Better as Friends

by Liliana Rhodes

"And you're thinking about one of my resorts. They're all incredible. Did you have one in mind or would you like a recommendation?"

  "I know the one I want." Walt thumbed through his planner until he found exactly what he was looking for. "Your resort on Bora Bora. Promise me you won't tell him, but my favor involves a woman."

  "You have my word," Drew said. "How can I help?"

  Chapter Two

  Keira Rivera’s grey eyes flashed with anger as she tried in vain to zip her luggage closed. The bag's material was shiny with age and the plastic handle had peeled away to a white layer underneath. She would have loved to buy a new piece of luggage, but after spending her life's savings on this trip, she'd be lucky if she could pay for groceries. In the next room, Keira's roommate fought just as hard with her own bag.

  "Fooey," Monica said.

  "What's going on in there?" Keira said as she entered her roommate's bedroom.

  "I forgot to pack my bathing suit, and now I can't get this thing shut," Monica said. "I'm so excited about this trip that I keep leaving stuff out."

  Monica was sitting on top of her old suitcase. Her stick-straight blonde hair was shooting out in every direction as she yanked on the zipper.

  Seeing how crazed Monica's chin-length bob looked, Keira smoothed her dark hair down and pulled it back into a ponytail.

  "That's why I always have a list. If you plan for these things, then you won't forget them," she said.

  "Yes, yes, I've heard it all before. Let's face it, you're a planner and I'm not. I just can't think far ahead like that." Monica squealed happily as the zipper finally closed. "How are you feeling?"

  "So much better. You have no idea how horrible I felt. I was afraid I'd have to cancel our vacation."

  "Our vacation? More like your vacation," Monica said. "You know I love you, but I was all set on going by myself."

  "Oh trust me, I know. Just a couple of days ago you said you were going to leave me behind if I didn't get better. I know you weren't kidding."

  "I seriously thought you were never going to get better. I mean really, what twenty-six year old gets strep? And not only that, but in June?"

  "I know, I know," Keira said. "I think it was just all the stress from the bar and graduation, it took a toll on me. But that's why this trip is so important. It's my one last hurrah before settling down in my brand-new job."

  "You sure are lucky. You just graduated from one of the most prestigious law schools in Seattle, you got a job at one of the most renowned law firms, and now you're going on this week-long vacation to paradise."

  "It was all part of the plan. I've been planning all of this for as long as I can remember. None of it was a surprise to me. You were there, you remember how I never went out in high school. Even in college, I was the one who stayed in the dorm studying while everyone else was out having a good time. I knew if I made my sacrifices then, I would get my dream job now."

  "Yeah, but you missed out on so much," Monica said. "I mean, have you ever even been on a date?"

  "Of course I have. How could you forget about Darren? We dated for a year in high school."

  "I'd be lucky to forget about him. Talk about bad boyfriends, he wins the prize for the worst."

  "You know what though? I think it was because of Darren that I was able to focus so much in college. If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't have realized how men really are. I almost gave him my V card. I'll never forget the look on Lucy Del Monaco's face when Darren and I showed up at the diner after prom. I knew right then that he had been cheating on me."

  "I still can't believe you're still a virgin. Hasn't there ever been a time where you met someone at a party and you just wanted to rip their clothes off?"

  "No. That's ridiculous. You can't tell me anyone is that impulsive. That's the kind of stuff that only happens in movies and books." Keira thought about how she would love to be swept off her feet like in the books she always read, but what about her career? She had too much at stake to worry about making time for someone else, but there was something that had been nagging her for years.

  "There is one thing I haven't told you yet about this trip," Keira said. "Now that I have all my education out of the way and I have a great job lined up, it’s the perfect time for me to take care of the personal side."

  "You're going to start dating? Did you meet someone? Is he coming on this trip? Yes, I have a lot of questions." Monica giggled maniacally. "I can't believe you didn't tell me you're dating someone."

  "No, I don't have time to date anyone. I just want to get rid of…you know," Keira raised her eyebrows.

  "You can't even say it, can you?" Monica laughed.

  "Of course I can say it, I just don't want to." Keira hated that the word virginity reminded her of her awkward years growing up, so she tried to avoid saying it. "I don't have time for a boyfriend right now, it's not part of the plan. But that doesn't mean I can't do other things. My plan right now is to focus on my career and move up the ladder at the firm. Getting married and having kids is something that can wait. I even got on the pill for this trip just in case something happens."

  "You know with everything going on nowadays, you have to have protected sex. Don't tell me you weren't listening in health class."

  "Of course I was," Keira said. "And that's why I'm on the pill, it's my back-up plan. Nothing is foolproof, but my plan is to be as safe as possible, extra safe if possible. The last thing I need right now is a baby."

  The phone rang, and Keira picked it up on the second ring.

  "Hello?"

  "Keira? It's Walt Goodrich."

  "Oh hi, Mr. Goodrich. Is everything okay?" she asked. Her stomach knotted as she waited for his reply.

  Keira's parents were tutors with some very wealthy clients, and Walter Goodrich was one of them. Walt's son, Griffin, was four years older than Keira, and he was brilliant. Walt didn't want his son to get bored, so he hired Keira's parents to tutor him on various subjects throughout his school years. Keira always tagged along with her parents to their tutoring sessions, something that Walt had welcomed.

  Keira's father passed away the year Griffin graduated from high school, and her mother was so heartbroken that she left Seattle. Walt made sure to keep in touch with Keira and her mother over the years so when Keira's mother passed away during her first year of college, he convinced her to return to the Seattle area to finish her education.

  "Please, dear, when are you going to call me Walt? We've known each other for years."

