Someone else might have asked Eric why he called their grandmother by her first name, but Rachelle knew. She was a far cry from being a cookie-baking, kiss-your-boo-boo-when-you’re-hurt grandmother. “Alisha has definitely softened Brett. If he hadn’t been so busy at his wedding, you would have seen that side of him.”
“I grew up with Brett. Trust me, I’ve seen all the sides of him I can stomach for one lifetime.”
“That makes me sad to hear, Eric. I wish you had reached out to us. Why didn’t you come to Mom’s?”
“Why didn’t you want to go to Dad’s?”
Rachelle nodded. “I didn’t feel like I fit in there.” Rachelle finished her wine in one gulp. “If you’d known him, you would have liked Mom’s second husband. Mark had a way of making everyone feel special. He would have done anything for us—even Alisha, who practically grew up at our house. When I don’t know what to do, I still ask myself what he would have done.”
“As long as it’s not a matter of honoring someone else’s marriage . . .”
Rachelle winced at that jaded, yet accurate, jab at a man she’d been closer to than her biological father and had more respect for, even though he’d been with her mother while she was still married. “Mark was a good man who proved his love for us time and time again. He wasn’t perfect, but maybe that’s another lesson he came into our lives to teach us. You don’t have to be perfect to be able to bring good into the world. I wouldn’t be who I am today if I hadn’t known him. And every time I think about giving up on someone, I remember that he wouldn’t have, and I open my heart to them one more time.”
“How’s that working out for you?”
His sarcasm stung, but with the memory of Mark fresh in her mind, Rachelle knew what to say. “It brought me to London to see you. It kept me there even though you wouldn’t answer my calls. And now we’re on a trip together to help a child and actually talking about things that matter. So I’d say it’s working out pretty damn well.”
“What are you going to do when you realize I’m too fucked-up for you to want in your life?”
Tears sprang back to blur her vision. “What are you going to do when you realize that we’re all fucked-up but that we’re better off together than apart? You’re my brother, Eric. On your best days and on your worst days—that doesn’t change. Nor does the fact that I love you.”
“You really believe that?”
“I do.” She sniffed. “I believe you love me, too, because I’m pretty fucking wonderful once you get to know me.”
Eric chuckled. “How could I not love you? You’re every bit as crazy as I am.”
“I’ll accept that, even though it was a bit backhanded.” Rachelle wiped away a tear before it fell. “Would you like to hear how Magnus and I met?” She retold everything from standing still on the red carpet to hiding in the alley and brainstorming porno titles with Alisha. Normally she would have avoided the embarrassing parts, but Eric looked genuinely entertained, and it was good to see him smiling. She even told Eric about how she’d chewed Magnus out in private that morning, right down to how she’d poked her finger into his chest. The only part she left off was that Magnus had told her how he’d found Eric. Their connection was still too fragile for that.
When she finished, Eric smiled at Magnus and waved to him but kept his voice low enough so that his comment would only reach Rachelle’s ears. “I was concerned for you, but maybe I should be for him. He has no idea who he’s dealing with.”
“Shh, don’t warn him,” Rachelle joked.
“Oh, I won’t. Something tells me you’re exactly what he deserves.”
“Yeah, well, here’s what you deserve.” Rachelle playfully slugged him on the arm again, then burst into laughter that was a welcome release of tension. He joined in.
Magnus retook the seat across from them, and Rachelle smiled at him. He might not want more than a one-night stand with her and he’d called her a hot mess, but if it wasn’t for him, she still might not know where Eric was. She definitely wouldn’t know what Eric was struggling with or have a shot at being part of his support system. Her heart was bursting with gratitude, and it only heightened how intensely she was drawn to him.
For a moment she forgot they were not alone and let herself get lost in the desire in his eyes. It was too easy to remember the taste of him, the feel of his lips parting hers. For anyone beyond middle school, what they’d shared sexually had been tame, but it didn’t feel that way. It felt decadent. The memory of his touch had her body warming, and craving more.
His cheeks flushed ever so slightly, making her wonder if he sensed where her thoughts had taken her. On impulse, she winked, and he coughed as if someone had sucker punched him.
He really does want me.
Wow.
I was wrong. I may be that grateful.
Chapter Nine
Holding true to most of his promise to Eric, Magnus arranged for their arrival in Vandorra to be unannounced. They’d landed at the private airfield of one of the smaller royal residences an hour away from Finn’s hospital. Both Eric and Rachelle had retired to their rooms shortly after arrival. Rather than confine himself to the home’s office, Magnus took his laptop to a table on a balcony that overlooked the lush gardens and pool.
He was in the middle of answering an e-mail regarding a policy change he’d proposed when he felt Rachelle’s presence. Rather than turn around to immediately confirm her arrival, he took a moment to appreciate how his senses came alive for her. Being that aware of someone else was a novel experience.
She moved closer, and he could no longer fight the need to see her. He stood and turned to face her. She’d changed into simple white cotton shorts and a blue T-shirt. Free of makeup and shoes, with her hair hanging loose down her shoulders, he thought she’d never looked more beautiful. “Are you busy?” she asked, the hesitation in her voice revealing she didn’t know that in that moment he was powerless to deny her anything.
He closed his laptop without taking his eyes off her. “Just finished.”
She smiled. “It’s about tomorrow.”
He motioned toward the steps. “Why don’t we walk as we talk?” Otherwise we may end up making love right on this table. He flipped a switch, and the garden below became illuminated by decorative light posts.
She fell into step beside him. Once on a path in the garden, he offered her his arm. She tucked her hand around it, and the connection felt right. Another woman might have come to him in an outfit designed to turn him on. Or already have started to flirt outrageously with him. Female companionship came easily to a man with a title. Magnus was a healthy male in his prime. He’d accepted more of those appetizing offers than he cared to admit, but he couldn’t remember any holding his attention for long. What was the old saying? Familiarity breeds contempt? For Magnus, it bred boredom.
Rachelle holds my attention with ease. Is it because we haven’t been together yet? His gut told him she wouldn’t be a one-night stand. Once would not be enough to know her the way he wanted to.
“I love this! It’s an edible garden, isn’t it? Funny, it didn’t look it from far away, but these are mostly vegetable plants.”
“My mother called it a kitchen garden, even though she didn’t cook.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve seen beautiful gardens and I’ve seen vegetable gardens, but this mixture of colors and textures with the burst of flowers here and there—it’s dazzling. I can’t wait to see it in the light of day.”
Her comment pleased him. “My mother put a great deal of planning into the design. She studied in France as a child and said it gave her an appreciation for all that is beautiful as well as useful. She often said we cheat ourselves when we choose one over the other.”
“She sounds like she was an amazing woman.”
“She was.”
“How did she—I mean, if you don’t mind my asking . . .”
“She was born with a weak heart valve. It never held her back, but it did take her from us too early.”
“I’m sorry.”