Page 100 of The Last Resort
“If you want to pull out of the …”
Rachel held up a hand, stopping Dan before he could get started on offering her a way to not complete the project. “I’ll book an Uber and see if there is anyone willing to drop me off at the lodge. I’m a big girl, I can handle another breakup on my own.”
There were no more secrets for Matthew to uncover. She had nothing to lose. Gratitude filled Rachel’s heart as she got up from the table. The two people who cared about her had her back, and that’s what really mattered. If she didn’t measure up to Matthew’s standards, there was little she could do about it.
Kellie set a plate of food down in front of Dan, and he winked at his wife. “Don’t worry about getting a ride, Rach. I can take you to the lodge after I’ve eaten,” replied Dan.
“Thanks for being here for me you guys,” said Rachel. “I know—” A knock at the front door interrupted her speech.
“I’ll get it,” said, Kellie hurrying to answer it. She returned a minute later, a wary looking Matthew trailed in her wake.
He halted his steps a few feet away from the kitchen table and gave Dan a brief nod of acknowledgment. “Hi, I’m sorry to disturb your evening.”
Rachel sucked in a deep breath as Matthew turned his beautiful brown eyes fully on her. When he spoke again, his voice was rusty and full of emotion. “Rachel, could we please go somewhere and talk?”
CHAPTER SIXTY-ONE
Rachel didn’t know what to say. In a recent run of embarrassing moments, this would have to be close to the top. “Um.” There went all her best laid plans for keeping things strictly professional with Matthew, for keeping her distance.
He came. He’s here. And he looks so damn cute.
Rachel’s heart was breaking, her only consolation was the look of misery on Matthew’s face. She shouldn’t take comfort in seeing he was also suffering, but deep inside she did. If he was in pain, it meant he cared.
“Rachel, please?” he begged.
She looked to Kellie for guidance, but her sister shook her head. “I’m sorry, Rach but this is your decision. I was standing in Matthew’s place only a few months ago, so I can’t possibly tell you what to do.”
And Dan gave you a second chance.
“Okay. But not here. What’s left of my disastrous love life should be allowed the grace of a private death.” She hugged Kellie, then gave Dan a wave goodbye. “I’ll call you later. Okay.”
“We love you.”
“Make good choices.”
That last one came from Dan, who gave a solid two thumbs up in added support. Rachel sighed and headed for the door. “Love you too.”
At the front door, she grabbed her coat from the peg. She’d just slipped her arms into the jacket sleeves, when Matthew appeared at her shoulder. He unwrapped his beloved Hermès olive green scarf from around his neck and held it out to her. “This always looks good on you, Rach. Please.”
He's going to kill me with lashings of kindness and guilt gravy.
She closed her eyes as Matthew draped the scarf around her. His warm spicy cologne tempted all her senses. Her heart was thumping hard in her chest, as he carefully zipped her jacket up.
He’s always been so gentle with me.
She was still trying to dampen down her rising hopes as he opened the front door and ushered her outside. “Are you okay if we go back to the lodge and talk in private?”
“Yeah, it’s far too cold to stand outside here in the street.”
He reached out and took a hold of her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’m sorry Rachel. I’ve been an ass and when we get home, I’m going to make it up to you. I promise.”
Matthew started the SUV andCrazy in Love,blasted out of the speakers. Rachel leaned over and turned the music down. “Thanks, Queen Bee. I get it,” she muttered. She understood the passion of new love. It really did make a girl crazy.
“Aspen does love it’s classic rock. I’m yet to find a radiostation that plays anything released in the past twenty years,” said Matthew.
“When did Beyoncé become classic rock?”
“The albumDangerously in Lovewas released in 2003. That’s classic rock,” replied Matthew. His shy grin, brought Rachel close to tears. Could they find their way back?
