“Thanks for sticking up for me.” Rachel’s smile slowly faded. “But maybe it’d be best to let it go rather than fuel the flames. You have such a great relationship with the media. Your fans love your good-guy image. Let me be the bad guy. I don’t care. Why sully your good reputation over one incident?”
“Because you mean more to me than my relationship with the press.”
“Aw. My hero.” She kissed him so deeply, he closed his eyes to fully enjoy it. Then she whispered, “I’m sorry I messed up your daring rescue last night. Thanks for trying.”
“No, thank you. Now I know I’m completely safe with Quick-Draw Rachel by my side.”
She laughed. “I bet those paparazzi will think twice before messing with me again. I wonder if there is any such thing as a purse-sized cattle prod?”
“If there is, I’ll buy you one. Now can you please get off me so I can shower? I have that meeting I mentioned after my press conference.” Her honest concern for him, and her hot body on top of his, was making it difficult to keep his hands off her.
Rachel stayed right where she was. “Not all of you wants me to let you go.” She wiggled her hips, making things worse. “Is that a can of pepper spray in your boxers, or are you just happy to see me?”
“I’m always happy to see you.” He kissed her. “Let’s compromise. If you can get through the party tonight without spraying anyone, maybe I’ll reconsider the no-sleeping-together rule? Affare fatto?”
“Yes. Deal.” She grinned and rolled off him. “But I wanted to talk to you about something before you run off.”
“What’s that?” He flipped back the covers and stood, stretching out his arms above his head.
“Now you’re just taunting me with that hard body of yours. I can’t even look.” She threw her arm over her face. “I was thinking maybe we should talk to Ally about being our nanny while she figures out her life.”
“Really?” He dropped back onto the side of the bed. “Even after the way she spoke about you?”
Rachel moved her arm aside and nodded. “It occurred to me last night when I was getting ready that there’d be no one more loyal to your kids. And you said she’s smart and trustworthy. We wouldn’t have to worry about her selling out our lives to the tabloids. That goes a long way with me.”
He’d like nothing better than for Ally and Rachel to be friends. “Maybe I should ask her alone? She’s a little sensitive about you at the moment.”
Rachel sat up and leaned against the headboard. “I think I should ask her. She’d be living in Denver with me and the kids, at least for the short term, so we need to clear the air between us if it’s going to work. But if she says no, we’ll talk to the other nanny your assistant suggested.”
“We’ll do it your way, then. It means a great deal to me that you’d ask Ally.” He stood and started for the shower but stopped when he noticed the locket on the dresser. He’d meant to give it to her when she first arrived. He scooped it up and sat on her side of the bed. “I almost forgot. I have something for you, Rachel. And before you tell me no, this I didn’t buy.”
She sat up straighter and accepted the box. “I saw this yesterday and took a quick peek inside. Is it an antique?”
“Yes. It was my mother’s most prized possession. My aunt sent it to me a few years ago when she found where my mother had hidden it from my father. It’s been in her family for generations.”
“It’s beautiful, Marcello.” She opened the locket, and tears sprang to her eyes. “You put pictures of the kids inside?”
“I wanted you to have them with you while you were here.”
“Very thoughtful of you.” Rachel grinned as she made quick work of the clasp.
To see it resting on her chest brought back warm memories of seeing his mother wear it on special occasions. “It looks lovely on you, bella.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck. “I’ll cherish it.”
He could see that she would. “You are the only one worthy to wear it. I love you, Rachel.”
“And I lo . . . ” She leaned back and scrunched up her nose. “Am at five and three quarters.”
She’d almost said love before she’d stopped herself. “I’ll bet I can earn that fraction of a point tonight. After the party.”
She smiled coyly. “Maybe you can.”
He’d make it his life’s mission.
Rachel took a break from work and gazed at the ocean. To sit outside on a patio, in February, inhaling the salty breeze, was something she could get used to.
She stretched her arms over her head and cringed at the soreness in her shoulders from the paparazzi grabbing her. She’d never get used to being treated like that. What would she have done if the kids had been with them?
Shaking it off because Marcello promised they’d have security in the future, she got back to work. She wanted to catch up on a few things before he got back from his mysterious meeting. She would have given anything to be a fly on the wall at that gathering. As it was, it took everything for her not to call Avery and make her friend spill the deets now that they were both his lawyers. But she’d promised to let him try to solve things his way, and she’d keep her word.
“Hey, Quick-Draw.” Ally flopped onto a chair across from Rachel. “Or do you prefer Demon Girl?”
“It’s Demon Girlfriend. But I prefer Rachel.”
“I can’t believe you accidentally pepper sprayed Marcello.” Ally laughed so hard, she snorted. “I should’ve come along last night after all. Would’ve had a front-row seat.”
“Yeah. That was one for the record books. I still feel awful about Marcello, though.”
“My mom said he was fine this morning.” Ally cleared her throat. “And she reminded me that I wanted to apologize to you yesterday, but I didn’t catch you before you left. So, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said the things I did about you. At least not until I got to know you, anyway.”
It had to be hard for Ally to sort of apologize for protecting someone she loved. Points for her. “Accepted. And no hard feelings. What’d you guys do on your date last night?”
