by Rhian Cahill
She trusted Caitlyn. More than she trusted herself, it seemed.
Reena thought she loved him. But having never had sex, she’d wondered if those emotions could be put down to the starry-eyed confusion of a virgin giving her heart to the guy who popped her cherry.
Heat flashed through her. God, had he popped it. He’d blown that thing apart with a load of C-4. It had been the single most spectacular thing to ever happen to her. Until he’d done it again and again and again—
“I’m going to assume that flushed look on your face means you’ve sunk deep into some super-hot memories of how much ‘love’ went on between the two of you.”
Reena glanced at the smirk on Caitlyn’s mouth and more heat burned her cheeks. “Sorry.”
“Oh, no. Don’t be sorry. Never be sorry about amazing sex.”
“How do you know it was amazing?”
“Other than the flushed face, we’ve got dilated pupils, short breaths and a pair of extra-perky boobs.” Caitlyn laughed when Reena crossed her arms over said perky.
“Do you really think I’m in love with him?” she asked, apprehension dropping her belly low.
“You don’t think you are?”
Reena shrugged. “I don’t know. I’ve never…”
“I get that he’s your first, and sometimes girls—women—get starry-eyed and confuse sex with love, but you’re not the type. You’re the most levelheaded woman I know. Mature beyond your years and smart. So very, very smart. Love is often blind and stupid, but take it from someone who’s been there, or thought she was a few times, you’re in love with Rush.”
“We only met last month.”
“It only takes a second to fall.”
“We don’t know each other. Not really.”
Caitlyn arched one eyebrow.
“Okay. Fine. We know enough about each other. I guess. Maybe.” Reena chewed her thumbnail. “But I live here.”
“So move.”
“I can’t—”
Caitlyn held up a hand. “Let’s try it this way. How’d it feel when you woke up alone this morning? How do you think you’ll feel when you walk into your house tonight—when you finally get up the nerve to go home to your empty house?”
God. How did Caitlyn know?
Caitlyn smiled, leaned over and covered Reena’s hand with hers. “Imagine that empty feeling for the rest of your life. Imagine not seeing him every day. Not touching him. Hearing him. Kissing him.”
“Oh god.” Reena dropped her forehead the table. “I’m in love with Rush and I let him leave.”
Caitlyn patted her head. “There you go. I’ll tell Mom you’re quitting.”
“What?” Reena snapped upright. “I can’t quit.”
“Didn’t we just have this argument?”
“It wasn’t an argument. It’s Sunday confessional, remember.” Reena smiled. The emotion welling up inside her was all consuming. Could she really do this? Uproot her life and move hundreds of miles away to be with a guy she’d only known a month? “What will I do about the house?” she murmured.
“Sell it. Rent it out. It’s a minor detail.”
God. She couldn’t believe she was thinking about doing it. “I’ll need to—” Her words were cut off by her phone. Glancing down, she saw the silly picture Rush had taken of the two of them down by the harbor lighting up her screen. “Oh.” Reena fumbled the device, almost dropped it on the floor before she managed to hit accept and bring it to her ear.
“Hi.” Her voice came out a squeak.
“You okay? Did I catch you at a bad time? I thought you were off work now?”
“No. I’m fine. I am. Off work, I mean.”
“Are you sure you’re all right?”
God, it was good to hear his voice.
Reena closed her eyes and imagined him sitting next to her asking that question. Warmth flowed through her. The heavy feeling she’d had in her chest since yesterday morning eased.
“Sabreena?” Rush snapped in her ear. “Talk to me.”
“I miss you,” she whispered.
“I miss you more, baby. God. This sucks. I’m on shift in a few minutes and all I want to do is jump in my truck and drive back to you.”
Reena smiled. “I have some good news.” She glanced over at Caitlyn.
“Tell me it’s that you’re coming to see me soon.”
“It is. How does weekend after next sound?” Could she pack up everything in that time? Probably not, but she could organize some things long distance. Like selling or renting out her house.
