“Then you’ll have to be more persistent with trying to get me into bed.” The words had left her mouth before she could stop them — and she immediately regretted them.
Connor’s gaze suddenly darkened. His lips curved into a small smile that hit her right in the traitorous uterus. “Ah,” he said softly, scratching his bare chest, as if she needed another reason to look. Connor raised his eyebrows and let his gaze slide slowly down her. It felt like he was exploring her with his fingers, as if his strong palms were running over the bare skin of her arms and legs. “The problem is,” he said calmly, “I only sleep with women Ilike. So don’t get your hopes up too much. Although it’s a real shame. You’re missing out.”
He took a jerky step back before walking past her toward the bakery. Rolling her eyes, she watched him go, even though her abdomen was still tightening and her throat felt uncomfortably tight.You’re missing out.
“And you need to stop thinking of us men as just sexy objects,” Connor said, turning around again and dramatically placing his hand on his bare chest. “Because that’s exactly how I felt when you spent ten minutes shamelessly staring at me through the bakery window. I’m more than just my body, Rachel.” He clicked his tongue in mock disapproval and disappeared into the shop.
Annoyed, she groaned. Maybe this round was his.
She trudged back to the agency to give Hailey and Maddie their baked goods. Five minutes later, she watched Connor head back toward his office. He stopped briefly to see Winnie, the homeless man who lived on the beach and was part of the family, Maddie had told her. He handed him a bag, exchanged a few words that made both laugh, and then disappeared.
Who the hell was this guy? He was a womanizer but brought Winnie food. She had thought it would be satisfying to pin down what made him tick, to figure out his fundamental values.Instead, it only frustrated her; his personality still didn’t match what she thought it should.
She was so annoyed that she googled him and spent an hour reading the first ten pages of entries until she…
Oh.
Oh, that was wonderful!
A broad smile spread across her face as she opened the website, because a domain with the nameI-hate-Connor-Stone.comcould only mean good things for her. If he were planning something for their faux double-date on Friday…she’d be prepared.
“Nothing in my life has prepared me for this,” Maddie gasped and grunted as they shifted into downward-facing dog. Or, as Maddie put it, upward-facing "kitty." “I race into so many elevators, why am I not in better shape?”
Lucy sighed. “Slow down, Rachel. Otherwise, she’ll die!”
“No, no. I’m only red because I’m glowing from within.”
“It’s your own fault you joined, Maddie,” Lucy chimed in, sitting on her yoga mat, sunglasses on, her hands clasped behind her neck, in a special position: the lying-down dog who wanted a belly rub before her next nap.
“We were supposed to do yoga,” Rachel reminded her, snorting and shifting into the little cobra pose.
“Yeah, and I said I’dcometo yoga, not that I’d participate,” Lucy replied lightly. “I sweat during sex and when I eat spicy food. Anything else isn’t an option for me.”
Rachel grinned. “You’ve always had your principles. Not fucking a hockey player, for example. How’s your darling Dax doing, the Dax who scored the most goals for the Hawks last season?”
“He's doing great,” she replied cheerfully. “Even if he feels pressured by Matt, who asked Maddie to marry him so quickly. Even though I told him I’m not ready yet. I only stopped hating him a year ago.”
Rachel laughed. It was absurd that not one, but both of her sisters had ended up with a hot hockey player. That was the problem with letting good looks influence you. Which…Rachel did not.
“And back into downward dog,” she said. Maddie, whining loudly, changed positions again. “You’re so incredibly athletic, Rachel!”
“No, just sexually frustrated. I have a lot of pent-up energy,” she said plaintively. “I don’t have a sexy hockey player at home.” Besides, she hadn’t been allowed to work for the past six months. She'd only been able to distract herself from her misery with exercise, intensive reading about cacti varieties and care, and writing her self-help book for the self-pitying.
“Well, you’ll find your dream man soon, I know it!” Maddie assured her. “Because we keep our promises! And you’re wonderful.”
All the pride and warmth in Maddie’s voice transferred to Rachel’s chest. God, it was so incredibly easy for Maddie to give compliments and mean them. She made her feel like a wonderful sister, not a lousy one. Even though the latter was actually more true.
“Let’s take a break, okay?” Breathing heavily, Maddie sank onto her mat and took the water bottle Lucy handed her.
Rachel did the same, enjoying the burn in her muscles for a few more seconds. Yes, many people called her crazy, but she loved the feeling of exhaustion after exercise. It meant she’d accomplished something, achieved something. She’d rarely had that feeling anywhere else in the last few months.
“So, Rachel, tell me why exactly you're here. I mean, back in Los Angeles, not doing yoga, because I’ll never understand that,” Lucy said. She sounded casual, but she’d sat up, pushed her sunglasses up on her head, and was studying her.
Rachel had expected as much. Maddie hadn’t asked why she’d moved, probably because she didn’t care. The main thing was that she had Rachel back. But Maddie also liked harmony. Lucy, on the other hand, wanted honesty and directness. Rachel had always envied Lucy for not caring if people liked her, but rather if they respected her. So Rachel would try to show her respect by being as honest as possible.
“I needed a change of scenery,” she stated somberly. “My practice wasn’t doing well, and I felt like my friendships were superficial…” Because all herfriendshad distanced themselves as soon as it came out why she was in danger of losing her license. “…and I missed you. You and…Dad.” She cleared her throat and looked out at the ocean. “How’s he doing... Dad?”
She’d wanted to ask earlier, but hadn’t been ready for the long string of accusations that would follow. It was better to get the matter out of the way now, though. She wanted Lucy and Maddie to be open with her again, wanted them to be sisters again, inseparable like they used to be. Maddie always claimed that their mother’s death had torn them apart, but that wasn’t true. Even before the day her mother suddenly dropped dead, Rachel had stopped sharing everything with her and Lucy. Long before then.
