Make-Believe Marriage, page 7
Chapter 9
Rachel woke with a yawn and rolled onto her side. The new mattress was soft. It probably cost more than her first car had.
She chuckled to herself and swung her feet over the edge to sit. It wasn’t far to the floor, and she tapped her toes against the thick hardwood. It really was a beautiful condo.
Her gaze moved upward to the soaring ceilings overhead. She’d always known Dan and his family were well-off, but experiencing it, with the private jet and now the expensive downtown condo, she couldn’t help the bubble of excitement welling up within.
The room had a private bathroom attached, and she tiptoed across the floor to peek inside again now that it was flooded with daylight from a rectangular window near the ceiling. It was all gray, white, and black tiles, with a glass-walled shower. The room was luxuriously spacious. Her eyes landed on the claw-foot bathtub she’d spied the night before, and she squeaked with delight. She couldn’t wait to try it out. It was the first time in her life she’d lived somewhere with such an enormous bathtub. Not to mention the size of her bedroom. It was big enough for an entire family to sleep in.
Rachel pulled a loose-fitting T-shirt over her camisole and tugged on some shorts. Then she wandered out to the kitchen in search of coffee. Usually she’d be at the bakery by now, but since she’d cut back on her hours, she had three mornings off this week. She smiled to herself as she rummaged through a cabinet looking for a coffee mug. It was the first time she’d had a morning free in San Francisco for as long as she could remember, and she intended to make the most of it.
“Good morning.” Dan’s deep voice broke through the morning quiet.
“Morning.” Rachel studied the coffee maker. “Is this coffee fresh?”
He nodded. “I set it last night. I don’t know how to cook, or decorate, or apparently clean…” He swiped a finger over the cabinet and showed it to her, revealing a layer of dust. “But I do know how to use the coffee maker.”
She laughed. “Well, you’re practically invaluable then.”
“That’s what I was going for.”
He leaned over her to reach for a coffee mug, and the smell of aftershave tickled her nose. He was warm and strong, his muscular chest pressed up against her arm. She inhaled sharply as her entire body warmed.
“Sorry,” Dan said.
She shook her head. “It’s fine. I should’ve gotten you a cup as well. I didn’t realize you were still here.”
He pulled out a travel mug and waved it in the air. “I’m just heading out now. Do you need me to get anything on the way home tonight?”
“Nope. Not a thing. I’ve got tonight covered. This morning, I’m going shopping and I’m going to check out some spaces that might work for the bakery. Then I’ve got the afternoon shift at work.”
By the time she’d selected an entire set of furniture for her bedroom, Rachel was exhausted and starving. But she didn’t have time to rest, so she grabbed a bagel and a smoothie and headed for the nearest streetcar.
She climbed on board, the bagel in her mouth and the smoothie in one hand. Her other hand clung to the railing holding her in place on the cable car.
She met the realtor at one of the potential sites, only about a ten-minute cable car ride from the condo. It looked good and had everything she’d need, but she wanted to make certain it was the best option before she committed to anything.
The next place was even better, with a large commercial kitchen already installed. The fit-out for that space would be much more reasonable, though she’d have to replace the dark green paint job inside that made it look small and pokey.
By the time she’d seen the fourth location, Rachel knew the second one was for her. She told the realtor she’d take some time to think about it then ran back to the cable car station, her purse slapping against her side with each step.
If she didn’t hurry, she’d be late for work.
Dan stepped into the elevator and leaned against the wall. His back ached, but it was already much better than it had been. The bruising and swelling had subsided, and now the stabbing pain only came if he overdid things or spent too long on his feet or sitting in one place. He sighed. It’d been a long day at work. He’d had to stay late to look over a contract between his employer and a subcontractor who’d failed to deliver what they’d promised but were suing for complete payment of fees.
When Dan had finally found the clause, he needed to push the case away from an impending court date, it was eight o’clock. He was hungry, tired, and in need of some serious downtime.
Still, he felt a buzz of excitement as he neared his floor. Rachel would be there.
It felt so strange to be coming home to someone. Strange in a good way. A great way.
Dan stepped off the elevator and into the entryway for his condo, then stopped as his eyes narrowed. He raised his nose in the air and sniffed.
“What is that delicious smell?” he whispered beneath his breath.
With a few steps forward, the scent of roasted meat grew stronger. Dan’s stomach growled, and his mouth watered.
In the kitchen, Rachel stood in front of the stove, a floral print apron tied neatly about her waist and a ladle poised above a pan.
She smiled. “Hi.”
“Hi back. Wow, that smells amazing. What are you making?”
“I hope you like pot roast.”
His eyes widened. “I love pot roast. I haven’t eaten it in months.”
“You really should learn how to cook,” Rachel admonished with a shake of her head.
Dan grinned. “Yeah, I should. Maybe now I have a wife who’s an amazing chef, I finally can.”
She laughed. “I’d be happy to teach you.”
He stepped closer and leaned over the pan to take a look. Gravy simmered and bubbled in the pan. The smell made him swallow.
“I like this being married thing,” he said.
Her eyes gleamed. “I think it’s working out pretty well.”
“Did you find a space for your bakery?”
