Chapter Eight
“Are you finished?” Magnus asked at the end of Eric’s litany of threats. He folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the office desk while Eric paced the office like a caged animal. He couldn’t make it out of the room if he tried, but Magnus hoped it didn’t come to that. It was unfortunate enough that Rachelle had arrived shortly after her brother had been brought to Magnus. He’d hoped this conversation would be done so he could greet Rachelle himself.
Recently, however, the universe seemed to be working against him. Rachelle had already sent a text that implied she wouldn’t wait patiently for their conversation to conclude. Hopefully Phillip had resolved the immediate concern of her phoning the police.
“You’re delusional if you think you’ll get away with this,” Eric spat. “When I get out of here, and I will get out of here, I will destroy you.”
“Terrifying as that sounds,” Magnus said dryly, “I will give you one more chance to agree to come with me of your own free will. All I require is one day of your time. One inspirational visit to a children’s hospital. Perhaps a few autographs. After that, if you still want me to, I will return you to where I found you.” Not exactly how it will go, but he needs to start agreeing to part before he’ll agree to the whole plan.
“You’re fucking crazy. I’m not going anywhere with you.”
With a sigh, Magnus stood and flexed his shoulders. He preferred to do things nicely, but sometimes it wasn’t possible. “In two minutes I will open that door and give you a choice to stay or go. However, life is full of what I call natural consequences. I don’t want to disappoint a young boy who idolizes you, but perhaps his opinion of you will change once word gets out about your drug use. You think your life is hell now. Imagine how the press will hound you when your double life is exposed. There will be nowhere you can hide. How will Water Bear Man fare in the box office once the truth about you gets out?”
“You don’t scare me. Do your worst. I don’t fucking care.”
“It’d be a career ender.”
“You’d be doing me a favor.”
Magnus sat back on the corner of his desk again. He almost had Eric where he wanted him and wasn’t about to relent, but that didn’t mean he was indifferent to the man’s pain. “Finn is ten years old. Ten. The doctors don’t know if he’ll see eleven. He wants to grow up to be as strong and brave as Water Bear Man and wants to meet him. I promised him he would—both meet you and survive. So, regardless of what you think, this is me being nice. If I were you, I’d agree. You really don’t want to test how far I’ll go to make this happen.”
Eric groaned as if trying to wake up. When he looked up again, there was more life in him than Magnus had seen to date. “There’s a lot of superheroes out there. Find one who does appearances.”
Despite his bravado, it was easy to see that whatever Eric’s demons were, they were winning. If Magnus eased off now, he had a feeling the next time he saw Eric might be in an obituary. “This is how it will go down. We’ll fly to Vandorra today. You’ll act as if all of this is your idea and that you’re happy. Reassure Rachelle that everything is fine. Tomorrow you’ll visit the children’s hospital. We’ll stay one night in Vandorra. My father will likely wish to meet you. You will not say a word to him about any of this. The next day you’ll discreetly check into a clinic where I’ve reserved a suite for you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Eric ran his hand through his hair in frustration. “I’m not going anywhere with you, and I don’t need rehab.”
Eric took a step toward the door, but Magnus moved to block him. “Yes, you do.”
“Excuse me?”
“You might as well agree, since I’m not offering you a choice.”
“Buddy, you’ve let your title go to your head. Now get out of my way.”
Magnus took a calming breath. “Listen, I wouldn’t normally give a shit about you, but there are two people I don’t want to see hurt by your stupidity—one idolizes you and the other loves you. You need help, Westerly. I can’t make you take it. But I’m here, right now, offering you a chance to get some without anyone needing to know about it. Your sister believes there’s something in you worth saving. It’d be nice if you proved her right. In fact, she’s here, so you can tell her your decision now.” Magnus nodded for the guard to open the door. “She’s in the library.”
Eric strode out of the office and into the foyer. Magnus followed.
As soon as she saw him, Rachelle flew to Eric and wrapped her arms around him. “Eric, are you okay?”