Caitlyn leaned over the table and whispered, “I’ll help you.”
“Is that Caitlyn?” Rush asked. “Are you still at work? I thought you said you were off now.”
“I’m still at the pub. Didn’t want to go home yet.”
“Don’t go home. Go to the airport and get the first plane up here.”
“As much as I’d love that, I can’t…but I’ll see you in less than two weeks.”
“Tell me when your plane gets into Albany and I’ll be there to pick you up.”
“Okay. I’ll let you know as soon as I confirm the details.” She had so many details to deal with.
“I gotta go.” Rush sighed. “The next two weeks are going to fucking drag.”
“I know.”
“Message me when you go to bed. I’ll take my break then so I can call and wish you good night.”
“I will. And Rush…”
“Yeah?”
“I…ah, can’t wait to see you.” She’d wanted to tell him she loved him. The words were on the tip of her tongue, except it would be better to wait until she could say it in person. “Bye.”
“Bye, Reena. Stay safe.”
The call disconnected and she lowered the phone from her ear.
She stared at Caitlyn. “Oh god. Am I really doing this?”
“Yes!” Caitlyn held out Reena’s refilled shot glass. “A toast.”
Reena took her glass and waited.
“To the wild rush of love.” Caitlyn grinned at her creative use of Rush’s name.
Reena rolled her eyes, clinked their glasses and threw back the shot. The whiskey burned, shuddering warmth spreading through her chest as it made its way to her stomach. God. That was number three. She’d have to eat something before she attempted to walk home.
The last thing she needed was to stumble home drunk. Then again, it might not be the alcohol giving her this giddy feeling. Maybe Caitlyn was right. Maybe it was the wild rush of love.
Chapter Fifteen
Rush signed where George, his lawyer, indicated. The man had driven nearly three hours for Saratoga Springs for a forty-minute meeting.
Yep. Forty minutes was all it took to buy a house when you were paying cash.
The estate agent shuffled around some more paperwork before handing the pile over to George, along with the keys to the house.
Jesus. He’d bought a house.
He still wasn’t sure what possessed him to do it. The small cabin—if you could call a fifteen-room dwelling “small”—sat on the edge of the water, in the town directly across the lake from the Lodge.
For something that had been vacant for several years, the place wasn’t in bad shape. He’d had to pay extra for the building inspector to come out on Wednesday and give him that news, because once Rush had made up his mind he wanted this place, he wanted it yesterday. So he’d paid through the nose for everything to be pushed through in three days.
For the first time in his life, he’d used his trust fund.
Fuck. He dragged a hand over his head and gripped the back of his neck.
He’d bought a fucking house.
“Well. That’s it. I’m heading back, unless you have something else you need me to deal with.” George, a man in his late fifties who had looked after Rush’s interests for the last ten years, held out the keys. “These are yours,” he said with a smile. “Enjoy.”
“Drive safe. And say hi to Nancy for me.”
&
nbsp; “Will do. She was sorry she couldn’t make the trip today.”
“Once I’m moved in…” Rush glanced around the empty space. Fuck. He didn’t even have furniture. “I’ll get you guys out here for dinner.”
“We’ll look forward to it. See you later.”
George and his wife Nancy had taken Rush under their wings the day he’d walked into the man’s Saratoga Springs office with the letter from his mother’s lawyers, telling him he’d receive a multi-million-dollar inheritance. He’d be forever grateful to the two of them, and while they had a business relationship, Rush knew he could also count on them as friends.
He walked over to the sliding doors that opened out onto the huge deck that ran the length of the house and overlooked the lake. It was a beautiful spot.
Would Reena like it as much as he did? Would she feel what he felt standing here?
Rush couldn’t, and wouldn’t, deny he’d bought the place with Reena in mind. He’d driven past Tuesday afternoon and hadn’t gone a quarter of a mile up the road before he’d done a U-turn and come back. The place had called to him, and when he’d climbed out of his truck and walked around the house and gotten a look at the view…he’d known why.