She nodded. “I think so. I’m just praying over it and will let the realtor know tomorrow.”
“That’s great. I’m glad you’re moving forward on this. I think it’s going to be amazing.”
Together they served the steaming hot roast, with potatoes, sweet potato, green beans, and carrots onto plates. Dan spooned gravy over it all, and they each carried a plate into the dining room.
“Wow, it looks great in here,” he said, noting the new sideboard, a vase filled with fresh flowers, and sparkling new china, crystalware, and silverware.
“Thanks. I bought a few things. A lot of it hasn’t arrived yet. My bedroom furniture is supposed to be delivered tomorrow.”
He nodded. “Good. Thanks for doing all of this. I’m glad I didn’t get around to hiring that decorator. It’ll be much better having your touch around the place.”
“I love it. I had a really fun day today. I got to shop to my heart’s content, then looked at spaces for the bakery. By the time I got to work, my head was bursting with creativity and ideas.”
He laughed as they sat across from each other. After saying the blessing, they ate together. Talking and laughing quietly. Soft music played in the background, and the entire condo was filled with the smell of good food, the sounds of happy conversation, and warmth.
Full, Dan leaned back in his chair with a smile to listen to Rachel’s story about the retail space that would be perfect for her bakery. Her deep brown eyes gleamed as she spoke, and dark curls framed her face. She raised one slender hand and waved it about to make a point, and his heart skipped a beat.
Having her here had made everything better. Before now, he’d dreaded coming home from work to his cold, empty apartment. But today, he’d been looking forward to it. Dan’s heart swelled. He could get used to this.
Chapter 10
September
A cool breeze whipped up the street and grabbed Rachel’s skirt, swinging it around her legs. She reached down to hold it in place even as the wind died away.
“So, are you ready to see your new space?” Jenny asked. The realtor revealed a set of white, perfectly spaced teeth behind full, red lips.
Rachel glanced up at Dan, and he grinned.
“I’m ready,” she said.
Her heart thundered, and her head felt light. This was it. She’d signed the lease on her first ever retail space. She was finally going to open a bakery of her own. What if it failed? What if she spent every last cent she had on it, and it folded in a few months’ time because no one ever came, and everyone hated her food?
She inhaled slowly as she stepped over the threshold. Dan followed, and his warm presence helped to calm her nerves.
“This looks great,” he whispered against her ear, his breath hot on her cheek.
Her throat tightened. It did look great. There was still a lot to do before she could open the doors for the first time, but she could see the potential of the place, could picture how it would look. And her eyes filled with moisture.
“Happy?” Jenny asked.
She grinned through a sheen of tears. “Very happy.”
“I think you’re gonna love it here. The location is perfect, you’ll have customers from the nearby office buildings, and there are even a couple of apartment buildings behind those. Plenty of people who’ll want yummy treats.” Jenny’s voice was chipper as she moved throughout the space, pulling back draperies and dusting things off with her hand.
“I hope you’re right.” Rachel stood with hands on her hips, scanning the room.
The counter for the cash register was already in place; it just needed some sprucing up. She’d have to add the glass display cabinets for the baked goods. And she’d already been looking at tables and chairs in some of the retro pre-loved stores nearby; she’d buy those as soon as the paintwork was done inside the space.
She spun to face Dan with a wide smile. “I can’t believe it’s mine!”
He laughed, and she threw her arms around his neck, catching him off guard. He staggered backward, then caught himself and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight against him. Her heart thudded against her ribcage. His arms around her gave her a sense of well-being, security, and peace. She pulled back and looked at him. He’d begun to grow a beard, and the lengthening stubble had tickled her cheek. She raised a hand to feel her skin then cupped his jawline.
“Thank you for believing in me,” she whispered.
His eyes glinted. “You’re welcome. I’m proud of you.”
“I haven’t done anything yet,” she protested.
“Doesn’t matter. Just taking this leap, this risk, most people wouldn’t do it. You’re stepping out. To have faith in yourself, to believe you can do it, is the hardest part. At least, that’s what my dad always told me. If you believe in yourself, you can make anything happen.”
Rachel grinned, her heart warming at his words. “You really think so?”
“Absolutely.”
Would he kiss her? Dan still had his arms around her; she was still pressed up against him. Her lips hovered just below his, and his eyes had taken on a darker hue, as though he wanted to say or do something but was holding himself back.
The silence between them deepened, and tension crept up her spine with a scintillating tingle.
She hadn’t thought about their marriage for the past few weeks. Instead, Rachel had imagined them as roommates. It was too much to take in, marriage. So, she avoided the topic at all costs. They’d spent time together, gone jogging in the park in the early hours of the morning, eaten supper together late at night after he got home from the office. She’d shared leftover baked goods from Jasmine’s with him over coffee each weekend. And yet day by day, her feelings for him had grown.
It’d almost gone unnoticed at first.
A warm feeling in her gut when Dan was around. The jangle of nerves that began in her toes and worked their way up the length of her body to nest in her chest when he texted to say he was on his way home. The excitement she felt each morning when her eyes flickered open.
Rachel couldn’t ignore it any longer. And with him holding her tight, staring into her eyes, all she could hope for was his lips upon hers.
