Bachelor at Her Bidding (Bachelor Auction Book 2) (13 page)

The following Tuesday
afternoon, Susie called in unexpectedly on her way home from the stables. As she opened her front door to her sister, Rachel was guiltily aware that Ryan still looked pretty rumpled and so did she, but at least they hadn’t actually been in bed together when Susie had knocked.

Not that her sister was in the slightest bit fooled. She looked at them both and said, “So you’re seeing each other, then?”

“Susie, we’re keeping it just between us. Please don’t say anything to anyone, even Jake,” Rachel said softly.

“Sure.”

“I need to go anyway,” Ryan said, glancing at his watch. “Sorry to be rude, Susie, but I need to pick Gram up from the day care center. She’ll worry if I’m late.” He patted her shoulder awkwardly. “See you around. I’ll call you later, Rach.”

After Ryan had left and Rachel had made them both a coffee, Susie said quietly, “I know Nick hurt you, honey, but it doesn’t mean that Ryan will. I don’t see why you’re keeping it quiet.”

Rachel grimaced. “It’s just easier for both of us.”

“And you’re seeing each other when, a few snatched minutes here and there?”

“In between the end of his shift and when he needs to meet Phyllis at the day care center.”

“Which is no time at all. Honey, if you two went public, then you’d have people queuing up to sit with Phyllis and give you some real time together, not just little bits when you can,” Susie pointed out. “Everyone will be pleased for you. You’re both well liked in the town.”

“We can’t.” Rachel shook her head. “Ry feels really strongly about not dumping his responsibilities.”

“He isn’t dumping his responsibilities. We all know he gave up his career to come home and look after Phyllis, and everyone respects that. Has he ever thought that his grandmother might like a bit of different company for a change?”

“Maybe.”

“I’d be glad to sit with Phyllis, and so would Lexy and Dayna. Phyllis always was one of our favorite teachers. Han would love someone else to talk to about babies, and Lizzy would be there for both of you. You know that.”

“I’ll talk to him,” Rachel said, knowing that it was a subject where she’d be treading on eggshells. Yes, she’d love to spend more time with Ryan and she hoped that he felt the same. But it was a tricky subject and it would be better to wait until they were face to face before she brought it up – maybe when they’d been to bed together and he might be more open and receptive.

*

On Wednesday afternoon,
Rachel was curled up in bed beside Ryan when she said, “Susie was saying, she’d like to visit with Phyllis.”

Where had this come from?

Ryan thought of Lucille and how she’d resented the time he spent with his grandmother. Given that Rachel had suddenly suggested visitors, could it be that Rachel was going to be the same?

He shifted away from her and sat up. “Why?” he asked coolly.

“Because your grandmother was one of Susie’s favorite teachers at school – though, yes, I admit, it’s also because she thinks it would give us a little more time together.”

He shook his head. “I’m not dumping my responsibilities,”

“Nobody’s asking you to do that, Ry.”

Oh, but they had – not that he intended to discuss that with Rachel. He was still too angry with himself for choosing someone so selfish and inflexible as Lucille. For getting it so wrong. No way would Lucille have wanted to be a mother. She needed to come first all the time – and you couldn’t do that when you had kids.

“And maybe your grandmother would enjoy having someone different to talk to,” she pointed out.

He lifted his chin. “So now you’re saying I’m not enough for her?”

“No, I’m not saying that at all.” She sighed. “Ry, you’re a good man and everyone in Marietta respects what you’re doing. But y’know, it’s like how everyone got together to help with Molly and Josh – people in the town like helping out and looking after their own. I remember when Phyllis retired, and I reckon she must’ve taught everyone over the age of twenty-seven who grew up in Marietta. She did a lot for them, and now this is their chance to give something back to her.”

“I’m not dumping my responsibilities,” Ryan repeated.

“OK, I get why you feel that way, but would you at least let
me
sit with her? Not as your girlfriend and not as a doctor – but as a friend and a former pupil who appreciates the help she gave me and who’d like to reminisce a bit with her about the High School and the Marietta Fair and the way the town’s changed over the years?” she asked.

“And I’d do what, while you sat with her?”

“Have some space to yourself to do whatever you wanted to do. Go for a run, have some fun in your kitchen developing some amazing new dessert to wow the customers at Grey’s, lie in the bath for twenty minutes without worrying that Phyllis is going to need you – and meanwhile Phyllis gets to talk to someone different and talk about things that you might not normally discuss with her. The way I see it, everyone wins.”

He thought about it. And thought some more. And then he put his arms round her. “I’m sorry. I was unfair to you just now and I shouldn’t have been so touchy. That’s kind of you to offer.”

“Is that what someone wanted you to do?” she asked softly. “Dump your grandmother?”

Her perception made him wince inwardly. She’d hit the nail right on the head, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to talk about it. He focused instead on what she’d said. “So you’re saying as a doctor that she needs more company?”