He stood awkwardly stiff in her embrace, but studied her face. “Of course. You?”
“Just worried. I’m sorry about last night, Eric. I don’t know what I was thinking. I wanted to be there for you, not embarrass you.”
Clearly uncomfortable, Eric stepped back and pocketed his hands. “You’ve never embarrassed me.”
Rachelle’s voice shook with emotion. “If you don’t want me to go to Vandorra with you, I’ll understand. I know you didn’t expect me to show up at your door or the premiere. Nicolette says I have trouble with boundaries. Sometimes I can’t help myself. I had a feeling that you needed me. I just want you to know that even though we were raised apart—you’re important to me. I love you. That’s all. I can go home now, because that’s what I should have said the first day, and it’s what I needed to say before I could leave.”
Westerly’s shoulders hunched slightly. The bold action hero from the big screen wasn’t visible in this man who seemed at a loss for what to say. Magnus felt more pity for him than he expected to, but he didn’t like that Westerly had yet to say he was going to Vandorra. Short of forcibly hauling the actor onto a helicopter, there wasn’t much more Magnus could do.
“I’m not going to Vandorra.”
Shit.
Rachelle’s eyes filled with confusion. “No? But Eric—”
“I never wanted to be Water Bear Man. He’s a ridiculous character with an implausible backstory in a spandex costume. I took the role as a favor for a friend. It was never supposed to be a career. I’m not a role model, I’m a fucking joke,” Westerly said.
Rachelle touched her brother’s arm. “You’re not a joke. You’re an inspiration. Do you know how many children I’ve taught who wanted to grow up to be strong and brave like Water Bear Man? Think about the little boy in Vandorra. Meeting you will give him courage.”
Westerly withdrew from her touch and rubbed his hands over his face. “It shouldn’t. I’m not a superhero. I’m a fucking mess. I don’t want to meet that kid. He’ll see right through me.”
Rachelle looked to Magnus as if he’d know what to say. Magnus didn’t. This was uncharted territory for him as well. Clasping her hands in front of her, Rachelle took a moment to gather her thoughts. “Maybe your career isn’t what you hoped it would be. So what? Everyone I know is still a work in progress. We’re all doing the best we can—hoping to God we get enough right to make up for everything we get wrong. You can’t focus on what you don’t have. Go to Vandorra. That little boy needs to know that you care.” When Eric didn’t immediately answer, she added, “If you go, that’s what he’ll see.”
Eric covered his face with one hand. “One visit. One kid. No press.”
Rachelle looked like her heart was breaking for him. “You’ll be glad you went, Eric.”
Eric raised his eyes to Magnus’s and shot him a not-so-subtle silent warning. “Would you like to come, Rachelle?”
With a tentative smile, Rachelle said, “I’d like that.” Looking as if she’d lost a battle with herself, she threw her arms around Eric again and hugged him. “I was so worried when you didn’t answer my texts last night.”
Eric awkwardly patted her back. “Sorry, I misplaced my phone.”
Rachelle looked past him and met Magnus’s eyes. “That’s funny, I lost mine recently as well. Since I know it’s here, though, I have high hopes of finding it quickly.”
Magnus fought a smile. She’s angry with me. “Things happen. I’m sure it will turn up.”
“I hope so, since I’m not going anywhere without it.”
I do like her spirit. “I find that when I am patient and calm, I don’t lose things.”
She stepped away from her brother, and her chest heaved. She placed her hand on Magnus’s arm. “Could I have a moment alone with you?”
“Absolutely,” Magnus said, surprised at how much he enjoyed even that brief touch.
Eric looked as if he wanted to say something, but he didn’t.
Magnus led the way to the office and closed the door. She had impressed him again. He was also pretty proud of how his plan was coming together. Eric was on board with making the appearance. Rachelle had had her moment with her brother. Finn would meet his hero. If everything else went as well, the trip would end with Eric in a rehab center and Rachelle in his bed.
