Page 32 of Players Like Us (Reunion Gap #7)

“ A re you going to tell me what happened in Reunion Gap or should I start guessing?”

Neal pretended he didn’t hear Dominic and kept his gaze on the menu items in front of him.

If they pared down the selections to include small plates, comfort food, and homestyle cooking, customers would gravitate toward this place when they wanted to forget about calorie-counting and waistlines.

This restaurant would provide respite from all of the “should and should nots” and just offer good, solid food. And if they added that to—

“Guess this isn’t something you want to discuss?

Or should we pretend nothing happened between the two of you?

Or how about you give me the script and I’ll follow it?

” A head shake, followed by a long sigh.

“Look, you two need to talk. I’m not a relationship expert, but even a guy like me can see there’s something between the two of you and I’m not just talking about the physical attraction.

” Dominic’s voice shifted, turned quiet.

“She seems calmer when she’s around you.

More focused. And you?” He rubbed his stubbled jaw, smiled.

“You seemed happy. Not pretending you don’t care about anything or life is just a big party BS, but really happy. ”

“Glad you’ve been observing so much, and here I thought you were busy running this place.

” Neal didn’t want anyone analyzing him or his relationship with Rachel Reese.

Besides, what did it matter? So he cared about her?

So what? Big deal. She might even care about him if she’d ever let herself admit it, but it didn’t mean anything.

Hadn’t she told him she had to think about what she wanted and where she wanted them— if there was a them —to go?

Yup, she’d burned him with that one, and they’d still been naked.

If he couldn’t persuade her to give them a chance then, it wasn’t going to happen.

And did he really want to go all-in with somebody who needed to think about whether she could feel the same way?

Think about it? Yeah, no thanks. He’d stepped so far out of his comfort zone he almost couldn’t recognize himself, and she had to think about it?

“I’m very observant.” Dominic slid into the chair across from Neal’s desk, tapped his fingers on the wooden desktop. “I’ve got a busy night. So why don’t you just tell me what happened?”

Neal shoved the menu aside and blew out a long breath. “What happened? It ended exactly the way I thought it would.” I opened up and got slammed.

The raised brow and narrowed gaze said Dominic wasn’t settling for a half-baked answer that told him nothing.

“You just offered me about as much information as a menu that lists ‘drinks’ but doesn’t name them.

” He leaned forward, his expression a mix of curiosity and humor.

“What happened with Rachel? Did she find out you’re not the broken-down soul living on a trust fund with no ambition and less morals you want everyone to think you are? ”

“It didn’t come up.”

“Maybe it should have.”

“If she can’t see the real me through the BS, then what’s the point? Doesn’t matter anyway because she’s not sure she wants to be involved with me on a personal level.”

“Ouch. Did she say that before or after the two of you were involved on a personal level?”

Neal’s expression must have given Dominic his answer because he shook his head, frowned. “That’s cruel. She’s probably afraid. You rocked her world and scared her, and now she’s petrified to admit she cares about you. Probably loves you and all of that other fantasy stuff.”

“Or not.” He’d been back in the city three days and hadn’t received a single phone call or text from her. Yeah, probably not crying over him.

“Aren’t you the one who told me that women are the most confusing yet tantalizing creatures walking this earth and the minute you think you understand one, you’re done? I’m pretty sure it was you who told me that.”

Neal pinched the bridge of his nose, tried to bury Dominic’s words.

“Why the hell would you ever listen to me about relationships and women? As if I knew what I was talking about… I only know how to avoid a relationship and disentangle myself from the woman. I never said I knew how to keep one, and certainly not the right woman.”

A smile spread over Dominic’s face, reached his eyes. “So, you’re saying Rachel’s the right woman? Of course she is. Even I can see she’s a keeper. Just wait, once you figure out how not to scare her away, you two will live your happily-ever-after-picket-fence fairytale.”

“Too late.” He never should have slept with her. He knew that, but she had been so persuasive…so soft and sexy and—

“So, what’s the plan? You can’t just ignore her. She’s working on the restaurant remodel so you’ll see her once she’s back in town… And what about Claudia’s? Are you going to own up to the fact that you’re the mystery man in that little scheme?”

It all sounded like a huge, convoluted mess.

Why had he ever agreed to keep an eye on Rachel Reese?

He should have known from all those years ago and that hot steamy night in the back seat of his car that one day she’d prove irresistible.

“I renewed the contract a few weeks ago but once it expires, I’m done.

As for this place, I’ll see her eventually. ”

“Ah, eventually. Where does that leave the two of you?”

Where indeed? “It leaves us where she put us—nowhere. If she had to think about whether or not she wanted a relationship or anything with me, then I’ll save her the time and the confusion. I’ve rescinded my offer.”

The deep belly laugh rolled over Neal, made him fling a string of curses at his best friend.

“Rescind your offer?” More laughter, louder, deeper.

“How does a person rescind feelings? Please tell me because I’d like to know.

When you write out a step-by-step version, you could probably go on the speaking circuit and write a book.

You’d make a lot of money. I’ve never met anyone who could control emotion or love by simply willing it. ”

Neal forced a smile, tossed out words that made Dominic howl. “Well, now you have.”

“This is going to get messy. I can already feel it.”

Neal muttered another curse. “There’s no messiness about it. We’ve got a contract for the restaurant, she’s going to do her job, and that’s it.”

The raised brow said that was definitely not going to be the end of the story, but Dominic let it go. “Right. So when she calls for a meeting, do you want to be present or would you like me to handle it?”

“I want to be present.” She didn’t know if she could commit to him? She needed time? Sure, she could take all the time she wanted because she’d missed her window. “I think it’s time she found out who’s bankrolling this project.”

Rachel hadn’t seen Neal since he left Reunion Gap the morning after the birthday party.

