Binder Full of Women by Kathleen Miles Read Free Book Online

out of the restaurant before Rachel could even leave the table. On his way out he had ordered the manager to send the bill to his property manager.
    “Explain,” Mitchell said when they were in the car driving back to the house.
    Trent didn’t try to cover anything up. He explained how desperately he needed the partnership to hold his business together and that he was a man of commitment. This all failed to impress Mitchell.
    “Out. You two are out of my house. I am dropping you off at the Haven since that’s where you said you normally stay Rachel and I will have your belongings sent over within the hour. We are through Pearson. There is to be no partnership.”
    Trent almost felt a sense of relief. To build a partnership under such a pretense had been wrong. If this man couldn’t trust him it wouldn’t work anyway. There had to be another way to save his company. Now he needed to concentrate on saving Rachel and her reputation so she could have her dreams.
    Better to end it with her before the pain of knowing he wouldn’t always have her got even worse.
     
    At the hotel Trent ordered separate rooms and Rachel gave him a questioning look. She wanted nothing more than to comfort him and let him know that it would be ok. He didn’t need to let all his dreams lie in the hands of another company saving his. It would be better and she would help fix it. She needed to show him it would be ok tonight. After last night she knew they could communicate with their bodies in a way words could never suffice.
    “Rachel don’t you see it’s through. We need to get back to Indy and stop any more damage from happening.”
    “Through?” She asked with both hands on her hips. Rage was flowing through her. Didn’t he feel what she did last night? She wasn’t going to let him dismiss her that easily.
    “We have to be just friends. It was a mistake.” He smoothed her hair. “I took advantage of you and will never do that again. Now I need to go back and stop the damage.”
    “Damage?”
    “Yes, who knows what else Ann might say. She probably already called the gossip columnists.”
    “Trent, I told you that I don’t care about that. What about the damage here?” she asked pointing to her heart.
    Trent pulled her into a gentle embrace. “We are friends still. I care about the damage to your reputation and won’t let it happen,” he whispered in a husky voice into her ear.
    “We’ll talk about the rest later,” he said planting a kiss on top of her head.
    “There’s no question we’ll talk later,” Rachel said sharply.
    When she woke the next morning alone in her own room that Trent had never even set foot in, there was a note under the door. She picked it up and read.
     
    Dear Rachel,
    Please forgive me for all of my mistakes. I took us to a place that I never intended and your friendship is so dear. I left last night to get back and prevent any residual damage. Stay here and enjoy a few days pampering yourself. You deserve that and more. You deserve all of your dreams. I have made arrangements for a driver to pick you up and take you to the jet on Wednesday.
    In Friendship,
    Trent
     
    The words mistake and friendship repeated over and over in her head. Was he running away from something more or was he really running back to repair their friendship? Obviously she was mistaken that she could handle a brief fling with him. Tears streaked her face and she was still sobbing when housekeeping knocked on her door.
    While she tried to relax on the beach chair she thought about her future. Mostly she thought about how she was going to face Trent again. She had practically told him she loved him with her body. She didn’t know how she was going to turn back to a friendship.
    It wasn’t her style to sit around and mope. She realized what she needed to do. She contacted Trent and had arrangements made to be brought back that afternoon. It was obvious he had feelings too and she wasn’t going to let him run from them.