Page 15 of A Very Titan Christmas (Titan #14)

“I didn’t say anything. I don’t want anything.

I’m not sure what made you think I’m pining for my ex-boyfriend, but that’s not it.

” She snort laughed. “And you can ask my mom. It’s the whole reason she’s trying to set me up with every and any single man.

I work a lot. I love Philadelphia and am married to my job.

That’s it.” She wriggled backward but couldn’t go very far with him standing between her legs.

“Don’t touch my hair and act like I’m some needy woman you must set rules for. ”

“Okay.” He pressed his lips together. “Fair. Sorry.”

“We’ll look like we’re dating when I have to do things with my mom.”

“Don’t forget,” he added, “you’re stuck with me since you came up with this fake boyfriend thing. It’s tied to your protection detail. So, you have me around whether or not your mom is there also.”

“Right.” She’d caused this whole mess and needed to go with the flow. Titan Group was doing her a huge favor.

“You just don’t have to act like you like me unless Eloise is watching.”

Rachel scoffed and kept herself from throwing another elbow. “I like you just fine.”

“Good to know because the last time we talked, I was the asshole who broke your heart and owed you a huge favor.”

She flushed. “I needed help with my mom, but believe it or not, I had moved on from you even before I graduated.” That wasn’t entirely true. She’d dated but never let anyone close to her heart until she was well into college. Even then, no one had knocked her socks off.

“There’s my girl,” her father called out from across the patio.

“Well, fuck me,” Bryce muttered.

“That would probably be against your ground rules. If we had them.” She waved as her parents approached.

“Very cute, Rach.” Bryce closed his eyes. His jaw stiffened. “Your dad’s behind me, isn’t he?”

“Yup. With my mom.”

“Act like you like me,” he reminded her.

She hung her arms around his shoulders and pressed her forehead to his. “I like you.” Her stomach fluttered. “Showtime.”

Bryce winked and turned around, not stepping from the spot where he nestled against her.

Rachel kept her hands locked around his neck and rested her chin on his shoulder.

Again, the familiarity was enough to squeeze her heart.

It wasn’t real. She was recalling feelings from the past and remembering who she’d been at a pivotal point in her life.

Her reaction to him was simple muscle memory.

“Hey, Dad.” She hugged Bryce quickly and let him lift her off the wall. “I didn’t know you’d be around.” She glanced at her mom. “It wasn’t on the schedule.”

“Today’s schedule needs revisions.”

Dad stuck out his hand toward Bryce. “Nice to see you again.”

Two security agents and Roman waited several yards away. The agents ignored them. But Roman was watching her and Bryce and not hiding his amusement. She bet Bryce would have something to say about that later, but he was busy shaking hands and making small talk with her dad.

Rachel eyed her dad. Something was different.

His glasses were the same wire-rimmed ones he always wore.

Same heavy parka with the same old jeans.

She was sure that underneath the heavy coat was the green flannel shirt he wore whenever he wasn’t in Washington, DC.

“You’re looking good, Dad. Do something different? ”

He patted his stomach. “I lost a couple pounds. The doctor says I have to cut down on my salt and cholesterol.”

“That’s no fun.” Rachel frowned and tried not to laugh at his pained expression. “But if that’s what the doctor said, that’s what you have to do.”

“Actually…” Her dad scratched his head. “Weren’t we supposed to meet him this week? With Rachel? Dinner or—”

“No, Will.” Eloise wrinkled her nose. “That’s”—she waved her hand—“something else for another time.”

Rachel’s lips parted. No way. Her mother was trying to set her up with all the men within her reach who were single and held steady careers.

Had there been any other unifying characteristics?

Because Eloise certainly had not asked Rachel for suggestions on the type of man she might be interested in.

“I thought…” Dad frowned in thought. “With Rachel and us—”

“No, William.”

Her dad laughed. “Uh-oh. She broke out the William on that one. Guess I should drop the subject.”

Rachel rubbed a hand over her face. “Dad, how old is your doctor?”

His face screwed up in confusion. “How old? I don’t know. Younger than me. Older than you. Why?”

“No reason.” Eloise took his hand. “I thought we were going to check on the gift shop?”

“In a minute. I’m saying my hellos.” Dad shook his head and let out a hearty chuckle, then refocused on Bryce. “You’re with Titan Group now?”

“I just started.”

He nodded approvingly. “They’re good people. They get the job done.”

“Every time,” Bryce agreed. “I’ve partnered with them on special projects over the years and enjoyed the work.”

“So you’ve met Jared Westin in person?”