She’d been confused, scared, unsure of her feelings for him.

And then he’d gone and pressed her for a commitment?

Did he even understand what that meant? Sure, he could say he wanted to be with her, but what did that really mean and for how long?

A week? A month? Until she was no longer a challenge?

No longer interesting or appealing? It had been too much, her senses overloaded where nothing made sense, and all she wanted to do was get away and think.

But the next morning, the truth seeped through her, clutched her heart, and settled in her soul.

She cared about Neal Alexander, and it wasn’t because he was a challenge or that he’d once rejected her.

No, the truth was that he made her feel …

Made her think about herself and admit to emotions she’d rather not confess to having.

How about letting go of the anger associated with her brother, the judgments, the blame?

Hadn’t he told her a person couldn’t blame someone for the choices he made in his life?

The parents he had, the siblings, the good and the bad?

Oh, they’d had some very wild debates about that one, but he’d been right.

Neal had been right about a lot of things, especially about them and how he wanted a chance with her.

There’d been a lot of heat in those words when he’d implied an all-in, more-than-just-for-now relationship.

And what had she gone and done? Run away. Refused to think about it.

Rejected him.

He didn’t deserve that. Neal Alexander deserved to know she cared about him because he was worth caring about, and he didn’t have to pretend with her.

She should have called him, apologized for turning him away and she’d been ready to do that.

But when she arrived at Tate and Charlotte Alexander’s home the next morning, he was gone.

Neal isn’t here. Tate’s expression had been kind, apologetic.

Gone? When will he be back?

A gentle smile and then Who knows? He left for Virginia a few hours ago.

Oh. She’d tried so hard not to cry, but the tears fell anyway.

Don’t give up on him, Rachel. He’s a really special guy but he doesn’t like to show his true self. We all misjudged him, me more than anybody.

I have to talk to him, Tate.

He needs to talk to you, too, but he might need time.

No matter what he tells you, remember that he cares.

My brother doesn’t let people see his true feelings, and I’ve never seen him so turned around by a woman, but when you meet the right one, that’s what happens.

The smile spread across his handsome face.

Do not give up, even if he tries to push you away and divulges a few truths you don’t want to hear.

Neal cares about you. My guess is he loves you though he might not have realized that yet.

Those last words stayed with Rachel, tucked deep inside her heart, giving her hope.

If she called him, there was a good chance he wouldn’t answer.

And if he did, she wouldn’t be able to see his face.

What she had to tell him must be done in person.

It took six days to work up the courage to see him.

Rachel had been thinking about contacting Dominic to find out Neal’s whereabouts, when Dominic called.

If she hadn’t been so caught up in Tate’s words and her own feelings, she might have noticed the hesitancy in his voice, the hint of concern.

But she didn’t notice anything because she wasn’t listening.

“Dominic? I was just going to call you. I need to see Neal.”

“Uh, sure, but my partner wants to hear your presentation. He’s usually very hands off with deals, but he’s interested in this one. Why don’t we take care of that before you deal with whatever’s going on between you and Neal?”

Finally! The silent partner wanted to meet her.

Dominic told her the man had a lot of influence and if she got buy-in from him, she’d have no problem getting future projects.

This could be huge for her. So, why wasn’t she elated?

Why didn’t she jump on Dominic’s request and agree?

“I appreciate this meeting, but I’d really like to talk to Neal first.”

Pause and an apologetic “I’m sorry but I’m not sure he wants to see you right now. Let’s have the meeting and we’ll talk after.”

She got it. He was angry, hurt, afraid. Neal Alexander, afraid?

It seemed impossible that a man like him would be afraid of anything.

And yet when she thought about all that he’d shared, she realized he wasn’t that different from herself.

Always running… Always pretending… Always denying true emotions…

Maybe the only way to see Neal was to agree to the meeting.

At 4:00 p.m. that afternoon, Rachel entered Matilda’s, portfolio under her arm.

Dominic rose from the booth where she and Neal often sat when they were looking at fabric samples or furniture layouts.

Regret consumed her when she thought of how she’d asked him to pretend they weren’t together.

Would he listen to her apology and trust her enough to give her a second chance?

“Let’s head to my office.” Dominic looked unusually serious today, no doubt because of her situation with Neal. Or maybe he was concerned about the meeting with his partner.

“No matter what happens, I really appreciate everything you’ve done for me.

” He’d been so kind, so helpful. “I don’t know how much Neal told you, but…

” The almost smile told her he knew quite a bit about what had happened between herself and Neal.

“I need to see him, Dominic. I thought about calling, but what I have to say should be done in person.”

“Why don’t you get through the meeting first and then we’ll talk?”

A nod, and an attempt at a smile that flopped. “All I’ve wanted for years is a chance to show I can do this work. So why am I not outrageously excited? Why is it the only thing I can think about is setting things right with Neal?”

The two-second hesitation said he had his ideas but he wasn’t sharing. “Whatever happens in the meeting, remember that people do all sorts of things for reasons we might not understand. Sometimes, they don’t understand the reasons themselves. Just hang in there, and don’t give up.”

“Okay.” She nodded, squared her shoulders. “Fingers crossed your partner likes my suggestions.”

“Agreed. Good luck.”

Rachel clutched her portfolio, headed to Dominic’s office.

Neal once told her he hung out here so he could look busy, and she’d even caught him on Dominic’s computer once.

Another time she’d seen him glancing at a spreadsheet, making notes.

Both times, when he spotted her, he’d made a joke about pretending to be a businessperson.

But the intensity in his gaze as he studied the screen and jotted notes didn’t resemble casual interest or curiosity.

No, it had all seemed very real…as though he knew what he was doing…

Knew what he was looking at… What he wanted to see.

Rachel sucked in a deep breath, turned the doorknob, and stepped inside.

“Neal?”