Page 3 of Players Like Us (Reunion Gap #7)

N eal cleared his throat, forced a nonchalant “Vaguely.” Not exactly the truth, but he doubted his sister would want to hear how her husband’s sister chose him for an “exploration” session.

“Well, Rachel moved to McLean three months ago. You know she’s always been a bit of a free spirit. Flits around doing this and that, ends up in San Diego, Dallas, or Boston and the family never hears about it until there’s a problem.”

“A problem?” That could mean anything from a guy, to a job, to a situation involving money, or…

“Neal? Pay attention. This is important.”

Oh, he was paying attention, and he was remembering Rachel Reese and that hot night in the back seat of his car before his conscience steamrolled him.

“Trust me, I’m listening to every word you’re saying, but I’m also listening to what you’re not saying.

Somehow, you’re going to drag me into some scheme you’ve concocted and I’m guessing it involves her. ”

The throat clearing told him his guess was head-on accurate. “Daniel’s worried about her, and since you live in the same city, I thought maybe you could check up on her.”

“Check up on her? What am I, a babysitter?” He didn’t like people checking up on him and he sure as hell bet Rachel Reese wouldn’t like it, especially if he were that person.

“Daniel wanted to hire an investigator, but I told him no.”

Their father loved investigators, especially for tracking the activities of his children—Tate excluded. “Yeah, I’ll bet you didn’t like that idea.”

“No, I did not.” Annoyance flitted through her words. “I told him I had a better idea, one that employed more of a soft approach.”

“A soft approach? What does that even mean?” What did that mean?

“Can you just check up on her, see what she’s doing and where she’s working… Maybe if her friends are decent?”

“That’s called spying and you know how I feel about it.” Their father had spied on both of them for too many years. “Do we really want to copy our old man’s tactics and get in the business of data collection?” Why couldn’t people just live their lives without judgment or scrutiny?

“Of course I don’t want you to spy on her, but we have to make sure she’s safe and isn’t going to make another bad choice.

Apparently there have been a few of those in the past.” A soft sigh and then a persuasive “Wouldn’t you have wanted someone to keep an eye on me back when I thought everyone was my friend?

” One more sigh. “You would have tried to keep me safe, right?”

Small hesitation and then “Yes.” She was setting him up, he could feel it coming.

“And if there was a way to do it without me finding out?” Her voice grew softer, more persuasive. “I know you would have...”

“Correct.” Now was not the time to remind his sister she’d refused to listen to him when he told her those people she called “friends” were using her for her money, status, and connections.

He’d tried each time she called him with a story that didn’t end well.

He said his car was in the shop and he had no way to get to work.

It was only supposed to be for two days and it’s been ten.

She had no place to stay, so I said she could camp out with me until she found a place.

But she invited three more people, and now some of my jewelry is missing.

The stories never ended, but continued to grow bigger, more confusing, with Meredith always at the center of the latest scam, which she refused to identify as such.

They’re good people, they’re my friends, they would never.

.. The excuses continued until Neal stopped pointing out the discrepancies between what happened and how she processed it.

“Okay then...”

He didn’t miss the relief in her voice that said she thought he’d agree to whatever convoluted scheme she’d hatched.

“Right. And how exactly would I make sure she’s safe if I don’t follow her, gather information and data?

” Pause and a firm “In other words, spy on her?” Meredith had been involved in a lot of schemes back in the day and she’d been known for causing headaches for the target or targets of the scheme, but he’d really thought her new husband would settle her down.

But to hear the man might be behind it? Well, not exactly behind it because the guy straight-up wanted to hire an investigator, whereas Meredith preferred a “more subtle approach” as she called it.

She liked the idea of a “known quantity” a.k.a.

Neal, popping in and acting like it was all unplanned.

Serendipitous as she preferred to call her orchestrated “surprises”.

“Meredith, Daniel’s sister is going to see me coming from ten miles away and then she’ll figure out I’m part of some ridiculous plan you and her brother devised to keep tabs on her.

I don’t like it. In fact, I hate the idea, and I’m sure she would too. ”

Big sigh. “That’s why she won’t find out. All I want you to do is check things out, make sure she isn’t involved with some unsavory character who will tell her a story and lead her down a bad path.”

Oh how he wanted to say You mean like your husband did with you when he pretended he just happened upon you in Chicago and acted like he was a down-on-his-luck woodworker?

But Neal kept his mouth shut because Meredith was too sensitive, especially when it came to her new husband.

She loved the guy, and if she could claim that after the screwed-up childhood they’d all had, who was he to question that love?

“You know this could all blow up in your husband’s face, right?

She might not speak with him for a year and she may never forgive him. ”

“That’s why you have to make sure she never finds out.

” The tiniest pause before she revealed a vital piece of information he should have seen coming.

“I sort of promised Daniel that you’d be the perfect choice to poke around.

Everybody talks to you, everybody loves you… Everybody wants to be your friend…”

Not exactly true. Everybody wanted to be his friend when he pulled out his credit card or made an introduction they needed.

Sure, everybody wanted to be his friend when he had something they wanted.

“Did you ever think I don’t want to be everybody’s friend?

That maybe it’s enough to have you and Tate in my life? ”

“Of course, I know that and I agree. I used to think people wanted to hang out with me because they were my friends, real friends, but they weren’t… Not really.”

Her voice turned sad, and that was the moment Neal knew he’d never turn down a request from his sister, no matter how much he didn’t want to do it or how many complications it created.