I should tell her there’s no need to thank me now. What I’m imagining for later will be thanks enough.
The finger she poked into his chest took him off guard. “I don’t know how things are done in your country, but we need to clarify a few points before I go anywhere with you. First, what’s with the goons? They’re freaking me out. Are they keeping me safe or keeping me here? Either way, they’re too much. I was half convinced you were kidnapping me before I saw Eric.”
Magnus smiled, which only made her more angry.
“You think it’s funny to scare people? If so, I hope your country has a second option for a king or I feel sorry for them.”
His humor and smile faded away. “Be careful, little Rachelle.”
Even though she only came up to his shoulders, she stepped closer and put her hands on her hips. “No, you be careful. Don’t become so enamored with power that you forget how to treat people with respect. I was raised around people like that. It’s not pretty.”
“I haven’t treated you poorly. In fact, I have gone way out of my way to help you.”
“Really? If you’re helping me, then why take my phone? That’s not helping; that’s controlling. Don’t confuse the two.”
Magnus sighed. “I was in the middle of something when you texted me that you were about to phone the police. You left me with no choice.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Magnus,” she said angrily. “I’m so sick of people blaming others for their own bad behavior. You always have a choice when it comes to how you treat people. I won’t be bullied. I want my phone back, and I want an apology.” She folded her arms across her chest and glared up at him.
Had anyone else spoken to him in that tone, he would have quickly put an end to such insolence, but it was different coming from her. Perhaps because her motivation was selfless. Her only agenda was the happiness of those she cared about. His mother had been similar and had also taken people to task when they disappointed her. Something his father often said he’d loved about his wife—he was a better husband, father, king, because she had never feared telling him what she thought. Not in public, but in private, as Rachelle had.
Magnus didn’t like that he might have scared Rachelle, nor did he like the way she was looking at him. Her eyes flashed, but not with the desire they’d held the night before. He wasn’t a man who wasted his time worrying about what others thought of him, but he wasn’t comfortable with the opinion she currently had of him.
“Phillip,” Magnus called out. His head of security opened the door. “I believe we have something of Miss Westerly’s.”
“Of course.” Phillip handed the phone back to Rachelle.
“That’ll be all, Phillip.”
Once they were alone again, Magnus took a moment to replay what Rachelle had said. Dr. Stein had said something similar the night before. “It was not my intention to scare you.”
“And?”
“And the guards were meant to be my eyes and ears while I was otherwise occupied.”
“And?”
He almost smiled again, but he was learning. “And I apologize for taking your phone.”
“Thank you.” Her eyes narrowed. “Something doesn’t add up. You said Eric was going to Vandorra, but he hadn’t agreed, had he?”
“No, he had not.”
“Then why did you tell me he had?”
“I did not.”
“Yes, you did. You said—” She stopped and seemed to be going over his words in her head. “You said you would be taking both of us to Vandorra, not that he had agreed. What was your plan if Eric said no?”
“It’s of no consequence now, since he has agreed to go.”
She searched his face again. “Is he in some kind of trouble?”
“That’s not for me to say.”
“Where did you find him?”
“That is another question best answered by your brother.”
She raised her chin. “Did you promise him you wouldn’t tell me? Feel like you’d be betraying him if you did?”
Magnus couldn’t meet her eyes. He had told Eric that this would all go down in a way that no one would find out.
“No matter what you promised, I deserve the truth about Eric. It’s no different than what I must do with information my students give me—”
“Your brother is not a child.”
“You think you have all the answers, but what if you’re wrong?” She moved away to sit in one of the chairs. “What if he needs me and you don’t give me the chance to help him?”
Magnus took the seat across from her. Was this how quicksand felt? Every move he made sucked him in deeper.
Rachelle felt she deserved the truth about her brother, but would knowing help or push Westerly even closer to the edge?
