Rachel gripped her phone. “Sounds good. Bye, Mark.”
She disconnected the call and leaned back against the wall next to her bedroom. Her headache had come on full force now.
Closing her eyes, Rachel willed for some sign to come...something to give her clarity as to what the right answer was for her future.
Finishing her degree and finding a home of her own had to be her next steps. Her feelings for Matt couldn’t override that; her guilt toward her in-laws couldn’t interfere, either. At the end of the day, Ellie’s needs and providing a stable life for her were all that mattered.
Suddenly, she wasn’t so tired anymore. She peeked into the room, pleased when she saw Ellie was fast asleep. Rachel rushed to the office she’d been using and grabbed her laptop before returning to her room. She popped a few ibuprofen to help with her headache since she wanted to try to get some work done.
Over the next hour she polished up the multiple ads that would lead up to the auction. There was so much that went on behind the scenes: social media images to create, newspaper articles to write to draw interest beforehand, radio commercials to schedule and so many other things. This was exactly what she was meant to do. Her love of photography would only help her with her marketing career.
She couldn’t wait to do this on a regular basis for an actual paycheck once her degree was in hand. Hopefully she could do some work from home and stay with Ellie. She hated the idea of finding a sitter, but she’d cross that bridge when she got to it.
The phone vibrated again in her hand, causing her to jump. Rachel’s pulse skipped as a text from Matt lit up the screen.
Be at my penthouse at 7 for dinner. Bring Ellie.
She sighed. Her headache hadn’t completely vanished and she still wasn’t feeling that great. She settled onto the sofa in the sitting room of her bedroom. She didn’t reply to Matt; he didn’t expect one. He wanted her there and they both knew she’d go. Ignoring her need for him wouldn’t make it go away.
Perhaps she should just rest while Ellie was still asleep. Perhaps when she woke she’d feel better and would be able to go to Matt’s. Their time was limited and every day that passed brought them closer to being put back in the friend zone.
Fifteen
Matt ended the call and resisted the urge to throw his phone across his suite. He’d been arguing with Eric once again, only this time over the price. Matt knew what his 51 percent was worth and he wasn’t taking a penny less. It wasn’t like he had to sell for financial reasons. No, this move came strictly from an attempt to save his sanity and take the time to discover something that would make him feel whole.
The knock on his door had him jerking his attention toward the entrance. It was twenty minutes after seven, which also had put him in a bad mood because he’d convinced himself Rachel wasn’t coming. She hadn’t replied earlier and he hadn’t spoken to her.
The concierge had set up quite the spread of food along the wall of the living area. Matt had literally ordered everything off the menu and even asked for specialty items for Ellie. He’d done a bit of research on babies to see what she could eat. He knew she only had three teeth, so he ordered extra cheesy mashed potatoes and some pureed fruit for her.
Matt raked a hand through his hair and pushed thoughts of his business woes aside. Rachel was here and he wasn’t going to let anything ruin his evening.
As soon as he opened the door, he found himself reaching for Ellie as he took in Rachel’s state of disarray.
“What’s wrong?” he demanded as he held Ellie against his chest and ushered Rachel inside.
Her hair was in a messy ponytail, her shirt was wrinkly and she hadn’t a stitch of makeup. She was still stunningly beautiful, but definitely not herself.
What dragon did he need to slay for her? Because the thought of anything wrong with Rachel did not sit well with him.
“I’m not feeling well.” She closed the door behind her and turned back to face him. “I fell asleep while she was down. I started working and the next thing I knew I was waking up, she was gone from her crib and my laptop was still in my lap. Alexis had taken Ellie out and I didn’t hear a thing.”
She was pushing herself too hard. Trying to do it all on her own, and Matt was done with this.
“Sit down,” he demanded. “I’ll get you some food.”
“Don’t fuss,” she stated, but still made her way to the sofa and practically melted down onto it. “You’re always trying to feed me.”