“Affirmative.” Bryce laughed as though they were discussing an enigma who was only understood when faced in person. “He’s one hell of a guy.”

“One of the best. Maybe we should invite him and his family up sometime. I bet they’d love that.” Her dad rubbed his chin. “All right. Something to think about.”

Eloise nodded as if that was her cue to make it happen one day. “Actually, Titan Group is moving its entire holiday extravaganza to our cabins. A mini-vacation and holiday party to top all holiday parties.”

Roman’s eyebrows arched.

“I didn’t know about that,” Bryce said cautiously. “Everyone’s coming up?”

Eloise nodded. “We’re still finalizing details, but it seems like you’ll be up here through Christmas.”

Oh God. Oh no. Rachel would have to continue this charade after the security summit and through the holidays.

That wasn’t fair to Bryce. She’d locked him in.

They could always have a breakup. It wasn’t as if Eloise could matchmake over Christmas—but she could probably pull off something for New Year’s. Shoot. A breakup wouldn’t work.

“On to the gift shop?” Eloise prompted.

Her father playfully saluted her mother then guided Eloise back to the pathway.

Rachel waited until her parents were out of earshot. “I cannot thank you enough for pretending to be my boyfriend.” She winced. “You’re going to be here longer than we bargained for. We can figure something out before your coworkers arrive.”

He shrugged, amused. “I wish we could get our hands on the list of your potential suitors. It’d be entertaining.”

Okay, Bryce didn’t care as much about his coworkers. They could handle the arrival of Titan Group later. She refocused on their current problem. “There aren’t enough single men in Silverberry Ridge to warrant a list.”

“Your mom’s list is… interesting.”

“Yeah, if interesting means too close to home and slightly inappropriate.” Her nose scrunched. “My dad’s doctor. His accountant. Mom’s home renovation contractor. It’s like the who’s who of their personal Rolodex.”

Bryce laughed. “Her heart is in a good place.”

“It is not.” Rachel crossed her arms. “She said she wants grandkids.” She watched his eyes bug at the reminder of her panic. “See. Exactly!”

“All right. Maybe less altruistic, but maybe she’s trying to”—he gestured vaguely—“accomplish things sooner than later.”

“What does that mean?”

Bryce chewed the inside of his cheek. “She… looks different than the last time I saw her.”

“The wheelchair?”

“Well, yeah.” He closed his mouth in thought. “It’s not my business, but maybe that has something to do with the reason she’s pushing you.”

“She has multiple sclerosis.” Rachel turned in the direction her parents had gone. “She’s not leaving us anytime soon.”

“Good to know.”

“Years ago, estimates said it shortened life expectancy by ten years. That time frame is shortening, and with research and continuous care, that downward trajectory will continue.”

“That’s good.”

Rachel nodded. “Eloise will be around for a long, long time. No need for her to freak out that my uterus is empty and will be for the foreseeable future.”

He shoved his fists into his parka’s pockets and leaned against the stone wall. “That’s what the MSDD fundraiser is for.”

“Yes and no. She has money. Access to good care and great health insurance. It’s more for anyone who lives in rural New England and needs access to doctors. More care means better odds for people not married to a US senator. Healthcare is expensive.”

“Ah, that sounds like the Eloise Porter I used to know.”

“She’s a busybody and a do-gooder. She pushes me to the point I want to tear my hair out, but then she fits more into a single day than ten people.

Ninety-nine percent of the time, she’s doing something for the community.

” Parsing the many sides of her mom was uncomfortable.

Rachel changed the subject. “Who’s Jared Westin? ”

“My boss.” Bryce snorted. “He’s a jackass one hundred percent of the time, but somehow still one of the good guys.”

“Ah, an undercover good guy with a stable job. Good thing he’s married. Otherwise, my mother might try to set me up with him.”

Bryce tipped his head back and hooted.

“What?”

“Jared Westin is not your type.”

She scoffed, rolling her eyes at the certainty in his voice. “You don’t know my type.”

He smirked like he did. “I bet I do. Want to wager that I hit the bull’s-eye?”

Maybe he had known her at one point, but things changed. “Absolutely not.” She looked him up and down. “You’re so cocky. Good thing this isn’t a real relationship because I don’t like cocky.”

“Then you definitely wouldn’t like Jared Westin, and you’re reading me all wrong, Rach. Not cocky. Confident.”

Her eyes rolled hard enough to give her whiplash. “Things change, Bryce.”

“Nah, I could guess your type. No problem.”

“I’m not betting, but you’d be dead-ass wrong if I did.”