He didn’t want to see Rachelle hurt, but neither would he lie to her. Although he had essentially promised Eric that he’d keep his secret, she had left her job to travel across the world because she was worried for her brother. She deserved the truth. “Your brother has agreed to receive help for what he is dealing with.”
“Is it drugs?” she asked.
There was no point in telling her less than all he knew. Magnus described how he’d found Eric and what Dr. Stein had said. He assured her that the clinic in Vandorra was one of the best in Europe . . . and discreet. He would not be the first, nor sadly the last, they treated for using such sedatives.
She clasped her phone on her lap. “I’ve heard about people using them. Oh my God, why would he take an anesthetic? Doesn’t he know that people sometimes don’t wake up?”
Magnus leaned forward, his hands braced on his knees. “He knows.”
“But he doesn’t care if it kills him? Does he want to die? Has he said he wants to?”
“Not in so many words, but he’s in a bad place, Rachelle. He needs to talk to a professional.”
She bent over as if she was about to retch. “I knew it. I mean, I had a feeling that he was struggling with something, but I didn’t know it was this bad.” She covered her mouth with a shaking hand. “Now I don’t know what to do. Should I tell my family? Should I tell Eric I know?”
They sat there quietly for several minutes. Tension thickened the air. “Why are you helping Eric? You don’t seem to even like him.”
If Eric were one of the citizens of Vandorra, Magnus would have answered that it was his duty to serve his people. Eric, though, was not his responsibility. “I promised Finn he would meet him.”
“You could fulfill that promise without doing more.”
He stood. The realization that what he was willing to do for Eric was tangled up with how he felt about the woman before him was disconcerting. Yes, he was still attracted to her, but there was a quickly developing depth to it that was new to him. She was brave, fiercely loyal, and passionate. He wanted this to work out for her.
Because I care about her.
Rather than attempt to put his feeling into words, he cupped her chin and guided her lips to his. This wasn’t a plundering, but rather a tender invitation. She rose to her feet, and her hands came to his chest as if to push him away, but she didn’t.
When he lifted his head, she stayed where she was, but confusion warred with passion in her eyes. “Are you helping my brother so I’ll sleep with you?”
“What a flattering opinion you have of me.” He brushed his lips over hers again. “You will be mine, Rachelle. It’s only a matter of time. I also wish to help your brother. You will have to trust that one is not contingent on the other.”
“You’re wrong. I’m not going to sleep with you. I don’t believe in casual sex.”
“So, you are still a virgin?”
“No, of course not.”
“Divorced?”
“No.”
“Left at the altar, then.”
She pushed away from him. “I don’t need to explain myself to you, but no, I’ve never made it to the altar. I was, however, in a committed relationship each time.”
“Each time?” He arched an eyebrow. “How committed could you have been?”
Her eyes narrowed. “You are a real ass sometimes, you know that?”
He laughed. “Only sometimes? That’s an improvement.” He tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “Would it help if I told you that I normally avoid complicated, but you’re one hot mess I can’t get out of my head?”
“No, it wouldn’t,” she said, but she smiled cautiously. “But I am grateful for what you’re doing for Eric.”
Progress.
“I’ll take that.”
“Just not that grateful.”
He placed his hand on her lower back to guide her out of the room and decided to have a little fun with how easy it was to rile her up. “Of course, true gratitude will come after I’ve had you.”
She stopped, her eyes flew to his, and he loved that the fire was back. “I wish I could tell if you’re joking.”
“There’s only one way to find out. You’ll have to get to know me.”
Her eyebrows came together in the most adorable frown. “Last night fell apart because I let this—this—whatever this is distract me from why I came to London. I’m here for Eric. Anything else will have to wait until I know he’s okay.”
She needed time—reasonable, considering the circumstances. He checked his watch. “If we leave now, we’ll be in Vandorra before nightfall.”
A short time later, Rachelle accepted an offer of a drink from a female attendant on Magnus’s plane. A glass of wine might calm her nerves. So far, the spontaneous travel had not relaxed her. She was seated beside Eric, who had suddenly become protective of her. His distrust of Magnus radiated from him. Across from them, Magnus worked on his laptop—answering e-mails and occasionally barking scheduling changes to the men seated behind him.
