The Billionaire's Masquerade (The Friendship Series) (7 page)

Rachel considered carefully how to answer the man. She’d never been friends with him, nor any of her co-workers. There was simply too much competition among her peers for there to be any real camaraderie. She had Nikki and Brianna and they were the only friends she truly needed. They were so close, they were more like sisters.

Besides, she wasn’t really sure why she’d recommended that particular company anyway. She’d read an article about it on the flight back from Maine last Sunday night. The company had struck her as a good idea. When she’d looked into it on Monday, she suspected that the company stock was lower than it should be. She’d convinced several of her clients to get on board and, miraculously, Tuesday afternoon, CyberOne announced a new cell phone. The stock had doubled in less than four hours!

“Just pure, dumb luck,” she finally said. She’d replied with a smile but it was actually the truth. The guy left after that, realizing that he wasn’t going to get any good tips from her and left her sitting in her small office with confusion.

Was Jack the magic pill that had given her such a wonderful week? She’d been unperturbed by the daily chaos around her from the other brokers and just excited about each day – energized to find new companies. And she’d found several, although none with the same dramatic effect as CyberOne. But the most astounding part was that she was relaxed! Before her weekend with Jack, she was never relaxed. Some weeks she lived off of antacids because she was so nervous about her suggestions to her clients.

It had to be Jack. Or maybe her success had nothing to do with him and everything to do with how much she still wanted to see him.

“Overnight delivery for you Rachel,” the receptionist said, handing Rachel a cardboard envelope.

Rachel took it warily since she wasn’t expecting anything. Pulling the strap, she opened the cardboard and peered inside. It didn’t even have a letter, just a smaller piece of paper at the bottom. She pulled it out and looked at the information, then her smile widened, her shoulders relaxed and she almost bounced in her seat from excitement. Jack had sent her a plane ticket! It was round trip for tomorrow night, returning Sunday evening.

She picked up her cell phone and texted him, feeling free and happier than she had all week. “Got the ticket, see you tomorrow night!” was all she said.

She then sent off another message to Nikki and Brianna. “Lunch? Need to talk with both of you.”

She’d barely put down her phone when two more dings came back. “Usual place?”

Rachel smiled, truly grateful for having these two women in her life. “Absolutely!” she laughed as she pressed the send button. Nikki and Brianna had been orphaned when they were young and placed in the same foster home. They’d bonded because of the horrific experience so when they’d arrived at school, it was as if Rachel understood their fears. From the day Nikki had bended the three of them together until now, they had been the best of friends.

When eleven-thirty rolled around, she grabbed her purse and rushed out of the office. She couldn’t wait to tell her friends about her weekend. She’d held off until now because she hadn’t thought it was real. It had been just a weekend fling, something she could smile back on and think about with fond memories.

But with the ticket for this weekend, she was excited and couldn’t wait to tell her friends all about Jack and how wonderful he was.

Outside, the heat was almost unbearable but she was practically skipping down the street. It was only a few blocks to their normal lunch hangout. She was the first one there and got everyone’s lunches ready, holding the three hot dogs in her hands.

“You shouldn’t be buying all of us lunch!” Nikki exclaimed as soon as she walked up behind Rachel. Nikki could only be described as a ball of energy. Her brown curls danced around her face and shoulders, never still. And her mind was always working, always spinning and creating new ideas about whatever was going on in her life. She was fearless and Rachel worried that she was going to get herself into trouble with that kind of fearlessness.

Nikki took one of the hot dogs and gave Rachel a big hug. “You look amazing,” she said, backing up a step. They headed over to one of the park’s picnic tables, the only one that had a bit of shade from a large tree.

The third woman in their group walked up a moment later, giving Rachel and Nikki a quick hug. While Nikki was all energy and laughter, Brianna was the essence of kindness. There was an aura of tranquility surrounding Brianna that Rachel wished she could emulate. Brianna also had brown hair, but hers was a softer kind of style.

“Whew! Hot day today, huh?” Brianna asked, sitting down on the rough wood and handing everyone a cold bottle of water. She glanced over at Rachel, her eyebrows going up high on her forehead. “What happened to you?” she teased. “You’re practically glowing!”

