Page 51 of Thunder with a Chance of Lovestruck
“So, he’s not the guy you made out with in the wine cellar right before all hell broke loose?” asked Sherri.
Rachael tensed before glancing at LeAnne. “When I told you about it, I assumed it would stay between us.”
LeAnne shrugged. “What? She needed to be filled in, so I filled her in. I didn’t know Drest’s name because you kept that bit private, or the fact he’s a detective. But you did tell me about the guy you made out with who kept closing the door on you when you tried to speak with him afterward.”
“Right,” said Rachael. “What part of that leaves me needing to give him the time of day?”
“None,” said LeAnne, her hand going to Rachael’s forearm. “But, Rachael, everything in me says you should at least hear him out. Unlike Sherri, Idolike Robin. That being said, I think you should give Drest ten minutes of your time.”
Rachael touched the necklace Robin had given her again. She lowered her gaze and for a second, Drest could have sworn he felt her emotions as if they were his own. “I can’t,” she whispered.
LeAnne rubbed her shoulder. “I know Drest hurt you emotionally. I also know what you told me—that you felt connected to him the second you met him. And that what he did after that night—the freezing you out—devastated you. I also know that even if you don’t admit it, you felt something real for him and he stomped all over those feelings. You know I’d never tell you to do something unless I was ahundredpercent sure it was in your best interest.”
“Things are finally good for me again,” said Rachael, her voice barely there. “I’ve got a great freelance gig starting. My brother and I have mended fences. Amice and I are closer than ever, and I’ve gotten so much closer to Astria. I have a man in my life who cares about me and who does call me back and speaks to me in public. Plus, when he talks to me in front of others, he’s kind. Not a giant jerk.”
Drest flinched. He deserved that remark, and he knew it.
“I’m only in the city for the day,” she said. “I want to spend time with you two. Not listen to whatever he has to say.”
LeAnne cast Drest a knowing look before she smiled at Rachael. “I understand that your time is limited. That you’re only in the city for lunch with us before you’re headed to the manor to spend a week watching your niece while your brother and his wife take some much-needed time away together.”
The way the woman said it almost sounded as if she’d wanted Drest to know all the details.
“Yeah,” said Sherri with a grunt. “And then you’re moving with your it’s-so-complicated-boyfriend to South Carolina.”
She was going to move in with Goodfellow, and they were relocating?
Drest nearly threw up then and there. Any doubts he had about breaking the Nightshade rules vanished. Life without Rachael had been hard enough to bear when they were only thirty minutes apart. He couldn’t imagine her being states away with another man, starting a new life.
“The second I saw you, I lost my breath,” he said fast, unconcerned with what anyone else overheard. He needed Rachael to forgive him. He couldn’t return to how things had been between them. “I was drawn to you in a way that confused me. A way I couldn’t resist. I hated myself for giving in to that temptation, Rachael.”
Her brows knit.
Sherri let out a seething breath. “This apology is lacking in a big way, bucko. Keep screwing it up and I’m going to take my aggressions out on your face.”
He didn’t doubt she would. He stared at Rachael. “It wasn’t fair to you, and I knew that. I’m the older one of the two of us. I know better than to want something more with you.”
LeAnne frowned. “I’m with Sherri. This apology is kind of horrible.”
“Bear with me,” said Drest. He centered his focus on Rachael again. “From the second I saw you threatening to make your brother hold a dance-off or sing-along, whatever it was, I have been drawn to you in ways I shouldn’t,” he confessed. “I understand it’s wrong. That policy dictates I keep a professional distance from you, but I don’t give a rat’s ass about policy.”
“Drest?” she asked, her voice barely there. “What are you saying?”
He held his head high while he clenched his fists at his sides. “I’m saying that I felt the earth shift under my feet when I met you. Sparks literally flew, Rachael.” He lifted the hand with his Hunter ring on it and winked. “I’m saying you light up my life, woman. I’m saying I’m tired of fighting the pull to you. I hate the emotional wall that has gone up between us. I get we only had a few hours together before all hell broke loose. That those hours didn’t involve sex, no matter how much I wish they would have.”
She blushed.
LeAnne smiled widely.
Sherri snorted. “He’s bold. I like it. I’m still undecided if I like him or not, but I do applaud his approach.”
Drest kept his attention on Rachael. “If I told you the number of times I’ve gone past your school and your apartment building, just wanting to catch a glimpse of you… You’d be concerned. Rachael, I stared at you so much during the trial that I’m not sure how the judge didn’t throw me out of the courtroom.
“My heart broke for you when you were on the stand testifying. I wanted to wrap you in my arms and block out all the noise—all the others in the room. I wanted to take away the hurt and pain. I still want to do that. And I want to kill your uncle for daring to harm you—for what he put you and your family through.”
Rachael stopped toying with the necklace Goodfellow had given her. A lone tear dripped down her cheek. “Drest, I’m with someone else now.”
“Goodfellow canpuck-off,” said Drest, meaning it. “He’s not the man for you.Iam.”
