Romancing My Love (Love in Bloom: The Bradens) Contemporary Romance

by Melissa Foster

  “Much.”

  THE ASTRAL RESORT was known for the casino, but the restaurants were close behind, with stellar reputations and world-renowned chefs. Even at seven thirty in the morning, the kitchen Rebecca was working in smelled heavenly. Rebecca had been paired with Daphne Wrigley for her training period, which she was thrilled about because they’d hit it off right away. Daphne had a mass of fiery red corkscrew curls cropped just below her ears, catlike green and slightly slanty eyes, and flawless olive skin, save for a spray of freckles across the bridge of her upturned nose. She had to be in her fifties, at least, but her snarky attitude made her seem much younger.

  “Always look the customers in the eye, and if they get touchy, which they will, just fend them off with smiles, and lots of darlins or if only I wasn’t married.” Daphne lifted Rebecca’s left hand and looked at her ring finger. “It doesn’t matter that you’re not really married.”

  “Flirt well, got it.”

  “Bigger tips that way.” Daphne glanced at Rebecca’s butt. “Shake it, wiggle it, shift it around, and your tips will triple.”

  “Triple?” Pierce would love that. He’d looked so cute when he was jealous. She’d never been with a man who was jealous, and she liked the way he’d handled it with humor instead of in a controlling fashion that would have sent her running for the hills—and running was the last thing she wanted to do.

  “Triple.” Daphne pointed out where to turn in her orders and showed her around the kitchen so she’d know exactly what she was doing.

  She had been trying not to think about the fact that Pierce owned the resort, but it was hard not to as she took in the massive stainless-steel kitchen with twenty or more employees bustling about. How did one person manage to own so many resorts? It seemed overwhelming to her, but Pierce was perfectly at ease. The few times he’d been reading over his documents or on the phone, discussing business, he was completely focused and serious, but as soon as he hung up, he was perfectly relaxed with her again. He’d even gone from a heated discussion with a man named Jeff to the bedroom with Rebecca five minutes later and, good Lord, the man didn’t miss a beat. She realized now that she hadn’t thought to ask if they should keep their relationship on the down low, but she assumed so, given his position.

  “Did you memorize the whole menu?” Daphne asked.

  “Of course. Marlow tested me on it.” Marlow was the kitchen manager. She was a serious woman with stern, beady eyes and a forced smile. Luckily, she didn’t appear to micromanage, considering that she’d handed Rebecca over to Daphne and then disappeared.

  “Great.” Daphne pressed her shoulder to Rebecca’s and lowered her voice. “If a customer asks you how something’s made and you forget, just compliment them on what they’re wearing or their hair or something. They always forget and move on.” She nodded as if she knew all the tricks, which Rebecca was sure she did.

  The breakfast rush kept her on her toes, but orders were simple morning fare. No complications other than gluten-free waffles and egg whites. That she could handle. When it came time for her lunch break, Daphne pulled her aside.

  “Whatever you do, make sure you’re back on time. Marlow hates tardiness.”

  “I’m just going to look over the employee board to see if I can find a room to rent.”

  “You’re looking for a room?” Daphne’s eyes widened.

  “Yeah, if I can find one I can afford.”

  “I haven’t posted it, but Henry and I are looking for someone to rent a room.”

  “Henry?” They’d been so busy that Rebecca and Daphne hadn’t had time to get to know each other on a personal level yet.

  “My husband. Been married forever, hon. He’s a good man, my Henry.” Daphne’s voice softened. “You know what they say: Bad things happen to good people, and my Henry, well, he’s a little older than me.” She patted her hair. “He’s sixty-seven, and I’m…forty something.” She winked. “We women count backward when we hit fifty. Anyway, he was laid off from his accounting job at the newspaper six months ago, and we were okay for a while, but things are tight. He’s a little embarrassed about having to rent a room, but we do what we need to.”

  “Well, no one knows that better than me.” Rebecca felt like she could confide in Daphne. She leaned in close and whispered, “I’ve had to stay in my car for a few days.”

