Page 64 of Pretend Girl (The Lucky Girls 4)

I deserve to have fun, right?

I get dressed in black pants, a green top with a scoop neck, and low heels. I pull my hair back in a ponytail and put on a bit of makeup and jewelry. When I’m ready, I walk through the cottage and find Blake on the patio. He’s dressed in a suit, and a table has been set up, complete with flowers and candles and soft music floating from speakers.

“What’s this?” I ask when I walk to him.

He pulls me closer and kisses me.

“A date.”

Chapter 19

Blake

I arranged a private date with Rachel so we could spend time together away from the rest of them. I know I’m here for a business retreat, but I’m doing my part and spending time with the investors and directors as I should.

But tonight is for Rachel and me.

After I talked to her about my past, I feel so much lighter and more positive about where we stand. She means a hell of a lot to me, and for the first time in… well, forever, I feel like I might be able to do this.

I might be able to try a relationship of sorts.

Nothing too serious, of course. Not yet. I’m not ready to jump in head first and hope for the best. But I’ve come a fucking long way to want to see Rachel as more than just a good fuck and a weekend away.

That counts for something.

“What’s this?” Rachel asks when she steps out of the cottage.

I smile when I see her. She looks mesmerizing in her black pants and green top. But it doesn’t matter what she wears, she looks breathtaking every time.

It doesn’t matter what she wears; I want to strip her out of it.

“A date,” I say.

The words are foreign in my mouth. I’ve spent most of my adult life telling women it’snota date.

But I want to impress Rachel. She deserves more than just me getting off, fucking her until we’re both raw, and moving on with my life.

When Rachel comes to me, I pull her closer and plant a kiss on her lips. Her perfume fills my nostrils and I breathe her in. When I let go of her, I pull out a chair for her.

Everything is perfect—the waves whisper in the background, the wind is more than agreeable, and it’s a warm evening.

“This is really nice,” Rachel says when I open a bottle of wine and pour her a glass.

I nod. “It’s good to break away from the crowd sometimes. They can be a bit much. Did you have an okay time with the girls?”

“More than okay,” Rachel says. “Beth and Angela both want a consultation.”

“Oh, really? That’s great.”

She nods and smiles, the excitement lighting up her face. “If I can get customers like them, and they spread the word, I can break away from Ruby Blue a lot sooner than I thought. I’ve always wanted to do my own thing but to have it become a reality so soon…”

“Have I told you how I admire your work ethic?”

Rachel blushes. “You have no idea how much it means to me that you think it’s cool that I have my own thing going.”

“I think it’s incredible. I see so many women who prefer to marry a rich guy so they can shop and drink wine all day.”

“All good things,” Rachel says with a serious face before she breaks out into a smile. “But I’d like to shop and drink wine on my own dime, not on someone else’s, you know?”

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