Rainier Drive (Cedar Cove #6)(86)

“You need to work?” Rachel asked. Anyone who spent as much money as Bobby obviously had it.

“For my sanity, I do,” Teri said. “I could follow Bobby around from city to city and match to match, but I’d hate it. I’d hardly ever see him and I’d be by myself most of the time. This way, he’ll fly in to stay with me as much as possible, and I can meet him in New York once in a while. I’ve got to keep an eye on my kid brother, too, you know. And my sister, Christie, needs me—she’s finally dumping her loser husband.”

“New York?” Jane repeated enviously, back at the receptionist’s desk. That seemed to be all she’d heard.

“Bobby’s got a place somewhere in Manhattan. A penthouse, I think. I haven’t seen it yet, but I will soon.”

“He’s got a penthouse in Manhattan and you’ve got a tiny apartment in Cedar Cove,” Jane muttered. “Hmm. Sounds perfect.” She shook her head. “You guys are about as mismatched as any two people on earth.”

“Jane,” Rachel said, “they’re in love, and that’s what matters.”

“Look who’s talking.” Jane glanced up from the desk where she was bundling the bills. “You keep ignoring Nate’s calls. Why is that, might I ask?”

“That’s completely different! Nate has nothing to do with this.”

“It’s exactly the same. Love conquers all, remember? You’re afraid to meet his parents, so you don’t answer his calls. It wouldn’t surprise me if he just showed up one evening and took the decision out of your hands.”

“I have Jolene this weekend. Nate knows that.”

“And you made sure of it, too, didn’t you?” Jane challenged. “You arranged it on purpose.”

She had, but Rachel wasn’t admitting it. “Don’t be ridiculous.” Turning her back on Jane, she faced Teri. “I want to hear all about Vegas.”

Teri’s eyes brightened. “We barely left the bedroom. So there I was in Vegas and I didn’t play a single slot machine. Do you want to hear how Bobby kept me occupied?”

“I think we already know.” Some details were best not shared.

To her astonishment, Teri hugged her hard. “Thank you so much,” she whispered. “I’ve never been happier in my life. You were the one who convinced me to go with him. I’m so glad I did. Bobby is wonderful.” Her eyes welled with tears. “I know it’s hard to believe, but he needs me. And he loves me.”

Rachel didn’t find that hard to believe at all.

The phone rang again. Jane started for it, then paused, looking over at Rachel. “You want me to get that or should I let the answering machine pick up?”

“The machine,” she said.

Jane frowned. “Coward.”

It was true; Rachel was terrified of Nate’s parents, especially his mother. She couldn’t help it. That one brief phone conversation with Patrice Olsen had confirmed every fear Rachel had. They hadn’t even met, and already his mother didn’t like her. Not only that, Mrs. Olsen had driven home the fact that Rachel didn’t belong in their world—and Rachel wasn’t so sure she wanted to be there.

“Rachel?” Teri eyed her skeptically.

“Forget all that,” she said, unwilling to discuss her relationship with Nate. “I want to hear about you and Bobby.”

Teri was eager to tell her. “He wants me to buy a house while he’s away. I haven’t told him yet, but I’ve decided to learn about chess, too. I’ve been reading up on it. Did you know chess started out as a four-handed dice game in India about fourteen hundred years ago?”

Both women shook their heads.

“Me, neither. Some really interesting people played chess, too. Charles Dickens played and Tolstoy and Sir Walter Scott. Humphrey Bogart was a chess player, and John Wayne. It’s all really fascinating. Although,” she said with a wink, “I didn’t do a lot of reading.”

Deciding she should change the subject, Rachel asked, “What about the lease on your apartment?”

“Oh, he’s already taken care of all that. Bobby had one of his people do it. You know what is so…so wonderful?” Teri whispered. “He makes me feel like I’m the only woman in the universe.”

“Teri, I’m so happy for you.”

“I’m happy, too,” Teri said dreamily. “So happy I can’t believe it. I don’t know what I ever did to deserve this….”

“You cut his hair,” Jane said, snapping a rubber band around a pile of bills. “One free haircut, and you’re set for life. Go figure.”

Not one to take offense, Teri giggled. “You guys want to come to my place for dinner?”

“Sorry, I can’t tonight,” Jane said. “We’re going to my in-laws.”

“I can’t, either,” Rachel said.

“You coming back to work on Tuesday?” Jane asked Teri.

“I’ll be here.”

“Good. Everyone’ll be thrilled to see you.”

“Where are you off to?” Teri asked as Rachel finished cleaning up her station for the night.

“Home. Bruce is bringing Jolene over and—”

“She’s avoiding you-know-who,” Jane supplied unnecessarily.