The Escort(23)

"Hell, no. That's not you, Ray. You look so damn happy now, and that's  who you are. Let him find another trophy." She stared into my face as I  glanced back at her. "Stand your ground, and he'll give up."



"It's my parents too. I might lose them in the process," I grumbled as she shrugged.



"Blood is not family, Rayna. You'll be better off if they don't support  you and you have all of us here," Lana urged me as I thought over her  words. She was right, but it was a painful thought. "Declan has loads of  money, and he'll take care of you, plus you've saved a bunch working  here. Even if you don't want to move in, get your own place. Just don't  leave him because he is good for you."                       
       
           



       



She left after another half an hour to go work, and I pulled up some  shopping sites on the computer. In between bookings, I bought some sun  dresses and a few bathing suits. I found some tops and skirts, along  with shorts. I found shoes to wear on the trip; choosing something for  the beach, dinners, and another pair for anything in between.



I asked Declan if I could ship things to his house and he told me that  was fine. I asked for everything to be shipped the following day before I  went to a new lingerie site and placed a large order there, asking for  the same fast shipping. I wanted to be ready for this and to be the sexy  girl that Declan seemed to see in me.



I nibbled on a salad for dinner as I looked at pictures of our  destination, marveling at the beauty. It was going to be incredible, and  with a drive, we could even go to see the Eiffel Tower, if we chose to.



I found Facebook and typed in his wife's name, finding her profile open.  She had pictures of herself with a guy now that looked at least a few  years younger than she was, but there were a lot of her and Declan as  well. He was right. Everything looked happy and flawless in her pictures  and her words, even though I knew that she lost a great man in Declan. I  wondered if she knew this as I glanced at one of the pictures of her  and the new guy. He looked a little arrogant and nothing like her soon  to be ex-husband. I didn't understand her, but I was thankful to her for  letting him go as I went back to a beautiful shot of the blue ocean  that would be my temporary home for a few weeks.



I couldn't wait to get the fuck out of here.





CHAPTER 20



Declan





I did a little shopping while Rayna was at work for the trip. I wanted a  few casual outfits to wear, and I also bought Rayna a few things that  reminded me of her. I knew that she'd complain and tell me that I was  already spending enough money on her, but I had it to spend. It was nice  being with someone that appreciated it, loving the flush that covered  her cheeks as she smiled gratefully whenever I did something kind for  her.



She was beautiful when she smiled when she was coming … anytime. I thought  ahead to when we came back home and wondered what would happen. I  didn't give a shit that I was in the middle of a divorce. I wanted this  woman in my life.



I returned home with the bags and put away my stuff, leaving Rayna's in  the closet in a bag. I'd surprise her later with them, maybe when she  got the things that she was having shipped to my house in the next  couple of days. I hoped that there were some sexy lace and silk included  in it, imagining seeing her body in the outfits that I imagined in my  head. I looked down at my groin, knowing that it would be hours before  I'd be seeing her.



I got her something in one of the stores I came across, a black lace teddy that was going to look amazing on her.



I got some work done on the laptop for a few hours, sitting at the table  in the afternoon sun. It was gorgeous out today, and I got a hold of  some managers on the phone to let them know that I was taking a  vacation. After the email, my cell phone rang, and I checked the screen  with a laugh. "Yes, Matt?" He was one of the best local managers, and I  knew just what he was going to say to me. "Declan is taking a vacation?  Is the fucking world ending?"



"I'm allowed to do that, right?" I asked as he chuckled.



"Hell, yes. Where are you going?" He asked, and I told him the plans,  leaving Rayna's name out of it. "Are you going with someone?"



I paused for a moment and tried to think of what to say. "There is a  girl, but I'm going to keep that on the down-low. Claire might have a  shit fit."



"Why? She cheated on you. Good for you. I hope she's a good one since you deserve it." He sounded happy, and I smiled.



"She is." We chatted about work for a bit longer, going over some of the  active accounts before I ended the call. I glanced at the clock, seeing  that I still had a couple of hours before I needed to start dinner. I  kept working, wanting to get as much in as I could before we left but I  also sent her messages on her new phone throughout the afternoon. Having  that freedom was great.



I decided to do tri-tip and salad for dinner, starting it in time to be  close to done when she got back here. I added some sweet potatoes and  popped them in the oven to cook while I did the rest. I was anxious to  see Rayna, and I took a slow breath and admitted that I was falling for  her. I was doing so from the very start, which had driven me to pursue  her after what was supposed to be our one night together.



I didn't know if it was a good thing. I was uncertain if the trip would  be a mistake but it was what I wanted, seemingly what Rayna wanted as  well. Even through her protests, I saw that she was excited about it. It  showed when she spoke of it and particularly when she told me about her  shopping online. She seemed to have plenty of money saved and deserved  to use some of it for herself. Hell, she could use it all for herself  because I was willing to take care of her as long as she would have me. I  was willing to give Claire a little money to get her started on her own  if she was even alone. I was a fair man, and she was my wife for a  while, but she did not shape my career and assist in my earnings.                       
       
           



       



I thought about the gift that I'd purchased last with a smile. It was  for the end of the trip and would come with a question if the trip went  well. I wanted to see how we were together away like that, in a place  where she could relax.



I was cooking outside when I heard someone call my name, looking into  the house with a grin. I frowned when I saw that it wasn't Rayna. "What  are you doing here?" I asked Claire as she stumbled into the kitchen,  clearly intoxicated. I didn't get her key, thinking that she wouldn't be  back.



"I left him at a bar and took a cab here. I don't have anywhere to go," she mumbled as I stepped inside the house.



"Claire, you have a job. Go to a hotel," I told her as I glanced at the  clock. I had about twenty minutes before Rayna would be here. "You can't  stay here."



"I'm sorry," she said, impulsively throwing her arms around my neck as I stilled. "I miss you, Dec. I miss us."



I heard the garage as I tried to push her away, wondering how I was  going to get her out of here. I had to find a way out of this before  Rayna got the wrong idea. "It's not going to happen, Claire. You made  your choice, and we're over." She looked up at me with a pout, something  that would have worked once upon a time.



"Hey … " Rayna said as she walked through the door, just as I pushed  Claire away from me forcefully. I looked at Rayna as she paused and took  in the scene in front of her, seeming to recognize Claire. "Am I  interrupting anything?"



"No," I said curtly as Claire looked at Rayna curiously for a long  moment. I knew if she found out the situation, Claire would tell  everyone that she knew as well as any mutual friends. "I am going to get  you a car."



"Hello, there. I'm Claire," my wife stepped forward, smiling a sugary  sweet smile as she took Rayna in. "I didn't know that you were seeing  someone new, Declan."



"I'm … Rachel," Rayna said slowly as she stared at me. I saw hurt in her  pretty eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose before I grabbed my phone.  I made quick work of getting an Uber for Claire, not giving a fuck  where she stayed tonight.



"She's leaving," I assured Rayna as she kept standing in the kitchen.  "Come outside, Rachel." She stared for a moment before stepping forward  and following me, and all the hurt showed once we were alone. "She just  came here. I forgot that she had a key. She's barely been here." I  stepped over to the grill, checking on the meat to keep myself busy. I  also didn't want it to burn, since I was determined to have a decent  dinner somehow with all of this happening.