  He laughed heartily as Keira silently kicked herself. Over the years, Walt had become as close to a father figure as Keira ever had, but it didn't matter. No matter how hard she tried, Keira had a tough time calling him by his first name. Deep down she was afraid if she got too comfortable with him and really let him in, she might lose him just as she had lost her dad as a child.

  "I know," Keira said hesitantly, "Walt. I can't help it."

  "Well you're the big law school grad now and will be starting at Turner and Turner soon. Be proud of yourself and let other people see that. Believe in yourself."

  Keira nodded in agreement.

  "Yes, sir," she said.

  Walt cleared his throat.

  "I mean Walt."

  "That's better," he said. "You should come by the house sometime and visit the family. I'm sure they'd love to see you."

  Keira looked at the thick envelope on top of her queen-sized bed. Inside were the depositions and notes about her first client at the firm, a mattress factory.

  "I don't know," Keira said as she thought again about her mother. "I don't think that's a good idea right now. Maybe after this case is over. I need to keep my focus."

  "Bah, don't remind me about cases. I'm dealing with one right now that is nothing but a money grab," Walt grumbled. "Anyway, I don't want to talk about that. I just wanted to wish you bon voyage. You're leaving in the morning for Bora Bora, right?"

  "Yes, I'm just finishing my packing. I'm trying to squeeze everything int
o this one suitcase to avoid additional baggage fees."

  "You're still using your mom's old set, aren't you?"

  "Of course. Have you seen what they want for luggage?"

  "I have. Do me a favor and go outside," he said.

  Keira recognized the playful tone in Walt's voice.

  "What are you up to?" she asked.

  "I'm an old man, Keira, don't make me wait. Just look outside your door."

  Keira walked to the front door with the phone still pressed against her ear. She didn't know what to expect, but she didn't want to keep Walt waiting.

  As she opened the door, her eyes dropped to a brand-new set of luggage on her doormat.

  "What is this?" she asked, stunned.

  "I think you know what they are," Walt said with a chuckle. "When I graduated from high school many moons ago, my aunt gave me a single piece of luggage as a gift. She told me to use it to explore the world and become the person I was meant to be. I didn't have the money to explore the world, but just knowing that I had someone who cared about me enough to believe I could be something really helped."

  Keira was touched to hear such a personal story from him. She always thought of Walt as this insanely wealthy older man. It was nice to be reminded there was more to him than his appearance.

  "So you bought me an entire luggage set?" Keira asked. "This is too much, Mr. Goodrich."

  Realizing she didn't call him by his first name, Keira quickly bit her tongue and hoped he didn't say anything.

  "You've been in school for all these years. I know you. I know how much you worked for this and how much more you're going to keep working. You want your father to be proud of you, and I know he would be if he was still with us. I'm proud of you, Keira, and I think you're right in taking this time off before you start work. Don't think about anything but enjoying yourself. Use that luggage and become the person you're meant to be, because I know that's someone incredible."

  "I... I don't know what to say." Keira blinked back the happy tears that threatened to spill onto her cheeks. "Thank you...Walt. You have no idea how much this means to me. I promise I won't let you down."

  "I know you won't," he said. "Now promise me you'll let your hair down and have a good time in Bora Bora. No thinking about work or anything else. Just relax and enjoy yourself. Maybe you'll even meet someone and think about settling down."

  Keira laughed as she thought about her plans for the trip. She didn't know if she would really go through with giving up her virginity to a complete stranger, but she definitely wasn't looking to settle down. She chalked it up to the generational gap between them.

  "I promise I'll enjoy myself," she said as she pulled her new luggage into her room, then picked up the thick envelope again. She imagined herself soaking up some sun while reading through the case and smiled to herself. She had planned to get caught up on the case while she was away. Nothing was going to distract her from that. She always followed through with her plans.

  Continue reading Unexpected Plans

  Also by Liliana Rhodes

  Get news about my new releases and sales by signing up for my newsletter—

  Liliana's Email Newsletter

  Liliana Rhodes on Amazon

  The Billionaire’s Whim Series

  Formerly Canyon Cove Billionaires

  Billionaire Romance

  My Boss’s Whim

  Playing the Game

  Tailored for Love

  Won’t Fall Again

  Love to Hate You

  Better As Friends

  Unexpected Plans - Billionaire Second Chance Romance

  Made Man Trilogy

  Mafia Romance

  Soldier (FREE!)

  Capo

  Boss

  Dante (Boxed Set)

  Lucky - Rock Star Romance - 2 book boxed set

  Forbidden Romance

  Standalone Connected Stories

  Forbidden

  Crave

  Tease - Forbidden Romance

  Paranormal Romance

  Wolf at Her Door - Shifter Romance

  His Immortal Kiss Vampire Romance

  The Crane Curse Trilogy

  Paranormal Romance

  Charming the Alpha (FREE!)

  Resisting the Alpha

  Needing the Alpha

  The Crane Curse Trilogy Boxed Set

  For more about me and my books, visit my website at LilianaRhodes.com

  About the Author

  Liliana Rhodes is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author who writes Contemporary and Paranormal Romance. Blessed with an overactive imagination, she is always writing and plotting her next books. She enjoys movies, reading, photography, listening to music, and conversation with her muse. Liliana lives in the Northeast with her son, the love of her life, and their feathered, furry, and finned family members.

  For more about Liliana Rhodes

  www.LilianaRhodes.com

  Liliana@LilianaRhodes.com

  Sign Up For FREE Books

  When you sign up for my email newsletter, you’ll receive A TASTE OF DESIRE, my 3 book series starter boxed set.

  Grab A Taste of Desire by clicking here or on the image above.