Magnus looked up and said, “Once in Vandorra, while in public you should both refer to me as either Prince Magnus or Your Royal Highness. Anything else is considered an offense punishable by imprisonment.”
“Sounds like a fabulous country to visit. Can’t imagine why I’ve never been,” Eric said.
“He’s joking.” Rachelle couldn’t imagine such a law could survive in modern society.
“I am not,” Magnus added matter-of-factly before returning to his work.
“It’s going to be fine,” Rachelle assured Eric. “I’m sure Magnus wouldn’t let anything happen to us.”
“Don’t you mean Your Royal Highness, Prince Magnus?” Eric asked dryly. “I’ve never understood the fascination with royalty. I mean, what do they even do? Magnus, tell me, what was the last thing of importance that could actually be attributed to you? You know, outside of redesigning your family’s crest or something.”
Magnus looked up from his laptop and met Eric’s gaze. “Last year, I successfully renegotiated a labor agreement with the European Union to allow free movement of people and payments for Vandorra citizens—vastly reducing unemployment and growing our economy by 2.5 percent. Since I have taken the lead on domestic and foreign policy initiatives, poverty is down, enrollment in universities is up, and our lower crime rates reflect that the needs of my people are being met.”
Eric’s eyes widened. “Seriously?”
Magnus closed his laptop. “In Vandorra, royals are not figureheads. The welfare of our people depends on us. From the time I could walk, I understood that the survival of my country would one day rest on my shoulders.”
Eric looked mildly impressed, but that was huge for him. It gave Rachelle hope that Magnus could actually convince Eric to sign in to a clinic. It also made Rachelle glad she hadn’t told Eric that she knew anything. The last thing the trip needed was another layer of tension. Eric said, “That’s a lot of pressure to put on a kid. What if you had decided you didn’t want the keys to the kingdom?”
Magnus shrugged. “I wasn’t given the freedom of choice. My mother had only one child.”
“Thankfully I was the second son in our fiefdom,” Eric said. “Brett took over the family business, which allowed me to step away—far, far away—a move that was the best for all of us.”
The sadness in his voice pulled at Rachelle’s heart. “Not all of us, Eric. I needed as much help with Nicolette and Spencer as I could get. I still do.”
Magnus nodded at Rachelle. “She does. Nicolette is a wild one.”
“How do you—” Rachelle started to ask, then shook her head. “I don’t want to know, do I?”
“Probably not,” Magnus said with a shameless smile.
The three of them fell quiet again. She decided it might help for her brother to see, as he opened up, that she wouldn’t come at him as if she knew all the answers. “Until recently I thought I was the only thing holding our family together; then I realized it was perfectly capable of going on without me.” She touched Eric’s arm. “I’m here because I love you, but also because I was hoping you could help me. I thought that getting to know you again might help me find a piece of myself I lost somehow.”
Eric placed his hand over hers. “I didn’t think any of you needed me.”
Rachelle blinked back tears she thought would be too much for the moment. “Well, now you know we do.” Magnus excused himself, saying he needed to use the facilities, allowing Rachelle and Eric to continue their conversation in private. The prince had two sides—one maddening and arrogant, the other surprisingly considerate and supportive.
Eric lapsed into silence before once again meeting her eyes. “I’m sorry I’ve been MIA since you arrived.”
“I understand. It’s not like I didn’t spring my visit on you.”
Let me in, Eric. Please.
“How’s Mom?” Eric asked.
“Better now that she watches Linda twice a week. I had a hard time getting her out of her house before then. Spencer and Hailey have set a wedding date for November. They’re hoping you’ll come. We all are.”
“It’ll depend on my filming schedule.”
Rachelle took a deep breath and leapt. “Why do you keep making those films if you hate being Water Bear Man?”