“I’m not talking as a doctor, but if you want me to I can.”

He shook his head. “I’m not expecting free medical advice.”

She smiled. “And I’m not offering it, either. I’m just saying that if you can’t get out much, then sometimes it’s good to have different company and change things up a bit.”

“I guess.” He took her hand and traced a pattern on her palm. “You could come for dinner on Friday night. If you’re not busy.”

“I’d like that.” She smiled at him. “What are your grandmother’s favorite flowers?”

“She likes all flowers,” he said, “and you don’t need to bring her flowers.”

“I know I don’t
need
to, Ry, but does it ever occur to you that I might
like
to?”

“And I’m introducing you as a friend.”

“Not as your girlfriend. Agreed. Because we’re not dating.”

That stung, even though it was the truth and he’d been the one to make a point about it in the first place.

Part of Ryan really wanted to date Rachel properly. He knew she understood the way his life was structured and why. And yet, if he let himself open up to her… would he end up hurt again, like he had with Lucille? It wasn’t a risk he felt ready to take. And he knew that Rachel had problems trusting, too. Her ex had totally trashed her confidence in herself.

Maybe they could heal each other.

Or maybe they’d just make everything worse.

Right at that moment, he had no idea how it was going to pan out.

*

On Friday evening,
Rachel drove over to Ryan’s house with flowers. She felt ridiculously shy; even though she and Ryan had agreed she was doing this as his friend, it still felt like the equivalent of “meet the folks”. Although she’d known Phyllis for years it had been as a pupil, not as the potential girlfriend of her grandson.

And Nick’s family had always been cool toward her. They’d never made her feel accepted and as if she was one of them; Rachel had always been aware that she was regarded as “just an in-law” rather than as family. She wasn’t sure whether it was because they’d known what Nick was doing and felt guilty about it, so they’d distanced themselves from her and from the situation; or whether, like Nick, they felt she wasn’t enough for him. They certainly hadn’t been keen on coming to Marietta to have Thanksgiving with her folks, preferring their sophisticated city life to the big skies and simpler lifestyle of Copper Mountain.

How would Phyllis be with her? Accepting or wary?

To Rachel’s relief, Phyllis was immediately warm and friendly. She hugged Rachel for the flowers, then encouraged her to talk about her studies in Missoula and her medical training. Funny, she felt more at home on her first visit to Ryan’s family than she had in three years of marriage and visits to Nick’s family.

And that gave her hope for the future.

*

Within the first
five minutes, Ryan could see that his grandmother was more animated than she had been for a while. Maybe Rachel had been talking as a doctor after all when she’d said that it would be good for Phyllis to have some different company. He had to admit that she was right.

And it was a relief to feel comfortable enough with a visitor that he could go into the kitchen and relax into making dinner instead of keeping half an ear out in case Phyllis needed him or got muddled and worried about something. He made chicken and lemon risotto with baby carrots and green veg, followed by French apple tart with thick cream, and then petits fours to have with coffee.

Rachel was driving so she refused his offer of a glass of wine, but she accepted a glass of sparkling water, which he garnished with a slice of lime. She smiled, “Trust you to be a little different.”

“
Mais bien sûr
,” he said with a grin.

And he loved the way she helped serve his grandmother without making a big deal of things, chatted and generally joined in with everything. And she insisted on helping with the washing up. “My mom would be horrified if I just sat there and let you wait on me. That’s not how we do things.”

Phyllis beamed her approval, making Ryan feel even warmer inside.

When he walked Rachel out to her car at the end of the evening, he said, “Thank you for coming. And I guess I should tell you that you were right and I was wrong.”

She stroked his face. “Yeah, you’re stubborn as a mule.” She paused. “So am I allowed to visit your grandmother again?”

“Yes, of course.”

“And what about my sister?”

He sighed. “I’ll think about it, OK?” He kissed her lightly. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

The fact that his grandmother had seemed so bright with company gave him another idea. “Gram, Jason Grey asked me to make some baked goods for the team renovating Molly and Josh’s house,” he said when he went back into the house. “Why don’t you come with me tomorrow morning to drop them in and you can see what they’re doing to the house?”

To his pleasure she agreed. Once they were at the Dekkers’ house, they discovered that Phyllis had taught some of the construction crew, and she enjoyed chatting to them as much as they enjoyed eating the cookies he’d taken over.

Even to his eyes, the wheelchair ramp leading up to the house looked a little wonky. “Is someone planning to change that soon?” he asked one of the carpenters.

The carpenter shook his head. “It was there before we started and Molly won’t let anyone touch it.” He shrugged. “Don’t ask me why – she just won’t. Women, eh?”

“Women,” Ryan agreed with a wry smile.

Later that afternoon, he texted Rachel.
I took Gram out with me today to Molly and Josh’s house. It’s because of you she has more confidence.