“Went to a party at a friend’s house.” The smile on Ally’s face faded, and she glanced away. “After that, Eric and I got into a huge fight because I wouldn’t sleep with him. My date was only marginally better than yours.”
Rachel closed the lid of her laptop to give Ally her full attention. Being eighteen made Ally an adult, but still a young one. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.” Ally finally looked Rachel in the eyes again. “I would’ve kneed him in the crotch if he’d tried to force me.” She shook her head. “He told me I was a tease, so I should get my own ride home. I used an app on my phone.”
She hated that Ally had been treated like that, but happy she’d stood her ground. “If Marcello hears about this, he’ll go teach that guy some manners.”
“He would. Marcello didn’t think much of Eric to begin with. But maybe I should send you to blast him instead.” Ally smiled weakly.
“I’m never going to live this down, am I?”
“Not anytime soon. But, seriously, don’t say anything about this, okay? Nothing happened, so I don’t want to upset Marcello or my mom. I can take care of myself.”
It was probably a test of some sort. What to do? If that had happened to her daughter, she’d want to lock her up forever. And make the guy pay. But Ally was an adult. “If you stop seeing him, then my lips will remain forever sealed.”
Ally rolled her eyes. “What am I? An idiot? He’s already deleted from my phone.”
“I know you’re not an idiot, Ally. That’s why I was going to find you later and ask you a question. About working for me.”
“Like as a legal assistant?” Ally sat up straighter.
“No. What would you think about being our nanny? Just until you figure out what you want to do. We need someone who we can trust.”
“Be your nanny?” Ally frowned. “I don’t think—”
“Just for
the time being. You could still go to school online. You said it first, keep your enemies closer. You could see the real me and report back to Marcello.” Rachel quickly scooped up her phone and found pictures of the kids. “I should warn you, we have two brand-new puppies too.” She handed the cell to Ally. “Scroll away. There’re a ton of pictures and videos on there.”
“I guess it can’t hurt to see what they look like. To decide if I should make Marcello get that DNA test.” A frown line deepened on Ally’s forehead as she swiped through pictures of the kids and the puppies.
Ally watched the video Lori had sent the other night of Marcello tucking the kids into bed. After watching the other videos, her forehead smoothed out again, and she smiled. “Ian really does look like Marcello. Hannah looks like you. And those puppies are adorable too.”
“Yep.” Rachel withheld her grin. At least it wasn’t a hard no. “I work at home, so I’d be there to help until you figure out their routines. Marcello hired the last nanny at thirty-five hundred a month, so you’d get the same.” That was a lot for a college kid with no experience, but if it’d help Ally get a better start in life, Rachel was all for it. “But only if you’re enrolled in school. We both want you to finish college.”
Ally chewed her bottom lip. “That’s more than I’d make working at the mall or cleaning Marcello’s house. I was going to get some of the core classes out of the way online anyway.”
Rachel sat in silence, waiting as Ally pondered the idea, hoping she’d take the job. But she wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t want to relocate. It was asking a lot. “You don’t have to tell me now. You can think about it and ask your mom.” Throwing her mom in was bound to get a reaction from a barely legal adult like Ally.
“I don’t have to ask my mother for permission.” Ally handed the phone back. “Would I live in your house? Or have to get an apartment?”
Rachel’s hopes soared. “In my house, if you’d like. You’d have your own bedroom and bath on one side. The kids and I are on the other. I don’t have a ton of time to cook, but I’d provide meals too. You could save most of your salary each month if you choose to.”
“I know how to cook. My mom’s a chef, remember? How about a car? I can’t just be stuck in the house every weekend. And if I do the cooking, in return I’d want to quit early on Friday afternoons sometimes. Especially if I have plans or want to fly home for a visit. Can I use the plane to come home on the weekends occasionally?”
Ally drove a hard bargain. Rachel respected that. “I have a slick little Mercedes I used to drive before the kids came along and I had to get something bigger. It’d be all yours. And I can live with knocking off early on Fridays if you’ll cook sometimes. You’ll have to ask Marcello about the plane.”
Ally leaned back and crossed her arms. “Four-thousand a month and you’ve got a deal.”
Rachel tried to look indignant but had to respect the kid for asking. “Thirty-six hundred and all the prior terms, with the addition of a round-trip plane ticket home once a month if Marcello’s plane is too busy for you to use. Final offer.”
“Deal.” Ally’s expression turned smug. “I would’ve still done it for thirty-five hundred.”
Rachel opened her laptop to write up a contract. “I would have gone to four-thousand if you’d walked away. Being willing to walk is always the power play. I’ll have something in writing for you to sign in just a bit. You want to go home with me tomorrow? Or do you need more time?”
“Dammit!” Ally punched a fist into her palm. “You would’ve really gone to four?”
Rachel smiled. “Only for you, Ally, because Marcello trusts you. I don’t trust as easily as he does, so you’ll have to earn mine.”
Ally stood and crossed her arms. “Same goes for you.” She turned and walked away.
Rachel called out, “My trust happens to come with a bonus. Might even get you to four-thousand a month.”
