by Rhian Cahill
Maybe Caitlyn was right.
Maybe it was the wild rush of love.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Rush signed where Michael, his lawyer, indicated. The man had driven nearly three hours from Saratoga Springs for a forty-minute meeting.
Yep. Forty minutes was all it took to buy a house when you were paying cash.
The real estate agent shuffled around some more paperwork before handing the pile over to Michael, 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.” Michael, 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.”
“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.”
Michael 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 received 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 in the staff quarters at the Lodge all these years had suited him. But he couldn’t continue to live where he worked if he 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. The owners want a meeting with department managers as soon as every can be here. You’re the only one not here so…”
“I’m heading to my truck now.”
“Thanks Rush. 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.
Chapter Thirty-Three
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 Thirty-Four
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 might 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 f
aint, 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, or Roni. My close friends call me Roni,” 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 face-first in Cam’s lap.
“Jesus,” Cam muttered, his hands on 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 and flapping my wings.”
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. Things had been hopping earlier but it was a slow now. One guy sat in the corner nursing the same bourbon he’d held three hours ago. A couple 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 forehead 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.”
“What?”
“Also, do you think it would be all right if I stayed with you, or should I book a room until I find somewhere else?”
“Find somewhere…” He let her go, but only so he could grab her face in his hands. “What are you talking about?”
“I need somewhere to stay.”
“You’ll stay with me until you go home.”
“Ah, well, about that…” She shrugged. “I discovered something when you left last week. Something I’d never realized—and something that changed everything.”
“Okay.” She wasn’t making sense, and Rush wanted to let her get to whatever it was she was trying to say, he really did, he just couldn’t wait another minute to get his mouth on hers. So when she opened her mouth to speak, he took full advantage and kissed her.
Her hands slid up his chest and around his neck, her fingers toying with his hair. He removed his hands from her face and wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her off her feet. Turning, he planted her ass on the bar and nudged her knees apart to make room for him to move in close.
“Well. I’m not sure what’s worse. Being fondled by a drunken guest in an elevator, or finding my bar manager groping a guest on top of said bar.”
Rush tore his mouth from Reena’s. Breathing hard, he stared into her heavy-lidded eyes and smiled. “You’re here.”
“I’m here.”
He ignored Cam, who’d taken a seat a few stools away. “You’re here early, and you need somewhere to stay. Plus, you aren’t sure you can give me every second of my life because my boss,” he tipped his head in Cam’s direction, “wouldn’t be happy if I brought you to work with me.”
Reena nodded.
“Fuck. What did you do?”
She opened her mouth and he placed a hand over it.
“Wait. Give me a second. Jesus. Shit. Okay. Okay.” He sucked in a breath then took his hand away. “Go.”
“After you’d gone, I discovered that home isn’t a place. Not a house, or a city, or anywhere on earth except here.” She pressed her hand to her chest. “Home is where the heart is—and my heart is with you, Rush Whelan. I love you.”
Dear God. His knees shook and he had to lock them to remain upright. “Sabreena.” He cupped her cheek and she leaned into his touch, turned, and kissed his palm. “Baby.”
“So anyway,” she said as she straightened. “I quit my job, packed up my house, and put it on the market, and came to where my home is.”
“Fuck.” His knees gave out. “I need to sit.”
Reena laughed when his ass hit the stool hard. “Nice to know I can sweep you off your feet the way you did me.”
He rested his forehead on her thigh. “Cam.”
“Yeah.”
“I need someone to cover the rest of my shift.”
“Done.” His friend got up and walked around the bar. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I’ll be bringing an assistant.” Rush lifted his head and smiled at Reena. “I happen to know she’s great at taking orders and serving drinks, so I’ll be sure to put her to good use.”
“Really? Does she want a job?”
Reena’s lips curled up as she looked at Cam. “Are you offering?”
“Yes. I’ll have paperwork ready for you when you get here tomorrow.”
Rush stood and lifted Reena off the bar. “You want to work at the Lodge?”
She slipped her hand into his and pressed against him. “If it means you get to see me every second of your life, yes.”
“You have to stop agreeing to everything I want.”
“Why? It’s worked
out really well for me so far.”
She was right, it had. And if she was going to keep doing it… “I want you to live with me.”
“I don’t think we can live in your room here. It’s too small.”
He shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out his keys. “How about a house?”
“A house?”
“I bought a house. For us.”
“You bought a house? For us?”
“Yes.”
“Here? Near the Lodge?”
“No, it’s in a little town around the lake. Broken Bay is straight across the lake from here, actually, but you have to drive around. On a clear day, you can see the Lodge from our deck.”
“When did you do this?”
“Today.”
“Rush, it takes weeks to buy a house. I should know. I’ve spent the last week organizing selling mine, and the agent said even if I got an offer straight away, it would be weeks before the new owners took possession.”
“Yeah, well, the place hasn’t been lived in for a while and you’d be amazed at what you can do with a little bit of money. I told you I had some put away.” He inwardly winced at how much he had.
He’d have to tell her about that, but not now. Now he wanted to take her to the place where their hearts were going to build a home.
“Come on. Let me show you.”
Epilogue
“It’s not that cold. We probably don’t need a fire.” Reena watched the flames dancing in the fireplace of the master bedroom.
Rush’s arms tightened around her. “I know. I couldn’t resist.”
She smiled. “I love the house. It’s perfect.”
“It needs some work,” he murmured.
“What it needs is some TLC.” She turned her head to look at him. “I think we have enough love to go around.”
“We’ve got time.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “First thing we need to do is get a bed. The floor is killing my ass.”
Reena laughed. There was nothing in the house. Not a stick of furniture. Oh, and the electricity wasn’t on either. They definitely had some work to do. “We could sit on the mattress Cam let you bring over from your room.”