“I just thought the same thing,” Nikki commented as she took a bite of her hot dog.

Rachel laughed, feeling light and carefree despite the oppressive heat and humidity. “I met a guy last weekend,” she said, then waited for their reactions, worried now because she hadn’t told them immediately.

“What?” they both screeched in unison.

Nikki was the first to get over her surprise. “I thought you were going up to Maine to meet The Ogre!”

“Who is this guy?” Brianna demanded, worried for her friend.

This was the part that Rachel was wary of explaining. But she’d never hidden anything from these two friends before so she wasn’t going to start now. “He’s a handyman that works on Watson’s grounds.”

Rachel was looking down at her hotdog so she didn’t see Nikki and Brianna’s glance. “Is he nice?” Brianna asked gently.

Rachel smiled at her memories of the man. “He’s very nice.”^^

Nikki snorted. “Any man who can put that look of happiness on your face is more than nice,” she stated firmly. “So spill it. Give us details.”

Rachel was hesitant at first, but after a moment, she couldn’t keep her weekend to herself. “He’s really quite nice,” she said. “And absolutely gorgeous! And charming and knows about all the local hangouts. It seems like everyone knows him and he’s friends with anyone he comes into contact with.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Nikki said dismissively. “But what did he do to make you glow like that?” she asked.

Rachel blushed and took a long drag from her water, trying to figure out how to explain.

“You had sex with him!” Brianna gasped, her mouth falling open in shock and excitement. “Was it wonderful? Was he good? You never date guys like you’ve just described so he must have been incredible! Tell us!” she demanded, scooting closer.

Rachel couldn’t stop the laugh that burst out of her. “Yes. He was…is…wonderful. And yes,” she blushed again, “I had sex with him.”

Brianna was frowning as she listened. Always the most cautious and protective, she said, “I don’t think I like him anymore. He sounds too forward.”

Rachel didn’t want Brianna to think that of Jack. “Actually, it might have been the other way around. He was just kissing me,” she finally said, her fingers picking away at the bun of her half-eaten hotdog. “I was the one who…” she bit her lip, not sure how to explain. “Well, I sort of…” she shrugged her shoulders and looked at her two friends, unable to say anymore. “He’s very nice,” she finally finished, feeling that the description was completely inadequate to what she felt for Jack. “He makes me feel special.”

Nikki and Brianna both looked at each other, then a smile slowly grew on each of their faces. “Well, finally!” Nikki said, taking a huge bite of her hotdog. “We thought you’d never stop dating those boring, intellectual dweebs,” she explained.

Nikki nodded in agreement, her brown curls bouncing around her beautiful face. “I agree. It’s about time that you realized that tedious intellectuals aren’t what you’re looking for.”

Rachel’s hand froze. “I’m not going to marry Jack,” she asserted strongly. “I’m just…” she waved her hotdog in the air, “having a fling. Enjoying myself.”

Nikki rolled her eyes as she nodded. “Sure you are,” she said with a disbelieving tone.

Brianna held up her hand and Nikki high-fived her. “Just a fling,” Brianna repeated, finishing off her hotdog and taking Rachel’s now that she’d abandoned it. “Sure. Keep on telling yourself that.”

Rachel thought about their words, worried now that she’d given them the wrong impression. Had she expressed something about Jack that simply wasn’t true? While they discussed Brianna’s latest story on the wedding of a senator’s daughter, Rachel thought back to all that she’d said. Nothing had been a lie, but perhaps she’d gushed a bit too much about Jack.

“I’ve got to get back to my classroom,” Nikki said when she glanced down at her watch. “Bri, don’t let those other reporters make you feel bad. You’re stories are just as important as their descriptions of war and heartbreak. Your stories give us a lift, a glimpse at happiness. You’re very good at what you do. Don’t take it, okay?” she urged.

Rachel gave Brianna a hug. “She’s right. I specifically go to your stories and read them first every time.”

Brianna’s soft, blue eyes smiled at these wonderful women. “That’s only because you’re my friend. If you didn’t know me,” she said, looking slightly defeated, “you wouldn’t even know what I write about.”

“Not true,” Rachel asserted. “You bring this dull, conservative city to life. Don’t put your writing down.”

