Page 83 of Bargain with the Bachelor
I hadn’t even told Hunter yet about my new job, but I blurted the news out to Bonnie.
“I’m moving to New York. I got a job there. It’s in my field, so I’ll finally be putting my degree to use. I found a nice apartment to rent too, and with the new salary I can actually afford it.”
For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why I sounded so defensive.
Bonnie’s brows pulled together. “I see. I’m sorry. I completely misread the situation.”
“No. It’s understandable. We’ve been pretending to date for the Tech House show, but the filming is almost done, and it’s past time I stood on my own two feet and made a plan for the rest of my life.”
Bonnie still looked concerned, but she gave me a smile and a supportive hug.
“Congratulations. I hope the new job and new city are everything you want them to be.” As she pulled away, she added, “Just so you know… Hunter wasn’t pretending.”
A little shell-shocked from Bonnie’s words, I followed her back into the incredible library where Jack was showing off his extensive novel collection to Rachel and Hunter.
“I’m working my way through them now,” Jack said, throwing a warm smile and a wink in his wife’s direction. “When we met, Bonnie shamed me because I’d hardly read any of the classics. I had to get busy or be read under the table by my wife—anewbieauthor, at that.”
Rachel and Hunter both laughed loudly, clearly familiar with the story already.
Obviously Bonnie and Jack had each confided in their siblings about the rocky beginning of their relationship.
Resentment swept through me like a tidal wave, and I suddenly felt like an outsider at this family event.
Bonnie approached Jack, giving him a chiding glance over his teasing remarks, but sliding her arms around his waist.
“I don’t think ‘shamed’ is exactly the right word, honey.”
“You’re right. In reality, you raked me over the coals, called me an entitled jerk, and stormed out of the room.” He laughed.
“Oh my goodness, Jack,” she scolded. “What are they going to think of us?” Turning to the assembly, she explained. “I promise we actually do get along—we just got off to a bit of a rough start.”
He planted a kiss on the top of her head, drawing her closer to his side. “Abit. Of course, shewasdealing with ‘Bestia the Beast.’”
“Former beast,” she corrected, gazing directly into his turquoise eyes, so like his younger brother’s. “He’s completely tame now.”
“Yes, I am,” he growled and whispered something in her ear that made her turn scarlet from the chest up.
“Whew,” Rachel said, fanning herself. “Is that fireplace throwing a lot of heat, or is it just me?”
Hunter laughed at her obvious reference to the chemistry between the newlyweds. Speaking of well-matched couples, Hunter and Rachel both sat on the leather sofa in front of the fireplace.
They weren’t sitting close, but still, it was hard to miss what a pretty pair they made. Her fair skin and copper hair were a lovely contrast to his raven-dark hair and olive complexion.
They’d been getting along swimmingly all night.
Teamed up during a game of Articulate, they’d wiped the floor with the rest of us, quickly guessing the correct answers and finishing each other’s sentences as if they’d been friends their whole lives.
Though I knew I should encourage the friendship, all I could think was that my body would barely be cold, so to speak, when I was neatly replaced in the Billionaire Bachelor House.
And Rachel offered something I did not—she was an award-winning, highly experienced personal chef.
I dreaded the inevitable moment when Hunter put two and two together and offered her the job.
About an hour later, the moment of truth arrived.
“So… how’s Colorado treating you?” Hunter asked Rachel. “Eager to get back to work?”
She rolled her eyes. “If only there was a job to go back to.”
