Free Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Series, Volume 3 by Debbie Macomber Page A

had felt hurt about being excluded. Everything had been so rushed. In retrospect, perhaps they should’ve waited until February, after all. But circumstances had prohibited that, since Rachel had given up her rental house, which had a new tenant. Bruce had been eager to marry her, and she’d felt the same way. They’d gone ahead despite her reservations, but even now Rachel wondered if they’d made the right decision.
    â€œThese things tend to take care of themselves,” Grace said. “Cliff and I are happy and I can see you are, too, if the new-bride glow is anything to go by.”
    â€œWe are.”
    â€œThat’s wonderful.” Grace reached for her purse and paid for her haircut at the front counter. She also made another appointment for early March, about six weeks away.
    With a small broom, Rachel swept up the brown curls that circled the styling chair. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say she was happy. She was, gleefully so, but she also felt sexually frustrated. Bruce did, too, and it was fast putting a strain on their relationship.
    What Rachel hadn’t expected, or Bruce, either, was Jolene’s reaction to their marriage. Jolene, at thirteen, felt threatened by the upheaval in her life.
    Bruce’s daughter had been Rachel’s special friend for years. They’d started meeting after Stephanie Peyton’s tragic death in a car accident. Jolene had only been five at the time. She’d badly needed a woman in her life and had latched on to Rachel when she’d given the little girl a haircut.
    Rachel’s own mother had died when she was young and she’d been raised by an unmarried aunt. Because she understood what it was like to be a motherless child, Rachel had voluntarily stepped in. The two of them had quickly bonded.
    Jolene had often played the role of matchmaker between Rachel and Bruce. But obviously she’d never realized what would happen once Bruce and Rachel fell in love….
    Rachel’s marriage to Jolene’s father had changed the dynamic within the family. Jolene was too immature and vulnerable to accept that. She feared being excluded or losing her place in Bruce’s life. The girl had been demanding and unreasonable ever since the wedding.
    Rachel and Bruce rarely had a moment alone. Making love had become a challenge. Jolene had always been a light sleeper and the slightest noise woke her. Her timing was impeccable; three times in the past week alone, Jolene had inadvertently interrupted their prologue to lovemaking. Or
was
it inadvertent? At any rate when she went back to bed, Bruce was either asleep or so irritated that the opportunity had been ruined.
    â€œYour next appointment just called and canceled,” Joan, who handled the reception desk, told her.
    â€œWasn’t that the color job?”
    Joan checked the schedule. “Yup.”
    That was two free hours. Two whole unexpected hours. Rachel’s heart raced as she glanced at her watch. “I don’t have any other appointments this afternoon, right?”
    Joan checked again. “Not that I can see.”
    An idea was taking shape. “Terrific. Thanks.” She grabbed her purse, pulled out her cell phone and punched speed dial to connect with Bruce.
    He answered on the second ring. “Bruce speaking.”
    â€œWhat are you doing?” she asked excitedly.
    â€œWorking, what do you think?” Bruce ran a small independent computer-support business, with a couple of employees.
    â€œCan you meet me at the house?”
    â€œI suppose…Any special reason you want me home?”
    Rachel giggled, and no doubt sounded like a schoolgirl. “Oh, yes, there’s a
very
special reason. My last appointment canceled and Jolene’s got basketball tryouts after school.”
    Bruce caught on right away. “You mean we would be
alone?
”
    â€œThat’s what I figured.” She giggled again.
    â€œGive me ten