Eric withdrew his hand but didn’t turn away. “Do you know how many people I employ? I’m not even sure I do anymore.”
Since he’d opened the door to asking, Rachelle did. “Eric, who is Reggie?”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s obvious he’s more than an electrician.”
“He’s my friend. When I needed someone, he was there for me. I know he’s hiding his wife and kids in the east wing. I don’t even care—I’d gift him the whole damn house if I thought he could afford to maintain it. He’s the only person I trust.”
That last part wasn’t easy to hear, but Rachelle couldn’t let the moment become about her. It was good to hear that Eric had someone he trusted. “Maybe you should tell him you’re okay with his family living there.”
“No, if I do that, everyone will want to move their kids in. Some things are better left not discussed. Reggie only moved them in when his wife lost her job, so I gave him a raise. He could afford a new place now, but his kids like the pool. They’re also doing well in school.”
“How do you know that?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“Does everyone with money think privacy for others is optional?”
“Knowledge is power. You weren’t raised with money, Rachelle, but now that you’ve been in the public eye, you’ll have to learn how to protect yourself. When we were young, I thought it was cruel of Mom to not allow you access to your money, but now I see the wisdom in it. Never again will you know if people like you for who you are or for what is in your bank account. Some will want to get close to you because they want to use you—others will see you as competition and will befriend you long enough to learn your weaknesses. It will affect every friendship you have, every potential relationship. Go back into hiding, Rachelle, if it’s not already too late. Otherwise, every move you make, every word you say, will be dissected and judged by people who will find you wanting. You can try to ignore it, but eventually, like slow-drip torture, it will change the way you see yourself.”
Oh, Eric. “You sound as lost as I feel.”
He grimaced. “I’m fine.” He looked across the plane at Magnus, who was standing, speaking to one of his men. “Be careful with him, Rachelle. I don’t trust him.”
It wasn’t surprising, considering what he’d just shared about trusting anyone. “At least he’s not after my money. He runs several companies as well as his country.”
Eric’s eyebrows rose with humor. “And how do you know that?”
“I did a Google search on him.” Rachelle defended herself with a smile. “It’s totally different.”
“Whatever you say.”
Rachelle playfully slugged his arm just as she would have with Spencer. “Okay, okay. I’ll try to be less quick to judge.” Eric laughed, and the sound warmed Rachelle’s heart. She couldn’t help but add, “Please make it to Spencer’s wedding. You don’t know how much it will mean to him.”
“I doubt that. We’re not exactly a close family, are we?”
Rachelle swallowed hard before answering. “We could be. I barely knew Brett before he made an effort to be part of our lives again. It was painfully awkward at first—”
“Like this.”
“Exactly like this. Maybe even worse. I didn’t like his timing with Alisha. Spencer was still fake-engaged to her when he found out that Mark was his real father. I didn’t see why he and Alisha couldn’t wait for the dust to settle, and I was pretty vocal about it.”
“The heart wants what the heart wants, I guess.”
“I wouldn’t know. I’ve never been in love. I thought I was, but those relationships never lasted very long. How about you?”
“No. I gave up on fairy tales like that around the same time I stopped believing in Santa Claus. Or in family.”
That last part nearly gutted Rachelle. So many trite retorts came to mind, but she dismissed them. Eric needed something solid. “A year ago I would have said you and Spencer were cut from the same cloth. He was angry with all of us—especially Brett, Delinda, and Dad. The damage seemed irreparable, but they’re all at least talking now. They still have issues, but Brett says family is his first priority, and that has gone a long way to mending bridges.”
“Brett definitely drank Delinda’s Kool-Aid. I can spend about two minutes with him before I remember why we don’t talk anymore.”
Someone else might have asked Eric why he called their grandmother by her first name, but Rachelle knew. She was a far cry from being a cookie-baking, kiss-your-boo-boo-when-you’re-hurt grandmother. “Alisha has definitely softened Brett. If he hadn’t been so busy at his wedding, you would have seen that side of him.”