He let go, and she slipped from her tiptoes back to flat feet.
“I’d better get to work,” he said, ripping his gaze away from hers.
She held a breath in her lungs then exhaled slowly. “Uh…yeah of course. Thanks so much for coming with me. It means a lot to have you here.”
He nodded. “I’m really glad I got to see it.”
As Dan walked away down the street, she watched through the shopfront’s window. He was tall, straight-backed, and fashionably dressed. The kind of man she’d never really seen herself with. When they dated in high school, he’d worn Levi jeans with cowboy boots and sported hair that was molded in the shape of a cowboy hat.
This was an entirely different kind of man. And yet it was still him. He felt bigger, stronger, more at ease with himself. But inside, he was Rachel’s first love. His voice was the same. His sense of humor hadn’t changed. Still, she always felt a little off-kilter around him, as though she wanted to impress him but didn’t know quite how.
After all, he was a top attorney at one of the hottest up-and-coming companies in San Francisco. She was a part-time baker who mostly wore ripped jeans and black T-shirts with her hair pulled back by a headband.
They were so different.
Still… There was a chemistry between them she couldn’t deny. And it’d only seemed to be stronger and more intense now that ten years had passed.
“I’m going to leave you to it,” Jenny said at her elbow, startling her out of her reverie.
“Of course. Thank you for everything, Jenny.”
Rachel waved goodbye to the realtor then scanned the empty storefront. It was all hers now. And whether or not it succeeded would rest squarely on her shoulders and no one else’s. Her lips pursed, she wandered around the space, imagining a plant here, a table there. Her mind filled with pictures of how it could be. A trendy cafe and eatery with baked goods that made people’s mouths water.
Jenny was right—the location of the space was everything. She had customers literally at her doorstep. Hundreds if not thousands of them. If she couldn’t sell bagels, muffins, or cupcakes here, then she wouldn’t be able to sell them anywhere.
Her stomach did a flip, and Rachel pressed both hands to it. Then she tugged her cell phone from her jeans pocket. She dialed Leah and set the phone on the counter in front of her, the speaker activated.
“Hey, Leah,” she said.
“Rach, it’s good to hear your voice.”
“You too. Hey, you’ll never guess where I am.”
“Hmmm… The top of the Transamerica Pyramid?”
Rachel giggled. “Nope. I’m standing in my new bakery.”
Leah squealed with delight. “Oh man! That’s awesome. I wish I was there with you. Do the video thing, I want to see it.”
Rachel turned on the video option and scanned the room with the phone, describing everything to Leah in detail. Leah made all the appropriate sounds of appreciation and interest.
“So, it seems to me like you’re gonna need someone to be there with you, to help paint and set things up. And it just so happens I can get some time off work… What do you say?”
Rachel frowned. This could complicate things. She still hadn’t told anyone in her family about her marriage and knew they wouldn’t understand. If she told them about it, and they expressed their doubts and concerns, it might make her reconsider. She could back away, give up on what she and Dan had. And she wasn’t even sure yet what that was. Still, she wouldn’t be able to hide it from Leah if she decided to fly out for a visit.
“That sounds amazing. I’d really love the help, of course. There’s just something I haven’t told you yet.”
She heard the curiosity mixed with concern in her sister’s response. “Oh really? What is it?”
Rachel inhaled sharply and squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m married.”
“What?!” Leah screeched.
Rachel waited patiently for the rest. There was a pause, and then…
“What do you mean you’re married? You can’t be married. I didn’t go to any wedding, and since I’m your sister, I’d expect to be a bridesmaid. Not only didn’t I go to a wedding, I haven’t even heard about a boyfriend, let alone a fiancé.”
Rachel groaned and covered her face with one hand. This wasn’t going well. “Um… I’m sorry about that. I know… I get it. But it wasn’t planned.”
“What do you mean it wasn’t planned? How can you get married without planning to get married? Did you accidentally fall into the church with a stranger?” Leah’s voice had risen to a shrill level and was about to take on the tone only dogs could hear. Rachel was used to it, but she’d never liked it.
“Calm down, Leah. I’ll tell you everything, just chill. Okay?”
Leah’s sulking response echoed down the phone line. “Fine.”
“It wasn’t planned, but he isn’t a stranger.”
“Who is he?”
“Daniel Montgomery.”
Silence.
“Did you hear me?” Rachel asked, her heart in her throat.
“I heard. You mean the Daniel Montgomery who broke your heart when he went off to Harvard?”
Rachel swallowed. “Yep, that Daniel Montgomery.”
Leah inhaled loudly. “Okay. Well, you got yourself into a big ol’ mess then, didn’t you?”
“Uh huh.” Rachel’s gut twisted into a knot. She’d known this would happen. Already her sister’s words were making her rethink the entire arrangement. The situation she’d been happy with until moments ago.
“I guess I’d better come out there and help you out of this debacle.”
Rachel’s lips pursed. That was the last thing she needed right now. “I don’t need help to get out of it, Leah. I know this might be hard for you to understand, but Dan and I want to see where this will take us. We like each other. We’re still working things out…”
