Page 18 of A Very Titan Christmas
Roman closed in on them as though Eloise had an emergency. Rachel could feel Bryce coming closer. “Why?”
“Because we have lunch plans.”
“No, we don’t. We’ve been eating our way through the marketplace.”
Bryce reached them before Roman. His professional demeanor seemed cool and distant. “Ma’am?”
Her insides fluttered. She would have sworn she didn’t have a thing for security guys. Their muscles and gruffness hadn’t done a damn thing for her before, but apparently, they did now. That wasn’t exactly great news.
“Can you take her bags?” Eloise asked.
“Wait, no.” Embarrassment warmed her cheeks. “That’s not his job, Mom.”
“I’m sure he’s happy to help.” Eloise looked up as a third man, whom Rachel had never seen, joined them. “Thomas.”
Thomas didn’t look as though he worked with Bryce and Roman. Dread curled in her stomach. Eloise used the same voice to greet Thomas as she had with Greg. Thomas was older than Rachel by about ten years. He was handsome and overdressed for the Christmas marketplace. The more she watched their interaction, the more confident Rachel was that her interfering mother was about to play matchmaker again.
“Rachel.” Eloise cleared her throat. “I’d like you to meet a friend of your father.” She glanced at the bags in Rachel’s hands, raised her eyebrows expectantly, and nodded at Bryce. “Give him your bags.”
Bryce reached to take them, his neutral expression cemented in place.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“Not a problem, ma’am.”
Did Bryce just ma’am her? Her irritation faded when his fingers brushed hers. Electricity skittered from her fingertips to her elbow, and the hair on her arm stood as if an arctic blast had rolled over her. Icy heat rolled down her spine and colored her cheeks.
Rachel forced her attention back to the conversation with her mother and Thomas. She extended her hand to the attractive, well-dressed man who was about to be put in an awkward position.
“Thomas Nguyen is a neurosurgeon based out of Boston,” Eloise said.
He had a nice handshake, friendly and soft. She imagined all surgeons pampered their hands and that Bryce’s were strong and rough and just as capable. “Nice to meet you.”
Her mom cut Rachel a sharp look that ordered her to put a little more pep into her part of the conversation. “Rachel’s single and lives in Philadelphia.”
Rachel sliced Eloise with a look that was just as pointed in return.
“She’s a writer,” Eloise added, “who can work from anywhere.”
“Your mother said you might relocate to Boston.”
“Did she?” Rachel managed through gritted teeth.
“Absolutely,” Eloise confirmed. “She’s actually working right now.”
That was it. Rachel was done. She couldn’t leave Silverberry Ridge and lose her cover article. Still, she wouldn’t subject herself, Thomas, Greg, and whoever else Eloise had lined up to this charade. “I’m sorry if there’s been a misunderstanding, but I’m not moving to Boston. I live in Philadelphia. I actually love Philadelphia.”
“But she could move,” Eloise offered, hearing nothing of what Rachel explained.
“But I won’t, Mom. And”—she winced—“I’m sorry if Eloise said something that made you think—”
“Rachel.” Eloise clucked like she was scolding a kindergartner.
Thomas flicked his gaze between them as if watching a tennis match. “I’m sorry, I—”
“I’m seeing someone.” Rachel glared at her mother.
Thomas inched away as if understanding he’d walked into an entirely different situation than he’d expected.