He blew out a long sigh, sat back in his chair and wished just one time he could tell Meredith “no”. “What do you want me to do?”

The sad-sack routine disappeared, and there was actual excitement in her voice. “Oh, thank you, Neal. Thank you so much. You are the very best brother. Daniel will be so pleased.”

Doubtful. “I’m guessing you’ve got a game plan for me? Maybe even wrote out the questions and the way I should approach her?”

A sound that resembled a giggle escaped through the phone. “Sort of… Daniel’s been so worried about her because there was an incident a few months ago in San Diego and he doesn’t want a repeat of it.”

“Incident?” That could mean anything from ex-boyfriend draining her bank account to a stalker or a—

“She loaned money to a friend who was in a bad situation.”

“What kind of situation?”

“The kind that involves an abusive boyfriend where you have to get out fast. It was only supposed to be a 30-day loan, but... The ‘friend’ stopped answering her phone calls and you can probably see what happened.”

Yeah, he could smell a scam and it sounded like even Meredith picked up on it. “She trusted the wrong people.”

“Yes, and I guess somehow Rachel found out the boyfriend was in on it, too. Eventually, she called Daniel for help. He was furious when he heard about it and wanted to go after the ‘friend’ and the boyfriend and press charges. Rachel refused to give him names, said she just wanted to be done with the whole situation and move on. Daniel was not happy, especially that his sister still hadn’t learned how to tell the difference between trustworthy people and liars.

I felt sorry for her because I’ve been in that situation myself. ..”

More than once . “Sadly, you have.”

Big huff and then “At least I finally learned. I think Rachel will too, given time and a few positive experiences.”

“We’ll see.” It took Meredith years to learn.

“Anyway, Daniel convinced her to get out of San Diego. He wanted her back in Reunion Gap, but she refused.” Soft sigh. “My husband doesn’t always know how to use a gentle approach and he was a tad pushy, but he was so worried about her.”

Neal got it. If Meredith were in trouble, he’d want to protect her, too. “Guess the do-what-I-say approach didn’t work on her?” Rachel Reese had never seemed the type to sit back and take orders from anyone, especially a man.

“He got her to agree to settle on this side of the country. Not sure why she chose McLean, other than it’s cool and big and near D.C.”

“Okay, and totally unaffordable unless you have a decent job or someone’s footing the bill.” Pause and a curious “ Is someone footing the bill?”

Meredith’s voice dipped. “Daniel paid for her to relocate and took care of a few months of rent, but she wouldn’t accept any more.”

“So, what’s the plan when she runs out of funds?

And what sort of job does she have?” It couldn’t be much of a job if she didn’t have enough money to cover rent or a move.

“Let me guess. She’s some sort of starving artist trying to get the next big break, and all she needs is one small opportunity.

” That had to be it. The Rachel he remembered would be the type to dive into life with passion and determination.

“Actor? Singer? Musician?” He’d go with the singer. ..

“None of the above. She’s an interior designer.”

“Ah, is she an employed interior designer?”

“Not sure.”

“I see.” Neal saw a lot, starting with Rachel Reese’s mediocre job opportunities. If you didn’t have a strong portfolio and references, or know someone, good luck getting a design job.

“Daniel wants to help her out, but she’ll only take the money for a few months, and she insists on paying him back.”

The Rachel Reese he remembered was full of spunk and wouldn’t want a handout or a lecture. “Maybe she didn’t like the strings attached to the offer of help.”

Long pause. “You mean like when Dad put money in our accounts and then tried to run our lives?”

“Right. Like that.” They hadn’t been able to access the trust-fund money themselves until they turned twenty-five.

Neal had complained and tried to renegotiate the terms, but his father merely laughed and told him he’d get the money soon enough and blow through it before his thirtieth birthday.

Nice. Nothing like a father’s encouragement.

“So, will you help me? Daniel wants to make sure Rachel’s not doing something she shouldn’t be doing.”

That left a lot of gray areas. “And what do I do when I gather this information?” He could get her home address, figure out where she picked up her coffee and hung out at night.

Then he’d show up and pretend the encounter was a chance meeting.

She wouldn’t want to see him any more than he wanted to see her, so he might need the help of a few acquaintances for advanced information gathering.

Not a problem because he knew a lot of people.

Once he had the details of Rachel Reese’s life, he’d report back to Meredith and then she’d be happy.

Neal could continue living his life and Daniel’s sister could do whatever it was she did…

And they’d never have to talk about what almost happened that summer night or how they’d avoided each other all these years or why they—

“There is one more thing.”

With his sister, there was always one more thing. “Yes?”

“Daniel just wants you to gather information.”

“I know. You already said that.” He could really use a drink. Neal dragged a hand over his face. Actually, he could use a double.

“And...” Meredith cleared her throat, stumbled over her next words. “There is just one more tiny thing.”

This would be good. He should have known there was more than just the obvious. “What is it, Meredith?”

A whoosh of air filled the line followed by “You have to promise you won’t get involved with her.”

That comment actually made Neal laugh. “Won’t get involved with her? You mean sleep with her?”

Another throat clearing and a prim “Neal. Just promise.”

He stifled another laugh, enjoying his sister’s discomfort. “What if she’s the one who wants to get involved? Would you want me to disappoint her? Leave her sad and wanting?”

“No, I want you to promise.”

“Okay, I promise. I will not touch Rachel Reese.”