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Clay was used to me dropping in for morning coffee. His fiancée knew how to brew a damn good cup. I parked behind an ancient red SUV that had to be Willow’s. As I got out and headed for the door, I spotted a helluva lot more totes in her vehicle than a quick visit would require. Even someone as over the top as Chaos.
As I let myself in, the scent of bacon and coffee nearly made me groan.
“Hey, Ransom. Do you have a bacon sensor in our house or something?” Rachel’s quick grin made me smile back automatically. She was wearing an old denim shirt over a pair of stretchy pants that every woman seemed to have in their arsenal. Her dark hair was gathered on top of her head with a heavy sweep of bangs framing her heart-shaped face.
Sometimes it was hard to believe this woman was related to the aptly named Willow who was all long limbs and freckles, where her sister was petite and dark-haired.
I really did like Clay’s woman. That helped strengthen my resolve to make sure Chaos wasn’t into something that would worry them both.
“More like a sensor for your coffee.”
Her blue eyes sparkled with happiness. “Well, have a seat. Wil is on her way down. She wanted a shower.”
I glanced at the couch made up with blankets and a pillow.
Rachel blushed. “I wasn’t ready for her to drop in. Our spare bedroom is full of wedding gifts.”
“Ah. I can, uh, help move stuff.” I sat at the counter and warmed my hands around the mug as she filled it. “Thanks.”
“Sure.” She held the pot, waiting for me to take a few gulps for her to refill. She knew me well. Turning to put the pot down and check on the bacon, she sidestepped her cat to get to the fridge. “We’ll have to figure out where to put everything.”
“She can stay at my place.”
Rachel paused with the door open and her arm full of eggs and cheese. “What?”
I swallowed down another scalding gulp of coffee. “She can stay at my place. The attic space is done.”
“Since when?”
I sighed. I didn’t share my space with anyone, let alone the details of what I was doing in renovations. “Last month. I was bored when we got snowed in—again.”
Rachel put down the food and came back to the counter. “You don’t have to do that.”
It would be easier to watch over Chaos if she was under my roof. Even if the thought of her in my space had my skin tightening. The relief on Rachel’s face had me swallowing down any protests. All the wedding planning had been stressing her out.
The actual ceremony was a small affair at the orchard’s chapel, but I knew juggling all those details would make anyone insane, let alone a type-A perfectionist like Rachel Doyle.
“I guess she can help you with that surprise you guys are cooking up. I had no idea you guys were up to something.” She pulled out a whisk then attacked a huge bowl of eggs she’d already cracked.
“I’m not telling you what I’m—we’re—working on.”
“I didn’t ask.”
I lifted my cup. “Mmm-hmm.”
She set the whisk down. “C’mon. Just a hint.”
“Nope.”
“Bah.” She blew her bangs out of her eyes. “Damn vault.”
Clay came in next. He was half dressed for the office. A shirt and tie over a pair of sweatpants told me he’d been in teleconferences already. Considering he had business dealings all over the globe, it wasn’t surprising. I couldn’t say I missed the hours he kept.
“Hey.” He dropped a quick kiss on top of Rachel’s head before snagging a strip of bacon. “I didn’t know you were coming over today.”
I held up my mug. “Can’t beat Rachel’s brew.”
She hip-checked him away from the food. “Ransom offered to put up Willow.”