Ally turned and walked backward down the path to the guesthouse. “I won’t kiss your ass for a bonus, Rachel. I’m doing this to ensure Marcello and his kids aren’t getting taken to the cleaners by some crooked lawyer.” She turned around again and continued toward the guest house.
Crooked lawyer? Was that better or worse than a gold-digging bimbo?
Rachel chuckled. That had gone just about as she’d figured it would. The sweet look in Ally’s eyes while she’d watched Marcello with the kids was all Rachel needed to know her children were going to be in good hands. The rest would work itself out.
If she and Ally didn’t kill each other first.
Chapter Ten
Giving up what you love for the one you love, is love.
After his press conference asking for respect and privacy in the future for Rachel, Marcello headed back to his Range Rover. Hopefully, pictures of his face with his burned skin would serve as an example of what could happen when getting a story came before the safety of the subject.
Stella’s suggestion of ending with a promise of another big reveal in return for some space had been a good way to end on a high note.
He wasn’t used to making joint decisions, though, and what he’d promised would surely annoy Rachel. He should have called to see if she was ready to announce the existence of their twins. But not in person. A photo shoot on Monday in Denver so Stella could release the promised pictures Tuesday morning. He’d better do some damage control before Rachel found out what he’d done from someone else.
He opened the door and slid onto the backseat of his car. “Dave, could you please take me to the Beverly Hills Hotel? I have a meeting in a half hour.” He couldn’t meet his father in a public place like a restaurant where someone could alert the press of his presence. He couldn’t afford any public ties to his father.
Dave gave a thumbs-up. “Traffic looks light today.”
“Great. Let’s get out of here before the paparazzi figure out where we’re going.”
“On it.” Dave hit the accelerator and took off for the freeway.
Marcello pulled out his cell and dialed Rachel’s number. She answered with, “Forget to ask me something about the kids before you left this morning?”
She must’ve already seen the press conference online. “Stella is going to manage the pictures the press sees and give them enough to keep them happy, in exchange for some privacy.”
She was quiet for a moment. “Okay, as long as we have final say on what the press sees, not Stella. But I would’ve liked to be included in this decision.”
“I understand. Would it help if I told you that I didn’t know about the photo shoot until a minute before the press conference?”
“Depends. Was your cell phone working a minute before the press conference?”
“It was.” He drummed his fingers on his leg, willing a good excuse to materialize. “Would reminding you that my face still hurts help me out here?”
She grunted. “Knife to the heart. Guilt always trumps boneheaded mistakes.”
“Then I’ll have to remember to keep your supply of pepper spray refilled.” When she laughed, he felt it in his gut. He loved to hear her laugh. He quickly added, “I realized my mistake as soon as I said it. I’m still working on being a team player, not the spoiled actor.”
“Lucky for you, it was just a matter of time before the press found out about the kids anyway. They already know what my last name is and that I live in Denver.”
“So soon?”
She sighed. “Remember Charity from my New York office?”
“The one with the big . . . ” He stopped himself before he got into even more trouble. “The woman who you competed with for partner before you quit your law firm? The one who played dirty?”
“Yes, and you’ll be pleased to know her big chest was on full display for the camera crew she called. She made a point of telling everyone she took my place when I gave up the dream and crawled back home to Denver.”
“Did you? Give up your dreams?” Had she given up all she’d worked for because o
f him and their kids? “We can buy an apartment in New York if you want to go back.”
“No thanks. Charity is welcome to my old job. I actually felt sorry for her today. She has no idea how nice it is to be with the kids all day and still have the luxury of taking conference calls in my PJ’s. Oh, and I have a new nanny now too. Ally said yes.”
“That’s good news about Ally.” He hoped Rachel had meant that about the job, though. She’d been at the top of her profession for many years. “If you change your mind about New York, we can adapt.”
“I won’t. So, does this mean you’re coming home with us tomorrow for said photo shoot? Spending the night before you head out to Canada?”
“If you’ll still have me, yes.” He hated that he had to go to Canada for three weeks without her to wrap up the movie he was working on.
“Well, sleeping in my bed doesn’t come without a price . . . ”
“Mmmm. If I didn’t know you loved me with all but a small fraction of your heart, I’d think you were just using me for my body.”
“I’m planning to use your body a lot tonight. Good luck with your meeting. See you later.”
“Ciao, bella.” He hung up and closed his eyes, relieved Rachel wasn’t angry with him, but the mention of his meeting made his stomach ache.
Time to put a stop to the blackmail, call his father’s bluff.
As they pulled up in front of the hotel, Marcello slipped on his darkest glasses and tugged the rim of the only ball cap he owned. He traded the suit coat he’d worn over jeans for a windbreaker and his loafers for tennis shoes, and then was ready to go. “I’ll text you when I’m done. Don’t go far. This shouldn’t take long.”
“Ten-four, boss.” Dave beamed a big smile in the mirror before his forehead crumpled in confusion. “Whoa. Why all incognito? If I didn’t know better, dude, I’d think you got a hot babe waiting for you upstairs.”
Truly A Match (Rocky Mountain Matchmaker Book 4) Page 11