“Because someone needs to take care of you.”
Ellie smacked her little hand against the side of his face and rattled off some gibberish he was pretty sure wasn’t real words.
“Has Ellie eaten dinner?”
“Gus said he gave her some pears and Alexis had the cook make some eggs earlier.” Rachel laid her head against the back of the couch and let out a frustrated groan. “What kind of mother am I that I didn’t even hear her when she woke up or someone came in and took her from the room?”
Matt turned from the array of food and crossed to her. Still holding on to Ellie, he eased down on the cushion beside Rachel.
“You’re a mother who is trying to do too much and is going to make herself sick,” he chided gently.
Ellie reached for her mom and Matt let her go, instantly realizing he missed the warm cuddles. When had he started craving holding a baby? He’d been so consumed with his yearnings for Rachel, this had crept up on him.
“I just needed a nap, that’s all.” Rachel smiled to Ellie and smoothed her blond curls off her forehead. “Since someone started walking, I’m constantly on the move.”
“When do your online classes start back up?” he asked.
“Monday.”
Matt rested his hand on her knee. “I’ll hire you a live-in nanny.”
Rachel jerked her gaze to his. “You’ll do no such thing.”
“Why the hell not? You need the help.”
“Mae, the Slades’ chef, has been helping so much, and I’m not letting you pay for my family.”
Her family. She kept him at an arm’s length—which was what he’d thought he wanted. So why, then, did it irk him so much right now?
“Billy would want me to help you.”
Rachel grunted. “That was a ridiculously low blow.”
Yeah, it had been. “You’re my friend and I want to help. Don’t make this more than it is.”
“We’re fine,” she declared through gritted teeth. “Maybe I should’ve canceled. I’m tired and cranky.”
And not going anywhere tonight.
“Which is all the more reason why you need to be here so I can pamper you.”
She slid him a side-glance. “I’m not here for sex.”
“I don’t always think that’s why you want to see me...though I’m flattered to know getting me naked is clearly on your mind.”
Rachel rolled her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
She turned her attention back to Ellie and lifted her up before settling her back on her lap. “Uncle Matt is silly,” she told her daughter.
The whole Uncle Matt reference seriously grated on his last nerve. He didn’t want to be Ellie’s faux uncle. He wanted...
Hell, he didn’t know what he wanted.
In an attempt to pull himself together, Matt made up a plate for Rachel and a small one for Ellie.
“Come to the table,” he told her.
Matt took Ellie and sat down with her resting on one of his thighs. “I have no clue if this is okay, but hopefully she’ll like what I ordered.”
Rachel glanced around at the spread. “I’d hate to see your bill when you check out.”
Whatever his bill was would be worth it. He’d buy the damn hotel if he wanted just to make sure Rachel was comfortable and cared for. Anything to make her life easier.
“Talk to m
e about the auction,” he said, spooning up a bite of potatoes.
Ellie put her hands right in the bite, then put her fingers in her mouth. Well, whatever. He’d discovered feeding a baby wasn’t a neat and tidy process.
“We added a couple new faces. I’m supposed to shoot their pictures on Tuesday morning.”
The growl of disapproval escaped him before he had a chance to stop himself.
Rachel smiled as she stabbed a piece of filet mignon. “Easy there, tiger. It won’t end like your photo shoot did.”
It sure as hell better not or he’d have a little one-on-one with those guys. Jealousy wasn’t an emotion he’d ever been familiar with, and he sure as hell didn’t want to experience it now. Rachel had made it clear they were back to friends as soon as the auction was over, so he knew he had no right to get all territorial.
“Gus is loving all of this and is constantly looking over the sheet of eligible bachelors,” she laughed and shook her head, causing more golden strands to fall from her ponytail. “The two I added today piqued his interest and he’s ready for Alexis to place her bid.”
Matt gave Ellie a bite of mashed-up strawberries. “Does Alexis have her eye on one?”
