaving, you need to tell him. Tonight.”
I’m silent, trying to imagine saying that to him. Over dinner? When he’s kissing me? Maybe after he takes me to his bed and fucks my brains out?
Huh. That would go over real well in any of the scenarios I pictured.
“I know it’s none of my business, and you don’t have to listen to me if you don’t want to, but if you care about Wyatt in any way, you know deep down this is the right approach. Being honest and letting him know where your head is at is the only way.”
“You’re right.” My voice is faint as I stare out the window. “It’s the only way.”
“I’m glad you agree.”
I suppose I do.
Don’t I?
* * *
I took a long everything shower. Washed and deep conditioned my hair, shaved every part of my body that I could—God, I miss my aesthetician back home—slathered up my body with my favorite, most expensive lotion, and did one of those Korean sheet masks on my face that left my skin feeling like glass when I peeled it off.
I dried and curled my hair, carefully applied my makeup, and then stood in front of the tiny closet that’s full of my clothes in the guest bedroom, flicking back and forth through the hangers with no solid options.
Like, none.
Wyatt will be here in less than fifteen minutes, and I’m standing in a nude thong and nothing else, cursing under my breath as I pull out that one black dress—nope.
The pink-and-green floral dress I got in the Bahamas last spring? Awful. Too bright, too garish, too obvious.
I want to look nice, but not too nice. I don’t want to seem like I’m trying too hard, and damn it, I feel like every option I’ve got is in the trying-too-hard category.
There’s a loud knock on the front door, and I freeze, running to my bedroom door and slamming it shut. “Will you get that, please, Paige?”
No response. Huh. I have no idea where she is.
I check my phone, but there’s no text from Wyatt, and he said he’d tell me when he was on his way. According to the clock, he’s a solid twelve minutes early. And I was worried I’d look like I was trying too hard?
It’s cute, if it’s him. No one else knocks on our door, so it has to be him.
I hear the knock again, a little harder this time, and I throw the bedroom door open, peeking my head out. I can hear the faint sound of running water and realize Paige is in the shower.
Damn it.
Running back to my closet, I grab a denim dress I’ve never worn, which I feared was too sexy for tonight, tear off the tags—damn, I spent over $300 on this dress—and then pull it on. It fits me like a glove. It’s strapless, the skirt hitting about mid-thigh.
A tad scandalous.
Pausing in front of the full-length mirror that hangs on the wall, I check myself, thinking I don’t look half bad, before I grab my tiny Gucci bag, slip my feet into my brown sandals, and run down the stairs.
Unlocking and opening the front door, I find Wyatt standing there with his head bent and his phone in his hands.
He lifts his head, smiling at me, and I go completely still, taking him in.
Oh God, he’s so freaking hot. Wearing black pants and a white dress shirt, which is untucked but somehow not sloppy. He’s got the sleeves rolled up, showing off his thick forearms, and I stare at them for a second, realizing for the first time that men’s arms are terribly attractive.
“I’m early.” He offers up a half shrug. “I was just about to call you.”
“I was still getting dressed.” I’m breathless. Probably from getting ready so quickly and racing down the stairs. “And Paige is in the shower.”
“Ah.” His eyes do a slow perusal of me, starting at the top of my head and sliding down, down, lingering on my chest, my hips, my legs. My body flushes, my insides quivering when his dark gaze finally meets mine. “I like the dress.”
“It’s not too casual?” I glance down at myself. “Or too short?”
“It’s perfect. Should we go?”
I nod. “I’ll text Paige.”
I pull the door shut behind me and lock it, then follow Wyatt to his SUV.
Well, I don’t actually follow because he pauses to walk alongside me like the gentleman he is.
Standing this close to him, I can see he carefully shaved, his cheeks and jaw smooth and touchable.
And he smells amazing. Like spicy, expensive man, which tells me his cologne is good. I wonder if a woman bought it for him.
I hate her if she did. I hate any woman who’s been with Wyatt, which is an irrational feeling, but it lingers inside of me anyway. I never claimed I was rational. As a matter of fact, I’ve been known to get a little . . . out of hand, here and there.
But that was in my past. Relationships of old that no longer need to be brought up or discussed. Despite the fact that all I want to do is dig for information about Wyatt and his past over dinner.
He opens the car door for me because of course he does, his gaze going to my legs as I pull them into the interior of the SUV.
He shuts the door and jogs around the front of the vehicle, giving me an opportunity to blatantly ogle him.
By the time he’s climbing into the driver’s seat, I’ve got my phone out, sending Paige a quick text.
Wyatt just picked me up. We’re off to dinner!
She answers almost immediately.
Have fun! Use protection!
Will do!
I add the saluting emoji because I know that’ll make her laugh.
Smiling, I tuck my phone back into my tiny purse.
“What are you smiling about?”
“Paige. She said something funny.”
“What was it?”
I shake my head, the smile still curving my lips. “It’s a little embarrassing.”
He lets it go, settling that big hand of his right on my knee, his fingers slipping just beneath the hem of my skirt. I suck in a breath, holding it. Savoring his fingers on my skin, a sensation that seems to spread all over me. Leaving me hot. My head spinning.
I don’t know how I’m going to compose myself and eat dinner like a normal person tonight, but here goes nothing.