Page 2 of A Very Titan Christmas
“Nothing wrong with that,” Jared said cautiously.
That was true unless the bubbly PTA type who knew everyone and everything was the mother of your high school girlfriend. Then, it was awkward. Eloise wasn’t power hungry or gossipy. She was simply always in the know about everything and a bulldog who got her way on whatever cause interested her. “All I’m saying is that Eloise Porter was a social butterfly—and that was before starring as a senator’s wife, when football boosters and band fundraisers were the height of her social schedule. Even then, she wasa lotto handle.”
Jared pursed his lips as though he knew he was missing a key element. After a moment, he threaded his fingers intodark hair that showed a hint of gray at the sideburns. “It’s not a one-on-one personal protection detail unless the threat-level assessment is reevaluated. We’ll have a four-person team overseeing travel and posted in her vicinity. I’m thinking Roman and Cash because the three of you have worked together on and off for years. Maybe Jax or Locke—” His gaze narrowed. “Is there something else I need to know?”
Just that Bryce had been in love with the daughter of the senator and Mrs. Porter before he was yanked out of high school and moved across the country. He was seventeen the last time he saw Rachel Porter. With teenage brilliancy, he had a ridiculous white-knight notion that being a dick to her while in school together was better than breaking her heart with a long-distance romance that he hadn’t had the capability to handle. “Nope.”
“Good. You report to Silverberry Ridge by the end of the week.”
CHAPTER TWO
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rachel Porter wrappedher hands around her pumpkin spice latte and stared at the man she’d spent the last six weeks getting to know. If it had been thirty seconds ago, she might have even said she’d been falling for him. Sorta. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”
“It’s not you. It’s me,” her boyfriend—er, ex-boyfriend—explained.
No wonder he hadn’t ordered anything at the counter. “You mean to tell me that youneededto meet me in the middle of the day, nowhere near my office, because you’re dumping me.”
He frowned and shrugged. “It’s not like you have to be in your office.Ihave to be in my office and don’t have much time. Look, Rachel. Our location isn’t the point.”
Actually, it kind of was. He was inconsiderate. He’d always been inconsiderate, yet she’d put up with his lesser qualities because she thought they were building something. Again, sorta. The dating pool wasn’t what it used to be as she crept through her mid-thirties. “You’re an ass.”
“I just didn’t see this going anywhere—”
She set her latte on the little table between them and rubbed her forehead. She wasn’t even lonely and looking for a man. Rachel dated because that was the expectation. Everyone she knew was married and settled down. Her nosy mother wouldn’t let her forget it either. Truth be told, where she lived and worked was more than enough to leave her fulfilled.
Exhaustion curled its heavy hands into her shoulders and pulled at her patience. This guy was a good-looking schmuck, and she’d been trying to convince herself that she was more than halfway interested. “Enough already.”
He had the gall to look surprised, as though he was expecting her to beg him to change his mind. “I never wanted to hurt you, Rachel.”
“I’m not hurt. I promise you.” She was thirty-six and tired of dating. Her mental inventory of current emotions was devoid of hurt and anger. Hell, if she had to nail down an emotion, it would be irritation. She’d traipsed across town for a breakup coffee with a guy whose middle name she couldn’t recall. She couldn’t remember if he preferred dogs or cats or what they did for fun. He was a box filler: someone to tell her mother about so that the over-the-top Eloise Porter didn’t take it upon herself to text, call, and email questions about Rachel’s social life daily.
With her pumpkin spice latte in hand, Rachel abandoned her ex-boyfriend at the coffee shop. With every step farther away from him, her mood brightened. She checked the time and opted to take an Uber to the office. She didn’t need any more stress before asking for what essentially amounted to an overdue promotion.
Traffic was light in the City of Brotherly Love. Everyone in Philadelphia abandoned the city during the last week of November, except, it seemed, Rachel and her editor.
The Uber zipped across town. Her phone buzzed. For a moment, she worried her ex wanted to continue dragging out the breakup through text, but Rachel sighed at the notification. Eloise. Perhaps Rachel had accidentally conjured up her mother after thinking about her newly changed relationship status.
Mom:Let me know if you changed your mind about Thanksgiving.
Rachel:Nope. Friendsgiving is still on. Thanks for checking.
Mom:Does that include a holiday with a special friend?
The wordspecialbounced across her screen, multiplying into a dozen separate words, all bouncing. Rachel wished she could have a quick word with whoever had taught her mom how to animate her text messages. If Eloise didn’t add emphasis with bouncing words, then her mother would have hers explode or shake. Anything to make sure Rachel understood the importance of whatever her mother had texted.
Rachel:No one special, Mom.
Mom:No one special is joining you for Friendsgiving, or no one special in general?
Mom:What about that nice young man you’re seeing?
Mom:Rachel???
Three little dots danced on the screen, showing her mother wasn’t finished with her interrogation. A headache pulsed at Rachel’s temples.
Rachel:About to go into a big meeting. Gotta go.
