by Paige Rion
“She’ll stay here for the time being,” her father interrupted.
“But think about the campaign. It’s better for you as well, because if she screws up again and relapses like you claim she recently did, then you’re worse off. Not to mention, it would be easier to twist this to your advantage. You can turn it into a sob story and campaign against the addictive nature of gambling and—”
“No.” Her father slammed his fist down on the table, and Rachel jumped. “We will smother the rumors, contain the problem. Your mother will stay here and we’ll appear to be the strong family unit that we are.”
Rachel felt a surge in her chest. “But we’re not a strong family unit. Not with her having such a huge problem that’s being left untreated.”
“This conversation is closed.” Her father’s sharp gaze cut her off. She glanced to her mother with pleading eyes, wondering why she didn’t speak up for herself and say something. But she just sat there, avoiding Rachel’s plaintive stare.
The doorbell rang, cutting through the tension at the table, and Rachel shifted her gaze toward the foyer and frowned.
What now?
Her father stood, his expression unwavering. “Our lunch guests are here. I expect you both know how to compose yourselves. This could be a huge endorsement. We need this one,” he said, looking pointedly at Rachel. “I assume you’ll use your friendship to our advantage and seal this one for us. For the family.”
“Friendship?” Rachel’s stomach sank as she said it. Swallowing, she glanced toward the foyer, to the door, trying to ignore the pinpricks crawling up her spine as she guessed who was waiting outside.
“Yes, with Andi and Ford.”
Rachel opened her mouth but said nothing. She had no words, and her father continued, impervious to her discomfort. “Andi Callaway will sway those of our residents who may be thinking of jumping ship because of any rumors. Her ancestors founded this town, so her family’s continued endorsement is needed, while Ford’s fame and notoriety will bring us swing votes. Hell, since coming here and settling down, he’s put Callaway on the map.”
Rachel snapped her mouth shut as the doorbell rang again. “You realize Andi and I haven’t spoken in months. I-I went off with Ford, remember? She still hasn’t forgiven me. She—”
“He chose her,” her father said. “He never had any interest in you. We all know he used you as a distraction and cover story to get Andi away from his media nightmare.”
Rachel sucked in a sharp breath. She already knew this. Of course she did. Regardless, hearing her own father say it so plainly, as though she were worth so little, sliced through her.
“She’ll forgive you. See that she does. If Ashby gets their endorsement instead, we may as well kiss the mayor’s office goodbye.”
Rachel didn’t respond. She said nothing as he disappeared into the foyer and answered the door. She sat there, staring down at the grain in the solid wood table before her, wondering what she would say to the best friend she hadn’t seen in months.
Over the summer after she heard the rumors milling about her family and her father confirmed them, she panicked. Now, she realized her father might have over exaggerated their situation. Either that or he somehow had gotten it under control in the passing months, but at first she thought they were a hair away from losing everything—their money, their house, all their assets. She thought if she made Ford Delaney, the wealthy, celebrity author that he was, fall for her, it would be the solution to all their problems.
But she had failed. Ford had never been hers. She knew that. But she had to try and in doing so, damaged her friendship with Andi. After betraying her and contributing to a media leak, Rachel left with him as his assistant. The next couple months were a whirlwind. The tabloids portrayed Rachel and Ford as a couple, even though they were anything but. While it was true Ford purposely led the media to believe they were an item, he was ever the professional. From the start, he was in love with Andi. If someone didn’t believe in love at first sight after having met them, they were fools.
She tried talking to Andi about the debacle twice since. Both times were complete and utter failures. She reasoned that when Andi was ready to forgive her and talk, she’d come to her. Or maybe she was being a coward, because deep down she knew what she did to her was wrong, even if she didn’t want to admit it. Even Rachel Beaumont—hard as steel—had a conscience. And right now, it was in overdrive.
The one person she never should have hurt, stood just outside her door, ready to join them for lunch.