As they all departed, going in opposite directions, Rachel worried about Brianna. She really was a good writer and journalist. So why was she so irritated by the other reporters in the newsroom? Sure they might tease her for her fluff pieces, but that had never bothered Bri before. What’s happening now to change that?

As soon as she walked through the doors of her office, she was swamped with details that flew at her from every angle and she didn’t have much time to worry about Brianna right now. The rest of the afternoon and the rest of the day flew by. When it was finally time to catch her flight, she raced out of the office, sprinting to her car so she could get to the airport. It wasn’t even as if she were late. She was just too eager to see Jack again this weekend.

Her phone pinged and she lifted it up, smiling as she read the text. “Go get him!” from Nikki. She was about to text Nikki back when her phone pinged again. “So you’re missing our weekly run again? Slacker!” from Brianna but with a smiley face at the end. Bri was referring to their Saturday morning run along the Potomac River. There was a pathway that meandered along the banks of the Potomac, through the few sets of wooded area still left in the Washington, D.C. area and along grassy expanses that would later fill up with soccer games and picnickers. In the spring and fall, the path was packed with other runners but it was an easier run in the summer and winter when the temperatures weren’t as idyllic.

She laughed as she hurried through the airport, texting back, “I’ll get my exercise!” and laughed at her joke.

A moment later, the reply came back, “We know you will!” from both of them and she laughed out loud at their implication. And hers!

“I meant that we’d be walking along the coastline!” she texted back to both of them since Bri had included Nikki in the message trail.

“Sure you will!” both of them replied back almost simultaneously.

Standing at the gate, she shifted from foot to foot, trying to hurry up the boarding process. She wanted to be on her way as quickly as possible!

When she glanced down at her seating assignment, she was shocked to find that she was in first class. “Excuse me,” she said to one of the flight attendants, “I think this is a mistake.”

The flight attendant smiled and looked at the ticket, then at her flight manifest. “Ms. Carson?” At Rachel’s nod, the woman shook her head. “No mistake. You’re seated right here in the first row,” she explained. “Can I get you anything to drink?” she asked politely.

Rachel was flabbergasted. First class? Jack didn’t have the money to spend on a first class ticket! Or maybe she just got a bump up? Yes, that had to be the issue. Jack didn’t strike her as the kind of man who would waste his money on frivolous expenses. It must have just been an upgrade. She settled back in the wide, comfortable chair, feeling a bit like a fraud but also grateful to not be stuffed back in the coach area. She wasn’t a big fan of flying, especially the takeoff and landing, but this was definitely nicer than she was expecting.

When the plane landed, Rachel just about ran down the ramp, eager to see Jack, not feeling her usual panic as the plane touched back down to earth because of her excitement. And when she exited the restricted area, she saw him and just about flew into his arms.

“Hi beautiful,” he said, chuckling even while his arms wrapped around her, lifting her up against him. “You feel incredible,” he growled, setting her on her feet and bending low to kiss her.

When he lifted his head, she smiled up at him. “Thank you for sending me the ticket. I was starting to become pathetically depressed when it arrived. It brightened up my entire day, gave me something exciting to look forward to!”

He laughed again, grabbing her hand and her carryon bag. “I have no idea why you bothered to pack anything,” he said as he pulled her out of the airport. “I intend to keep you naked until you have to fly back on Sunday night.”

She laughed, but wasn’t completely opposed to the idea. “Sounds perfect,” she said, then felt the blush immediately stain her cheeks.

Emerson looked down at her, surprised by her daring response. When he saw the shocked look on her face, he threw back his head and laughed, pulling her close and kissing her senseless, completely ignoring the other passengers rushing around them as they hurried to catch their flight.

In the end, he didn’t keep her naked the whole weekend – just a great deal of it. They left the cottage to eat and actually got some exercise by going out in his small sailboat. He taught her how to throw in cages to trap lobsters, how to steer the boat and how to gauge the wind to get to their destination. Initially, she was opposed to catching the sea creatures, but when he hauled one of them up out of the cold ocean water, it looked pretty scary. At least he didn’t make her stuff them into the boiling water. They had lobster with lots of garlic butter, a delicious white wine and some sort of fried bread rolls that Molly delivered to them.