Page 39 of Players Like Us
“I’m very observant.” Dominic slid into the chair across from Neal’s desk, tapped his fingers on the wooden desktop. “I’ve got a busy night. So why don’t you just tell me what happened?”
Neal shoved the menu aside and blew out a long breath. “What happened? It ended exactly the way I thought it would.” I opened up and got slammed.
The raised brow and narrowed gaze said Dominic wasn’t settling for a half-baked answer that told him nothing. “You just offered me about as much information as a menu that lists ‘drinks’ but doesn’t name them.” He leaned forward, his expression a mix of curiosity and humor. “What happened with Rachel? Did she find out you’re not the broken-down soul living on a trust fund with no ambition and less morals you want everyone to think you are?”
“It didn’t come up.”
“Maybe it should have.”
“If she can’t see the real me through the BS, then what’s the point? Doesn’t matter anyway because she’s not sure she wants to be involved with me on a personal level.”
“Ouch. Did she say that before or after the two of you were involved on a personal level?”
Neal’s expression must have given Dominic his answer because he shook his head, frowned. “That’s cruel. She’s probably afraid. You rocked her world and scared her, and now she’s petrified to admit she cares about you. Probably loves you and all of that other fantasy stuff.”
“Or not.” He’d been back in the city three days and hadn’t received a single phone call or text from her. Yeah, probably not crying over him.
“Aren’t you the one who told me that women are the most confusing yet tantalizing creatures walking this earth and the minute you think you understand one, you’re done? I’m pretty sure it was you who told me that.”
Neal pinched the bridge of his nose, tried to bury Dominic’s words. “Why the hell would you ever listen to me about relationships and women? As if I knew what I was talking about… I only know how to avoid a relationship and disentangle myself from the woman. I never said I knew how to keep one, and certainly not the right woman.”
A smile spread over Dominic’s face, reached his eyes. “So, you’re saying Rachel’s the right woman? Of course she is. Even I can see she’s a keeper. Just wait, once you figure out how not to scare her away, you two will live your happily-ever-after-picket-fence fairytale.”
“Too late.” He never should have slept with her. He knew that, but she had been so persuasive…so soft and sexy and—
“So, what’s the plan? You can’t just ignore her. She’s working on the restaurant remodel so you’ll see her once she’s back in town… And what about Claudia’s? Are you going to own up to the fact that you’re the mystery man in that little scheme?”
It all sounded like a huge, convoluted mess. Why had he ever agreed to keep an eye on Rachel Reese? He should have known from all those years ago and that hot steamy night in the back seat of his car that one day she’d prove irresistible. “I renewed the contract a few weeks ago but once it expires, I’m done. As for this place, I’ll see her eventually.”
“Ah, eventually. Where does that leave the two of you?”
Where indeed? “It leaves us where she put us—nowhere. If she had to think about whether or not she wanted a relationship or anything with me, then I’ll save her the time and the confusion. I’ve rescinded my offer.”
The deep belly laugh rolled over Neal, made him fling a string of curses at his best friend. “Rescind your offer?” More laughter, louder, deeper. “How does a person rescind feelings? Please tell me because I’d like to know. When you write out a step-by-step version, you could probably go on the speaking circuit and write a book. You’d make a lot of money. I’ve never met anyone who could control emotion or love by simply willing it.”
Neal forced a smile, tossed out words that made Dominic howl. “Well, now you have.”
“This is going to get messy. I can already feel it.”
Neal muttered another curse. “There’s no messiness about it. We’ve got a contract for the restaurant, she’s going to do her job, and that’s it.”
The raised brow said that was definitely not going to be the end of the story, but Dominic let it go. “Right. So when she calls for a meeting, do you want to be present or would you like me to handle it?”
“I want to be present.” She didn’t know if she could commit to him? She needed time? Sure, she could take all the time she wanted because she’d missed her window. “I think it’s time she found out who’s bankrolling this project.”
Rachel hadn’t seen Neal since he left Reunion Gap the morning after the birthday party. She’d been confused, scared, unsure of her feelings for him. And then he’d gone and pressed her for a commitment? Did he even understand what that meant? Sure, he could say he wanted to be with her, but what did that really mean and for how long? A week? A month? Until she was no longer a challenge? No longer interesting or appealing? It had been too much, her senses overloaded where nothing made sense, and all she wanted to do was get away and think.
But the next morning, the truth seeped through her, clutched her heart, and settled in her soul. She cared about Neal Alexander, and it wasn’t because he was a challenge or that he’d once rejected her. No, the truth was that he made her feel… Made her think about herself and admit to emotions she’d rather not confess to having. How about letting go of the anger associated with her brother, the judgments, the blame? Hadn’t he told her a person couldn’t blame someone for the choices he made in his life? The parents he had, the siblings, the good and the bad?
Oh, they’d had some very wild debates about that one, but he’d been right. Neal had been right about a lot of things, especially about them and how he wanted a chance with her. There’d been a lot of heat in those words when he’d implied an all-in, more-than-just-for-now relationship. And what had she gone and done? Run away. Refused to think about it.
Rejected him.
He didn’t deserve that. Neal Alexander deserved to know she cared about him because he was worth caring about, and he didn’t have to pretend with her. She should have called him, apologized for turning him away and she’d been ready to do that. But when she arrived at Tate and Charlotte Alexander’s home the next morning, he was gone.
Neal isn’t here. Tate’s expression had been kind, apologetic.
Gone? When will he be back?