* * *
They feasted on roasted chicken, butternut squash, spiced apples, creamed spinach, and potatoes. All the while, Rachel picked at her food, pushing it around on her plate, when she wasn’t gripping the sides of her chair to keep her balance. Sitting at a table with both the man who rejected her and her estranged best friend was unnerving, to say the least. Especially when said best friend seemed completely oblivious to her presence.
While they ate, Rachel’s father prattled on about politics, the budget, and the covered bridge restoration project. Andi nodded with muted interest, showing little emotion. And all the while, Rachel couldn’t help but wonder why they accepted her father’s invitation and came. Could it be she was ready to talk? Maybe she was simply waiting for an opening to get Rachel alone?
No matter the reason, Andi’s blunted show of emotion made Rachel more nervous than if she had shot daggers at her with her eyes or lambasted her outright in front of everyone there. The cold shoulder always hurt more than blatant disgust for someone.
Rachel remained quiet most of the meal, only speaking when it was expected of her, and she would’ve sworn each passing second took a year off her life. Pretending to be okay with Andi was too much for her to handle. She missed her friend desperately, and even as she sat there, having the entire length of lunch to think on ways in which she could garner Andi’s trust again, her forgiveness, Rachel’s mind came up blank. She never was very good at apologies, maybe because from the time she was a child, her father ingrained in her the value of sticking to your guns. Admitting you were wrong in her house was a sign of weakness, something you avoided at all costs. When possible, you twisted the truth to meet your needs and prove yourself right.
When lunch finally came to a close, Rachel’s father took Ford into his library to discuss the new reading program for underprivileged kids that he planned to implement upon re-election, while her mother excused herself, leaving Rachel conveniently alone with Andi.
Rachel sat there in the ensuing silence, willing herself to say something, anything, but unable to find the words.
“So, you have nothing to say to me,” Andi said, cutting the quiet with her voice.
Rachel glanced over at her and shrugged, wondering why her automatic response was always to feel defensive. “Are you going to actually talk to me this time?”
“I suppose that depends on what you have to say.” Andi raised a brow and crossed her arms.
Rachel sighed, knowing she was getting nowhere. “After all these years of friendship, why would you throw us away over this? I’ve tried telling you I’m sorry, and both times you wouldn’t listen. You know, if Carma were here she wouldn’t want us fighting,” she added, referring to their best friend that fled the cove that summer.
Andi shook her head. “You just don’ get it, do you? When Ford came to town, you did everything you could to take the assistant position from me, including trying to seduce him. And while it angered me, I was mostly fine with it, because he and that position were fair game. But once I broke up with Peter and he and I actually had a chance to be together, you almost destroyed everything. Because of you and Peter taking the story to the press, Ford left town. And what was worse, you went with him as his assistant. Do you have any idea what that did to me? How alone I felt? How betrayed?”
“You got a huge book deal. You had everything you ever wanted,” Rachel said, her posture rigid under Andi’s gaze.
“Everything I ev
er wanted changed the day I met Ford.” Andi’s eyes softened, and in them, Rachel could see the pain she caused.
Glancing away from her, Rachel played with her hands in her lap. She couldn’t bear to see the sadness she caused. She was sorry her actions hurt Andi. Despite how it looked, that was never her intention. She did what she thought she needed to. She did what was in her best interest, and while some would think that was wrong, to her it was human nature. Protect yourself first. Survival of the fittest. Isn’t that what her father always taught her?
Ford was an opportunity. Wrong or right, he would’ve been her ticket out of Callaway Cove, away from the rumors of her family’s financial hardship, all the while solving those very issues with his wealth and celebrity status. She had seen a future in him, just as Andi did, even if it was one of convenience and not love. So, in the end, was it so bad she threw her hat into the ring? Was it any different?
Though if she had been wrong about one thing, it was to think that her friendship with Andi would always be there. That it was indestructible.