  “Oh, Rebecca.” Daphne placed her hand on her forearm and squeezed. “Hon, we own a three-bedroom house about ten minutes from here. Let’s see if we can help each other. Do you smoke?”

  “No.”

  “Into late-night partying?” Daphne arched a brow.

  “No.” Rebecca hadn’t had a roommate other than her mother for so long that she’d almost forgotten about worries like smoking and partying all night long.

  “Drugs?” Daphne asked.

  “No. Really, I’m pretty boring.”

  “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  “Yes. Our relationship is still sort of new.” It felt really good to say that. A boyfriend. She had a boyfriend. Oh my God, I have a boyfriend.

  “Is he trouble? Because we don’t want guys knocking down our door at midnight, or freaking out and causing fights. No loose cannons.” Daphne put her hand on her hip and shook her head.

  “He’s not anything like that. He’s…” Dreamy. “He’s a professional, very nice. He won’t cause any trouble.” Dreamy? Holy cow. Dreamy? What kind of word is that, anyway? That’s never even been in my vocabulary.

  “I guess given your situation, you’re looking for a place ASAP?”

  “Now. Today. This second.” It dawned on her that she might not be able to afford the room. “How much is the rent?”

  “Three hundred, utilities included. Oh, and the room is furnished, so if you have furniture, it may not work.” Daphne touched her arm again. “Please tell me you want to see it.”

  “I do, yes, but honestly, as long as your husband isn’t a crazed rapist or serial killer, I don’t even care what the room looks like. I’ll take it.”

  Daphne’s eyes widened. “For real?”

  “For real. Thank you.” Rebecca said a silent thank-you to her mother, whom she was sure had found more of those heavenly strings after all.

  Rebecca took down the address from Daphne and made arrangements to follow her over after work; then she retrieved her purse and went into the break room to check her texts. She was so excited about a finding a place to live that she was ready to burst. I’m doing it, Mom. I’m going to be okay. She realized that it had been so long since she’d had any exciting news to share, other than this job, which she’d shared with Pierce, that she didn’t have anyone to tell. She would tell Andy when she went back to the gym, but when she saw that she’d received a text from Pierce at eight o’clock that morning, sadness pressed in around her. She couldn’t share this with him. He didn’t know she’d been sleeping in her car, and if she could help it, he wouldn’t find out until it was part of her past, not her present.

  She read his text. What have you done to me? I can’t concentrate on a darn thing but you. She held her phone against her chest, relishing in the warmth flushing through her body and memories of the look in his eyes when they were making love last night.

  She thought of how sincere he’d been when he’d said, Bec, I don’t want any secrets between us, and the way he looked at her when he’d asked if she was running from something. Maybe she was running after all. Running from a world of pitiful looks and sighs. Running from what she could have been if she weren’t as determined as she was. But she couldn’t tell him that, either.

  No, she couldn’t tell him any of it. As painful as it had been when she’d pretended not to know why he’d asked her if she wasn’t telling him something, or if she was married, she’d had to do it. Pierce had a big heart, and if he’d heard she was staying in her car, he would have wanted to save her. It wasn’t his fault he was chivalrous. He just was, and she loved that about him as much as she disliked it when it came to her circu
mstances.

  No, this was one secret—the only secret—she’d ever keep from him, and as soon as they were together long enough, she’d reveal that secret to him carefully. He would have to understand that she held it back only to allow their relationship to grow and flourish, pity-free.

  ACQUISITIONS WERE LIKE heroine. The mere thought of them brought a rush of adrenaline, and the craving for the next one never receded. Pierce had always been that way. Even as a kid, if he wanted something that belonged to one of his siblings, he’d strategize and plan, then negotiate until it was his. Pierce loved almost every step of the decision-making process, from deciphering the numbers and quantifying the return on investments to the actual negotiations. The only part of the process that wasn’t invigorating was the due diligence process. Pierce didn’t like to wait for answers, and he abhorred dishonesty. When he found a snake in the grass, which he had many times in his business dealings, it not only pissed him off, but pushed him from reasonable to ruthless.