“I’m pretty sure there’s only one bachelor she’s got her eye on, but she’s keeping him a secret.”
Matt raised his brows. “Kind of like us.”
Rachel tipped her head. “Not exactly. Alexis has tried to brush me off when I broach the topic, but she has a thing for Daniel Clayton. They’ve been sneaking around.”
“Why would they sneak? Just because of the auction?”
“The Slades and the Claytons make the Capulets and the Montagues look like playmates.”
Interesting. No wonder Alexis had to sneak to see her guy. If Matt didn’t have this damn title hanging over his head and hadn’t been roped into starring as the headliner for the auction, he wouldn’t have to sneak around with Rachel, either.
“Sounds like a mess,” he said.
Ellie swatted at the spoon full of strawberries and it flung back onto his gray T-shirt.
“Oh, Matt, I’m so sorry.” Rachel jumped from her seat and grabbed her napkin to dab at his shirt. “Let me get that.”
“It’s a shirt, Rachel. Relax.”
There she went again trying to do even the simplest things for other people. She had a plate full of food still, and she looked like she was about to fall over.
“I’ve got this and Ellie,” he informed her. “Your job is to eat. That’s all.”
Slowly, she sank back into her chair and dropped the napkin on the table. “Sorry.”
“Stop apologizing.” Damn it, he wished she’d see he was trying to help. “I’ve got this, really.”
Rachel finished eating and Matt ignored the stained shirt and the fact it had soaked through to his chest. Once Ellie was done, he picked her up and grabbed the diaper bag.
“I assume she needs a bath?” he asked, shouldering the bag.
Rachel nodded. “I can do it when we get home.”
“You’re staying here tonight.”
Those doe-like eyes widened. “I can’t stay here.”
Considering she looked like a soft breeze could blow her over, Matt didn’t even consider this a fair fight.
“You’re staying and I’ll give Ellie a bath.”
Rachel smoothed her stray hairs from her face and smiled. “You’re joking, right? If you think dinner is a mess, you should see bath time. She loves splashing.”
“It’s water,” he retorted. “I’ll live.”
Rachel eased her seat out and crossed her arms, leveling her gaze his way. “Don’t do this, Matt. I can’t...”
“Can’t what? Let a friend help?”
“You know what I mean.”
Matt shifted Ellie to his other side and couldn’t deny his heart lurched when she put her head on his shoulder. How could he not fall for this sweet baby girl? She was innocent and precious and, with no effort on her part, had worked her way into his heart. Perhaps it was because she was his last connection to Billy or perhaps because she was a mirror image of her mother. Matt wasn’t sure, but he knew for certain he wanted them both to stay here with him tonight.
“You can supervise,” he told her. “Let’s go.”
Rachel got the water ready to the proper temperature and then started to remove Ellie’s clothes. Rachel sank down next to the edge of the garden tub and sat Ellie in the water. Matt grabbed a cloth and a towel and sat next to Rachel.
Ellie patted her little hands on the water and giggled as she splashed herself in the face. Matt glanced for the soap and wondered if there was something special he needed to use.
“I have her soap in the diaper bag,” Rachel stated, as if reading his mind.
She stood up and went to the vanity to her bag. Matt kept his hand on Ellie’s back, not caring one bit that he was already getting soaked. Ellie’s dimpled smile was infectious, and this familial moment was something he’d never thought he wanted.
Did he want it, though? Doing this one time was a far cry from being a permanent family man.
Damn it. He was getting too caught up in his thoughts and letting his heart guide him. He’d never let that happen. If he’d let his heart and hormones lead the way toward decision-making, he never would’ve become the successful businessman he was today...then again, he wasn’t too happy with that job. At the end of the long, dragging days, he still felt lonely, empty. No matter how many mergers he secured, there was still the fact he came home to a quiet house.
Rachel came back with the soap, and after some more splashing and giggles, they finally got Ellie all washed up. Rachel grabbed a spare outfit from the bag and dressed her daughter while Matt cleaned up in the bathroom.