Rachel was happy things worked out for Andi. She truly was—even if her own life seemed on the verge of teetering off the precipice of an edge she couldn’t even see. She only hoped she hadn’t destroyed them forever. So, as she turned back to Andi, she didn’t bother concealing the sorrow in her eyes.
“I’m sorry I hurt you. You have to understand though that even if they weren’t good reasons, I did have a reason for doing what I did. And I had no idea you were actually in love with Ford. I knew you cared for him, but I just thought it was...was sexual tension and chemistry. I didn’t know it was that serious.”
And that was true...for the most part.
Andi tilted her head to the side, as if assessing her. “You know me. I don’t do anything but serious.”
She was right. But that didn’t mean she was going to admit it. “Well, I’m sorry,” she repeated, hearing the pinched tone in her voice and knowing it wouldn’t win her any points.
“What’s going on with your dad?” Andi asked, her expression unforgiving, yet not entirely unfriendly. “What’s all this about?”
“Remember what I told you before your trip with Ford?”
When Andi nodded, she continued. “Well, so far, my father has managed to keep everything under control. Though he keeps pretty tight-lipped about it. He hasn’t mentioned losing the house again, but we’re still in trouble. My mother has a ton of gambling debts and he’s worried about campaign funding and winning re-election if too much of this gets out.”
“Well, you know your family has always had our support. That hasn’t changed.”
“Thanks, but I think he’s after Ford’s support now...” Rachel trailed off and bit her lip, thinking about the whole thing, and feeling relief at having someone to share her feelings with. Even if that someone was still angry with her.
“This whole thing. It’s just weird. He’s acting like we’re in trouble one minute, then doing nothing but talking politics the next. He’s vacillating so much it’s beginning to make my head spin. But there’s something about all this that’s off...” She chewed her lip, running over the details of everything her father told her.
Andi frowned. “What’s that?”
“Well, he fired Marietta a few months ago, remember? Claiming that we could no longer afford a housekeeper. He also got rid of our landscapers. And he hinted at our house being in trouble and needing to auction off the yacht and the sailboat, but then that was it. Nothing else has happened since he let them go. We did have a visit from some men he claimed were my mom’s debtors just yesterday, but other than that, it’s just talk. Business as usual. I don’t know...” Maybe she was totally off the mark. After all, the whole thing wasn’t entirely implausible. But her intuition told her that something wasn’t right. Maybe it was the way her father seemed so passive about the whole thing. He wasn’t actively trying to save them from her mother’s gambling problem or her debts. The only one who actually seemed to be doing something about it was her—at least that she knew about.
“So, what’s he going to do?” Andi asked.
“Hell if I know. But I for one am not going to sit around and do nothing. I already met the guy my mother deals with. Rex. I believe he’s the one that bankrolled her gambling.”
“Rachel, you need to stay out of this. Let your parents deal with it.”
Rachel shook her head. “No. I can fix this. My only future right now is in this family. I have just as much at stake if this blows up in his face. And so, my plan is to gain Rex’s trust, and...” her voice trailed off.
“You’re going to try and make him fall for you.”
When Rachel said nothing, Andi asked again, “Aren’t you?”
“When all is said and done, he’ll be eating out of the palm of my hand. He’ll be so madly in love with me he’ll have no choice but to forgive my mother’s debt and stay quiet.”
Andi stared at her slack-jawed, and then said, “This is so typical Rachel.” She stood and threw her hands up. “I can’t believe I was even entertaining forgiving you! I can’t believe I actually felt bad for you, when you’ve clearly learned nothing these last months.”
Rachel also stood, forcing her shoulders back, poised to defend herself. “And what tactics would that be?”
“Manipulating men. You’ve been doing it since we were kids. Whether it be to get a free ice cream cone, or access to a party, money, or just whatever you want in the moment. It’s always been the same. It’s just what you do. I should’ve known.” Andi shook her head and turned, heading for the foyer. “Tell Ford I’m waiting for him in the car.”