  This week his team of financial experts were handling the due diligence for the Grand Casino. He wanted the Grand in a bad way. It was an older property that sat on a prime piece of real estate, riddled with promise. He was sure he could make it rise to success, but when he’d met with the owner, he’d gotten a bad vibe. It was all he could do to wait out the process and hope he was wrong. He had a feeling he wasn’t. He trusted his gut, and his gut told him something was off. Now it was a waiting game. Mr. In Control had zero control over how things would turn out during the due diligence process, and he hated the feeling of being at anyone’s mercy.

  Except Rebecca’s. He smiled as the memory of her taking control thrummed through him. In the blink of an eye, Rebecca went from lying beneath him, savoring every thrust and every kiss, to pushing him onto his back and driving him out of his mind as she teased and tasted, then rode him hard until they both went a little crazy. Relinquishing control in the bedroom wasn’t new to Pierce. He’d give women a little room to play before. Usually that’s all it was, playtime. Something a woman might do to keep his interest and add a little zest to a sexual tryst. But Rebecca brought control to a whole new level. The way she touched him, holding his hips firmly against the mattress while she made sweet love to him with her mouth and taking him right up to the edge and then moving away, leaving him throbbing, aching, pleading for more.

  Shit. He was getting hard just thinking about it.

  It was five o’clock in the afternoon, and between thoughts of Rebecca and the due diligence that was taking place, every minute had felt like there was a fire under his ass, making it impossible for him to sit still. He’d attended several meetings, and finally he’d taken a walk to the security room, where he was able to sneak a peek at Rebecca in the restaurant through the video surveillance monitors. He’d seen her waiting on tables, looking professional and beautiful, and he filled with pride and much, much more.

  What is it about you, Bec?

  “Something wrong, sir?” Chappie, the security manager, had asked.

  “No. Just had a few minutes and wanted” —to see the woman who is turning me inside out—“to see how things were going.”

  He’d wanted to head down during lunch to say hello, but since it was her first day of work, he didn’t want to create an issue. He knew damn well that the minute anyone found out they were dating, she’d be treated differently, as if she were a direct line to promotions and greatness. It was one reason he’d never dated his employees. He’d been chased by many, some probably not intent only on sleeping their way to a better position, but some, he was sure, had chased him solely for that purpose. There were plenty of cards on the table, and he didn’t need to deal from the house deck. He could thank Treat for that advice. It was good advice, too, except now he was dating someone who worked for him, even if he’d gone out with her prior to her actually being hired.

  And he wasn’t about to stop dating Rebecca, or pretend they weren’t a couple. But he didn’t need to make her first day difficult or confusing, even if staying away from her for more than eight hours was quite possibly the most difficult thing he’d had to do all day.

  He collected his files for the evening with the hopes of seeing Rebecca for dinner. They’d made plans to meet after work, and when his phone vibrated, he hoped it was her. A quick glance at the screen told him it was his sister, Emily, and disappointment washed over him.

  “Hey, Em. How’s it going?”

  “Crazy good. I’ve got a big passive house project for a school in Denver. I’m really excited about it. How are you?” Emily was tall, slender, and as pretty as she was sharp, with dark eyes and brown hair that she wore to the middle of her back.

  “Great. We started the due diligence on that casino I told you about a few weeks ago.” Emily was five years younger than Pierce, and growing up as the only girl in a family of six kids had made her tougher than most women. But Pierce and Emily were close, and he knew that as sharp-witted as Emily was, she was equally as sensitive. He worried about her.

  “Good luck. I hope it goes well. I was talking to Max the other day, and she said she and Treat are having dinner with you this week.”

  “Yeah, they are. They just confirmed this morning for Thursday night.”

  “So…are you going to tell me who she is or do I have to ask?”

  Pierce had been wondering what had spurred the call from Emily, and now he understood. Emily loved to be in the thick of her brothers’ love lives, and earlier that morning he’d told Treat that he wanted to bring Rebecca to dinner with them. The Braden grapevine had obviously picked up speed.