He loved living on the water, which was why staying at the lodge all these years had suited him. But he couldn’t continue to live where he worked if wanted to build a future with Reena. And even if she didn’t want to move here, they could keep this place as a holiday retreat.
Hell, he had the money, why not use it on something he’d enjoy? Something he hoped Reena would enjoy.
His phone buzzed and he pulled it out of his pocket to see Cam’s name on the screen.
Hitting accept, he brought it to his ear. “Hey, what’s up?”
“I know you’re not on until tonight and you’re busy on the other side of the lake, but—”
“I’m done. It’ll take me twenty minutes to get back, though.”
“You’re not going to ask what I want?”
“Nope. You know what I’ve got going on. You wouldn’t call if you could avoid it.” Rush pulled the front door closed behind him, making sure it locked. Not that there was anything in there to steal. “I’ve got your back, Cam.”
“Thank you. I’ll see you when you get here.”
The call disconnected and Rush climbed into his truck and shoved the phone into its console cradle. He had twenty minutes of uninterrupted time and—he glanced at his dashboard clock—Reena would be home from work by now. Smiling, he turned the key and started the engine then called her.
***
Reena hung up the phone and blew out a breath. “Oh god, that was hard.”
“What? Not spilling the beans?” Caitlyn grinned as she placed another pile of clothes into a box.
They were in Reena’s bedroom packing.
In the past five days, they’d packed up most of the house. Today was the last of it. Other than her three suitcases, which she’d be taking with her on Sunday morning, everything had been put aside for donating or boxed up for storage. The storage stuff had gone yesterday. She still couldn’t believe how quickly they’d managed to organize things.
Caitlyn had helped. She’d taken charge and delegated some job or other to every member of the Collins family. Even Mr. Collins had been there helping. Or course, he’d sat in a chair directing the moving guys instead of doing any heavy lifting, but it still meant Reena could be elsewhere getting more of her life rearranged—or upended, depending on how you looked at it.
“I don’t know how I haven’t told him.” She grinned. “I’m so excited. I have to bite my tongue at least ten times when he calls.”
“It’ll be worth it on Sunday when he sees you,” Caitlyn reminded her.
“God, I hope so.” Reena bit her lip. “What if he’s changed his mind?”
Caitlyn’s left eyebrow arched and the look on her face said “did you just take a stupid pill” but she refrained from saying anything.
Reena held up her hands. “Okay, okay, I’m nervous and worried and excited and why is it only Friday?”
“You could try to change your flight. We’ll have all of this done within the hour. Nothing for you to do except twiddle your thumbs tomorrow.”
“I could…” She’d have to change her car rental too.
What would Rush think when she showed up early? What would he say when he found out she was staying? Would he be as happy as she was?
“Call the airline.” Caitlyn held out Reena’s phone.
She grabbed the phone and went in search of her purse. She’d need her credit card. It would probably cost her to shift her flight if it were possible.
Surprisingly, it only took twenty minutes to change her flight and five to arrange picking up her rental early.
“Well?”
Reena turned to Caitlyn. “I’m on the six o’clock flight.”
“Wow. That’s early. Might not be worth going to sleep.”
She shook her head. “Not six a.m.”
“What?”
“Six p.m.”
“Oh,” Caitlyn said with a frown. “That’s only about fourteen hours ahead of the original.”
“No. Tonight. Six p.m. tonight.”
Caitlyn’s eyes rounded. “But that’s only four hours from now.”
Reena grinned. “I know.”
Chapter Sixteen
Rush smiled through clenched teeth at the woman across the bar. She’d been coming on to him and every other male member of staff since she sat down. He’d cut off her liquor an hour ago and she hadn’t taken the hint that perhaps she needed to go to her room.
He hated doing it, but he’d sent a text to Cam two minutes ago.