“Hey, you can be angry with me for this. That’s fine. But I’m going to do what I need to.”
Andi opened the front door, then turned to face her. “You always do, don’t you? No matter who gets hurt.”
“Hey, I’m not the bad guy here. Who cares if this Rex person gets hurt? He’s a loan shark. He thrives off other people’s weaknesses. He takes advantage of them.”
Andi laughed, and then said, “Wow. Sounds just like someone else I know. You two are perfect for each other.” Then, without another word, she closed the door in Rachel’s face.
* * *
Rachel stared at the back of the door, trying not to let Andi’s words affect her. Turning, she pressed her back into the cold wood.
She wasn’t that bad, was she? Surely, not. Andi was just still upset with her. She’d forgive her. She had to; they’d been friends too long. Rachel would come up with a plan to make her forgive her.
When her phone rang, she made her way into the dining room and plucked it off the dry bar. She checked the screen. Rex.
Taking a deep breath, she pushed Andi’s words to the back of her mind and answered, “Hello.”
“Rachel Beaumont.” The deep voice boomed through the line.
“Rex. You called so soon.” A tingle up her spine. “Don’t you believe in the three-day rule like most men?”
“In my experience, most men are stupid. I’m calling because I wanted to see you.”
He sounded so confident, so in control, and Rachel couldn’t help but feel another surge of excitement at the sound of his voice. “When were you thinking?”
Silence fell over the phone, but before he could answer her, the doorbell rang. “Hang on a second while I get the door.” She hurried back into the foyer and swung open the front door, expecting Andi.
“Rex.” She sucked in a sharp breath and blinked, feeling her cheeks flame.
He leaned against the doorframe, dressed in a charcoal blazer, black button-down shirt, and dark jeans. A self-satisfied grin moved over his face, making him look absolutely enticing.
“How about now?”
CHAPTER THREE
Colton stood in the doorway of the Beaumont’s’ massive estate, staring into the cool blue waters of Rachel Beaumont’s eyes. He had to admit, if he had to be on an undercover assignment, having the job of winning over the suspect’
s daughter wasn’t a half-bad gig.
Especially when the daughter looked like her.
He trailed his eyes down her body, then back up again, not bothering to conceal the fact that he was checking her out. Girls like Rachel appreciated knowing they were desirable. They liked looking good and having that acknowledged. And look good she did.
Attractive as she was, he knew her type, and it wasn’t his. Not by a long shot. She came from money and had been pampered her entire life, likely put on a pedestal. She probably wouldn’t know how to lift a finger and do some actual work to save her life. She was high-maintenance, entitled, superficial, and lacking much substance. Maybe this assessment of her was harsh, but Colton was well-versed in making judgments for a living. It was his job. Without generalizations, he’d be lost in the field.
Regardless, he had always been good at pinpointing people, and so he figured he was right on once again. Still, his type or not, she had legs for days—long and lean—golden blond hair, pouty lips, round, blue eyes, creamy apricot skin, and a killer smile. But everything about her, from her hair to the way she dressed, screamed money.
Rachel licked her cherry-red lips and crossed her arms over her ample chest. Yes indeed, he rather liked this new development.
“And where do you plan on taking me?” she asked, sounding slightly annoyed.
“I guess you’ll have to come with me to find out.”
She pursed her lips, as if she might say no. But she wouldn’t. Colton knew this. She would enjoy his aggressive nature, the spontaneity of him showing up at her house, unexpectedly, and whisking her away, which is why he risked showing up there in the first place. Had her father answered, Colton would’ve had to make up some excuse, said he needed to discuss business. Somehow, he didn’t think that the mayor would want his daughter dating someone he dealt with illegally. Beaumont may be a dirtbag, but that didn’t mean he wanted his daughter dating someone like “Rex.” Not only for her sake, but because no matter what business the mayor was doing behind closed doors, he still had a reputation to protect.
