CHAPTER 27
RACHEL hung up the phone with shaking hands, and then she turned to Ethan, praying she didn’t look as sick as she felt. Her stomach churned, and she was eternally grateful she’d refused breakfast.
“She’ll see me right away,” she said in a low voice.
Ethan closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. She clung to him, her anchor, the only thing in her world that made sense right now.
“Do you want me to go?”
She hesitated, because more than anything she wanted him to go with her. She was scared to death and didn’t want to do this alone. But worse than her fear of being without Ethan was her fear of him finding out why she was finally agreeing to go to the therapist in the first place. How could she face him and relate the horrible things she dreamed about at night when he’d been so absolutely wonderful to her?
“No, I need to do this on my own.”
Her lips trembled so bad she could barely get the words out without the urge to puke. The thought of going to some stranger and laying out her soul terrified her.
He leaned in and brushed his lips across hers. Then he deepened the kiss, seeking and exploring her mouth.
When he pulled away, they were both breathing hard, and her lips were swollen and tingling.
He reached into his pocket and took out a cell phone, and placed it on the counter next to her.
“This is yours. I’ve programmed my number as well as everyone else’s in the family. Sean, the sheriff, and all the deputies. Anyone I could think of that you might ever need. If you change your mind, you call me. I’ll be there as soon as I can.”
She smiled and leaned into him, circling his waist with her arms. She gave him a squeeze, pleased that she could feel and act so affectionate with him after the terror of her dreams the night before. In the daylight they faded and made her feel silly and reactionary.
The phone rang, startling her. They rarely got calls, and she was sure it was because Ethan’s family was respecting their privacy.
Tentatively she reached to pick it up, remembering that this was her house too. She actually smiled as she brought the phone to her ear. Her home. Her phone.
“Hello?”
There was a short pause and then Sam’s voice sounded in her ear.
“Hey, Rachel, how are you?”
His tone was gentle as it always was, and remembering how abrupt and foulmouthed he was with his brothers, she grinned. For once the thought of the big man didn’t intimidate her.
“Hi, Sam. I’m good.”
“That’s great, honey. Is Ethan around? I need to speak to him for just a minute.”
“Sure. He’s right here.”
She turned and handed the phone to him.
He gave her a quick kiss and then took it.
“Hello?”
Rachel moved away to give him space, but even across the room she felt the sudden anger emanate from him.
“What the hell? You’re shitting me.”
She winced and turned in concern to see Ethan’s face clouded in fury.
“You’ll have to come by to get me. I need a ride. Rachel’s taking the truck. I still haven’t gotten her new wheels.”
He glanced up at her as he spoke and made an effort to ease his expression.
“Yeah, give me half an hour, okay? Don’t you f**king go over there without me.”
He hung up the phone and curled his fist into a tight ball. He looked for the world like he wanted to smash something, but he stood there, breathing in and out, instead.
“Ethan?” she asked cautiously.
He slowly relaxed his fist and looked back at her. He even tried to smile. “It’s okay, baby. Just some stupid stunt Rusty has pulled. Sam wants to go over and give her hell. It’s time Mom came to her senses. This girl is trouble, and this time she’s gone too far.”
Rachel frowned unhappily. “Oh, that’s too bad. Try not to be too hard on her or your mom. Rusty has had such a bad time. She just seems so fragile.”
To her surprise, Ethan smiled, so much that it lit up his entire face. He crossed the room and took her shoulders in his hands.
“God, you sound just like yourself. So tenderhearted and always looking out for the underdog.”
“I’m trying, Ethan. I really am. I want to be the Rachel everyone knows. I just have to remember her first.”
“I know, baby. I know. You should get on the road. I want you to be careful, and if anything freaks you out or if you just get there and change your mind, you call me. I’ll come immediately.”
She rose up on tiptoe to kiss him. “I will. I promise.”
RUSTY sat on the edge of her bed staring down at the fingers that had lost feeling five minutes ago. Her knuckles were white, but she didn’t lessen her grip on them.
Even with her door closed she could hear the raised voices drifting up the stairs from the living room. Sam, Garrett and Ethan were there along with Nathan and Joe, Marlene and Frank. A regular family meeting. The only people missing were Donovan and Rachel.
Rusty frowned unhappily. She’d f**ked up this time. And the pisser was she hadn’t meant to. They’d never believe her, though. They’d want her out on her ass because nobody would allow anything to upset poor, pitiful Rachel.
She should start packing, but then she hadn’t come here with anything. Everything she owned had been bought by Marlene and it just didn’t feel right to take it.
The knot grew bigger in her stomach. Stupid, stupid, stupid. It wasn’t the first time she’d been taken in by a friendly face. When was she going to learn that no one was ever nice to her without an ulterior motive? Except Marlene. Rusty hadn’t yet figured out any reason the woman had been so nice to her other than that she wanted to.