“I grew up with Brett. Trust me, I’ve seen all the sides of him I can stomach for one lifetime.”
“That makes me sad to hear, Eric. I wish you had reached out to us. Why didn’t you come to Mom’s?”
“Why didn’t you want to go to Dad’s?”
Rachelle nodded. “I didn’t feel like I fit in there.” Rachelle finished her wine in one gulp. “If you’d known him, you would have liked Mom’s second husband. Mark had a way of making everyone feel special. He would have done anything for us—even Alisha, who practically grew up at our house. When I don’t know what to do, I still ask myself what he would have done.”
“As long as it’s not a matter of honoring someone else’s marriage . . .”
Rachelle winced at that jaded, yet accurate, jab at a man she’d been closer to than her biological father and had more respect for, even though he’d been with her mother while she was still married. “Mark was a good man who proved his love for us time and time again. He wasn’t perfect, but maybe that’s another lesson he came into our lives to teach us. You don’t have to be perfect to be able to bring good into the world. I wouldn’t be who I am today if I hadn’t known him. And every time I think about giving up on someone, I remember that he wouldn’t have, and I open my heart to them one more time.”
“How’s that working out for you?”
His sarcasm stung, but with the memory of Mark fresh in her mind, Rachelle knew what to say. “It brought me to London to see you. It kept me there even though you wouldn’t answer my calls. And now we’re on a trip together to help a child and actually talking about things that matter. So I’d say it’s working out pretty damn well.”
“What are you going to do when you realize I’m too fucked-up for you to want in your life?”
Tears sprang back to blur her vision. “What are you going to do when you realize that we’re all fucked-up but that we’re better off together than apart? You’re my brother, Eric. On your best days and on your worst days—that doesn’t change. Nor does the fact that I love you.”
“You really believe that?”
“I do.” She sniffed. “I believe you love me, too, because I’m pretty fucking wonderful once you get to know me.”
Eric chuckled. “How could I not love you? You’re every bit as crazy as I am.”
“I’ll accept that, even though it was a bit backhanded.” Rachelle wiped away a tear before it fell. “Would you like to hear how Magnus and I met?” She retold everything from standing still on the red carpet to hiding in the alley and brainstorming porno titles with Alisha. Normally she would have avoided the embarrassing parts, but Eric looked genuinely entertained, and it was good to see him smiling. She even told Eric about how she’d chewed Magnus out in private that morning, right down to how she’d poked her finger into his chest. The only part she left off was that Magnus had told her how he’d found Eric. Their connection was still too fragile for that.
When she finished, Eric smiled at Magnus and waved to him but kept his voice low enough so that his comment would only reach Rachelle’s ears. “I was concerned for you, but maybe I should be for him. He has no idea who he’s dealing with.”
“Shh, don’t warn him,” Rachelle joked.
“Oh, I won’t. Something tells me you’re exactly what he deserves.”
“Yeah, well, here’s what you deserve.” Rachelle playfully slugged him on the arm again, then burst into laughter that was a welcome release of tension. He joined in.
Magnus retook the seat across from them, and Rachelle smiled at him. He might not want more than a one-night stand with her and he’d called her a hot mess, but if it wasn’t for him, she still might not know where Eric was. She definitely wouldn’t know what Eric was struggling with or have a shot at being part of his support system. Her heart was bursting with gratitude, and it only heightened how intensely she was drawn to him.
For a moment she forgot they were not alone and let herself get lost in the desire in his eyes. It was too easy to remember the taste of him, the feel of his lips parting hers. For anyone beyond middle school, what they’d shared sexually had been tame, but it didn’t feel that way. It felt decadent. The memory of his touch had her body warming, and craving more.
His cheeks flushed ever so slightly, making her wonder if he sensed where her thoughts had taken her. On impulse, she winked, and he coughed as if someone had sucker punched him.
He really does want me.
Wow.
I was wrong. I may be that grateful.