Normally he’d handle this type of thing himself. Hell, in the past, he may have taken her up on her blatant offer of sex in those first few minutes of acquaintance. Although he’d never messed with women who had tan lines on their wedding fingers and while this woman’s was faint, it was there. Plus, it had only taken two glasses of wine for her claws to come out.
He didn’t need to be this woman’s scratching post.
“Good evening, Mrs. Delacourt.” Cam slid onto the stool beside their inebriated guest.
“Mr. Newell.” The vulture—and yes, that’s what she reminded Rush of, a bird ready to pick a guy’s bones clean—eyed his friend with the same lecherous intent she’d used on every other male within sight. “Let me buy you a drink.”
Clicking her fingers at Rush, her previous cajoling tone turned commanding.
“Get this man a shot of the best scotch you have.”
Rush raised an eyebrow at Cam.
“That’s a lovely gesture, Mrs. Delacourt, but—”
“Call me Veronica,” she interrupted while attempting to lean in and reveal her obviously surgically enhanced cleavage to Cam. Unfortunately, she’d really had too much to drink, and she toppled forward, almost landing right in his lap.
“Jesus,” Cam muttered, his hands going to her shoulders to keep her out of his crotch. “Time to get you to bed.”
“Yes.” The woman smiled up at Cam. “Take me to bed.”
Cam glanced over at Rush. “This is not happening.”
Rush grinned. “Oh, yes it is, and you, my friend, are the one who has to deal with it.”
“Chicken.”
Rush laughed. “Yep. Yellow as they come.”
Cam got to his feet and hauled Mrs. Delacourt with him, pinning her to his side to keep her upright. Rush might have cut her off an hour ago but the damage had been done. The woman was pickled.
“I’ll be back,” Cam said. “And I’ll want that scotch.”
“Yes, boss.” He saluted him.
Cam rolled his eyes, turned away and stumbled a little before finding his balance. “Make that two,” he called as he all but dragged his practically passed-out burden from the bar.
Rush scanned the room. It was a slow night. One guy sat in the corner nursing the same bourbon he’d held three hours ago. A c
ouple made out in the other corner, the champagne they’d consumed in celebration of their engagement long gone. Then there was the group of four women out to forget all about husbands, children, housework. They were regulars and Rush knew them all by name.
By his calculation, Cam would be back in fifteen minutes, enough time for Rush to restock the refrigerators before he poured his boss that drink.
He made a quick mental note of what he needed and headed into the storeroom. He hoisted a case of Blue Moon and grabbed two bottles of champagne—to replace the ones the newly engaged had consumed—and headed back out.
He didn’t notice the woman at the end of the bar, didn’t look that way until she spoke—and everything inside him stilled.
Sucking air into lungs that had turned into vacuums, Rush placed the two bottles of champagne on the bar and lowered the case to the floor at his feet. Only then did he turn to see if perhaps he’d finally lost his mind.
“Sabreena.”
She gave him a finger wave and a wobbly smile.
“Reena?” He took a step toward her. “I…”
“Hi.” Her smile fell a little. “Um, so, I—”
He vaulted the bar so fast his head spun. Then again, that could be the woman in front of him.
“Reena.” She was in his arms, pressed against his chest so tight he was certain she couldn’t breathe, but he couldn’t let her go. Not yet.
“Rush.” Pushing against him, she managed to put some space between them. Laughing, she looked up at him. “I guess that means you are happy to see me. That stunned mullet face had me worried for a moment.”
“What are you doing here? Not that I’m complaining, but you aren’t supposed to be coming up here until next weekend.” Fuck. She was in his arms. He’d missed holding her so much he wasn’t sure he’d be able to let go anytime soon.
“There’s been a change of plans.” She studied him closely. “How would you feel about seeing me more often than every other week?”
“Reena,” he lowered his brow to hers, “I’d be happy to see you every second of my life, but—”
“Okay.” She grinned at him. “But I’m not sure your boss would be happy if I came to work with you.”