Page 4 of Players Like Us
More than once. “Sadly, you have.”
Big huff and then “At least I finally learned. I think Rachel will too, given time and a few positive experiences.”
“We’ll see.” It took Meredith years to learn.
“Anyway, Daniel convinced her to get out of San Diego. He wanted her back in Reunion Gap, but she refused.” Soft sigh. “My husband doesn’t always know how to use a gentle approach and he was a tad pushy, but he was so worried about her.”
Neal got it. If Meredith were in trouble, he’d want to protect her, too. “Guess the do-what-I-say approach didn’t work on her?” Rachel Reese had never seemed the type to sit back and take orders from anyone, especially a man.
“He got her to agree to settle on this side of the country. Not sure why she chose McLean, other than it’s cool and big and near D.C.”
“Okay, and totally unaffordable unless you have a decent job or someone’s footing the bill.” Pause and a curious “Is someone footing the bill?”
Meredith’s voice dipped. “Daniel paid for her to relocate and took care of a few months of rent, but she wouldn’t accept any more.”
“So, what’s the plan when she runs out of funds? And what sort of job does she have?” It couldn’t be much of a job if she didn’t have enough money to cover rent or a move. “Let me guess. She’s some sort of starving artist trying to get the next big break, and all she needs is one small opportunity.” That had to be it. The Rachel he remembered would be the type to dive into life with passion and determination. “Actor? Singer? Musician?” He’d go with the singer...
“None of the above. She’s an interior designer.”
“Ah, is she an employed interior designer?”
“Not sure.”
“I see.” Neal saw a lot, starting with Rachel Reese’s mediocre job opportunities. If you didn’t have a strong portfolio and references, or know someone, good luck getting a design job.
“Daniel wants to help her out, but she’ll only take the money for a few months, and she insists on paying him back.”
The Rachel Reese he remembered was full of spunk and wouldn’t want a handout or a lecture. “Maybe she didn’t like the strings attached to the offer of help.”
Long pause. “You mean like when Dad put money in our accounts and then tried to run our lives?”
“Right. Like that.” They hadn’t been able to access the trust-fund money themselves until they turned twenty-five. Neal had complained and tried to renegotiate the terms, but his father merely laughed and told him he’d get the money soon enough and blow through it before his thirtieth birthday. Nice. Nothing like a father’s encouragement.
“So, will you help me? Daniel wants to make sure Rachel’s not doing something she shouldn’t be doing.”
That left a lot of gray areas. “And what do I do when I gather this information?” He could get her home address, figure out where she picked up her coffee and hung out at night. Then he’d show up and pretend the encounter was a chance meeting. She wouldn’t want to see him any more than he wanted to see her, so he might need the help of a few acquaintances for advanced information gathering. Not a problem because he knew a lot of people. Once he had the details of Rachel Reese’s life, he’d report back to Meredith and then she’d be happy. Neal could continue living his life and Daniel’s sister could do whatever it was she did… And they’d never have to talk about what almost happened that summer night or how they’d avoided each other all these years or why they—
“There is one more thing.”
With his sister, there was always one more thing. “Yes?”
“Daniel just wants you to gather information.”
“I know. You already said that.” He could really use a drink. Neal dragged a hand over his face. Actually, he could use a double.
“And...” Meredith cleared her throat, stumbled over her next words. “There is just one more tiny thing.”
This would be good. He should have known there was more than just the obvious. “What is it, Meredith?”
A whoosh of air filled the line followed by “You have to promise you won’t get involved with her.”
That comment actually made Neal laugh. “Won’t get involved with her? You mean sleep with her?”
Another throat clearing and a prim “Neal. Just promise.”
He stifled another laugh, enjoying his sister’s discomfort. “What if she’s the one who wants to get involved? Would you want me to disappoint her? Leave her sad and wanting?”
“No, I want you to promise.”