When he turned to face her, he realized her clothes had gotten soaked, as well. He didn’t need that clingy fabric to remind him of how her waist dipped in and her hips flared. Those curves were made for a man’s hands...his hands.
“Let me get her a bottle,” Rachel said, pulling him from his thoughts. “She’s going to be ready for bed.”
“Why don’t you take a relaxing shower or bath or whatever?” he suggested. “Get a bottle for me and I’ll get her to sleep.”
Rachel patted Ellie’s back and smiled. “You’re really determined to do this, aren’t you?”
Matt reached for Ellie. “I’m determined to make sure you’re safe and healthy, so if I have to feed you, bathe your child, make sure she gets to bed so you can rest, then that’s what I’ll do.”
“We can’t stay here,” she argued, though there wasn’t much heat to her voice. “Ellie still gets up at night to eat, and she’ll wake you—”
Matt put his index finger over her mouth to silence her. She slid her tongue out, moistening her lips, but she brushed the pad of his fingertip. Heat coiled low and it was all he could do not to forget their responsibilities.
Her eyes widened, clearly when she realized what she’d done.
“I’ll be fine,” he growled. “Now, get that bottle and let me get her to bed.”
Rachel finally nodded and Matt eased his hand away. By the time she came back with a bottle, Ellie had started fussing and was rubbing her eyes. The crib was still set up in the living area, so Matt dimmed the lights. He settled in the leather club chair and attempted to find a comfortable position to get into. Rachel stood in the distance and stared, worry etched on her face.
“Go on to bed, Rachel. I’ll stay in here with her.”
“I won’t win this fight, will I?”
Matt smiled. “Good night, Rachel.”
He stared back down at Ellie and wondered how the hell he’d gotten to this point. He never invited a woman to stay all night, and here he was about to spend his second night with Rachel because he couldn’t bear to be away from her. He was getting her
child to sleep like some fill-in dad. What the hell kind of poser was he? This wasn’t what he’d meant to do. He never wanted to fill Billy’s shoes.
Billy. His best friend and the man who had been cheating on his wife just before his death. The secret weighed heavy on Matt’s mind. Rachel deserved to know, but on the other hand, why would he want to put her through more pain?
He didn’t like lying by omission to her. He also didn’t like the way his entire life was turning on its axis because he didn’t even recognize himself anymore.
Most Eligible Bachelor in Texas was now playing house with a woman he shouldn’t want, but couldn’t seem to be without.
He was so screwed.
Sixteen
Rachel hadn’t spent the night with any man other than Billy, but waking in Matt’s bed didn’t fill her with regret. If anything, she felt...complete. Having Matt take care of her when she felt bad, having him not mind looking after Ellie one bit only made Rachel fall for him even more.
She rolled over and checked her phone and was shocked to see it was well after nine. She’d missed a text from Billy’s mother, but she’d answer her in a bit.
Rachel flung the covers back and rushed out to the living room. “I am so sorry—”
She stopped short when she spotted Matt reclined in the corner of the L-shaped sofa. He had pillows propped around him, Ellie sound asleep on his chest and his head tipped back against the cushions. He was completely out.
Well, if that didn’t make her heart take another tumble, nothing would. She knew the friend side of Matt, the one that joked and was always there to lend a hand. Then she’d discovered the deliciously sexy side of him when he’d taken their relationship to a new level.
But seeing him hold her child, mimicking the role of a father, had her questioning just how deep she’d gotten with him. How could she ever reverse such strong feelings? Love was about as deep as it went, and there was no magical switch to just turn it off.
Rachel tiptoed toward them, but Matt stirred. He blinked a few times before focusing on her. A sleepy smile spread across his gorgeous face. This was the sexy side, the side she would never tire of seeing. She only wished they could take the day and spend it in his bed, forgetting the world and doubts and fears.
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