  “Seriously? It’s been what, a few hours since I told Treat I was bringing Rebecca to dinner?” He pictured Emily’s eyes wide, a grin on her face. He was sure the whole family had heard by now, or would hear within ten minutes of their call.

  “Rebecca. I like her name.”

  “Em.” He shook his head. “It’s dinner, not an engagement.”

  “I know, but you never bring women to family events, and even though it’s Treat and Max, they’re family, so…”

  “So you assume it’s something more than a date?” Which it totally was.

  “Yup.”

  He let her answer hang in the air between them, knowing it would only irritate her. He loved Emily, and he didn’t even mind that she pried into his love life on occasion, but she was fun to get a rise out of.

  “Pierce! You’re not going to tell me anything? How about just how long you’ve been dating?”

  “Em.”

  “Give me something. Are you bringing her to Luke’s engagement party?” Her voice was so hopeful it made Pierce smile.

  “Honestly, you’re jumping the gun, Emily. I’m not even sure she’ll come to dinner with Treat and Max. I just wanted the option there. I haven’t asked her yet.” After their intimate weekend together, he assumed that they’d be spending much of their free time together. Now he wondered if he was the one jumping the gun.

  “Okay, that’s got me even more excited. You would never tell Treat about a woman unless you really, really liked her.” She squealed.

  “God, Emily. You need a boyfriend.”

  “Yeah, tell me about it. My brothers are dropping into Loveland like flies. You guys whore away your merry lives while I’m the one hoping for love, and then these amazing women drop from the sky and fulfill your every dream. Totally unfair, Pierce.”

  His heart went out to her. It was unfair. Emily deserved to be happy, and she deserved to be with a man who would love all the things about her that he and his brothers did—including her stubborn attitude and quick wit. “You’re right, Emily. If any of us deserves a great relationship, it’s you. Life’s weird that way.”

  “Tell me about it. All the good men are either taken or gay.”

  He pictured her in her office overlooking the Colorado Mountains, surrounded by drawings of her latest project and daydreaming about finding Mr. Right.

  “There’s an idea. You could get a
sex change, bat for the other team.” He laughed.

  “You laugh. I might just do that.” She sighed. “Well, I just have one question for you, big brother. What is it about Rebecca that flicked your internal switch from playboy to boyfriend?”

  “Boyfriend?” He hadn’t aligned himself with that word in years. Boyfriend. Hm. He liked that where Rebecca was concerned.

  “That’s what Max said, that Rebecca was your girlfriend. Isn’t she? I mean, you wouldn’t bring her to meet Treat and Max if she was just another casino floozy.”

  “No, I definitely wouldn’t. Yeah, I guess I am her boyfriend. It’s all very new, Em. And, to be honest, very powerful. Unreal.” He leaned back in his leather chair and turned toward the window, remembering how ethereal their first kiss had been, and how things had magnified ever since.

  “I want unreal. You’re lucky, Pierce. I’m happy for you.”

  “Thanks, Em. When do you leave for Tuscany?” Emily had been bummed lately, feeling lonely and needing some excitement in her life, so their brother Wes had bought Emily tickets to go see a villa in Tuscany she’d been dying to see. They each had trust funds that had been passed down for generations, but their mother had brought them up to be frugal, and Emily would never have dipped into those funds for what she would call a frivolous trip. The irony was that it wasn’t frivolous at all. She’d earned it in so many ways. Emily had always tried to take care of her brothers, even though she was younger than all but Luke. She watched out for them, helped them anytime they asked, and she was their biggest cheerleader in everything they did. Pierce only hoped that Emily felt the same love coming back to her.

  “I put it off until after the project I mentioned is done. Then I can go with a clear head. I’m excited. It gives me something to look forward to. Hey, Pierce, do you need me to pick up a gift for Luke and Daisy for you?”

  Normally he’d have jumped at the chance to have Emily pick out something nice for his brother and future sister-in-law, but as he gazed out the window, he envisioned picking something out with Rebecca.